Girolamo Dandini, S.J., Professor of Theology at Perugia, was sent in 1596 by Pope Clement VIII as nuncio to the Maronites of Lebanon. In August of the same year, he landed in Cyprus where is made a short tour.
The Christians, whether Greeks or Franks, wear no turban, nor shave their heads, but keep their hair decently cut like us, and wear a hat or black cap. They wear however, in Eastern fashion, a garment without a collar, falling to the knees or a little lower, with wide sleeves which reach to the elbow.
They gird themselves with a sort of sash of linen or other material wound four or five times round. Under their garment they wear a petticoat over a shirt with a collar, and stockings on their legs, and over all another garment without a belt cut very much like the first. They wear generally black or violet or any other colour they may prefer.
Cyprus is at least 480 miles in circuit, 80 broad and 100 long, and has two capes. On the west may be included C. S. Epiphanio, called by the ancients Acamas, C. Trapano and Celidonio, or Point Melonta, or C. Zephiro. The other is called S. Andrea, whence one makes for the east. Its only harbour is Famagusta on the east. This is a famous town which was built by Ptolemy Philadelphus. But large vessels can also ride safely near the shores of Baffo, Liniisso, Crusoco and Salines. There are in several places capes which jut into the sea, the most marked is called the Gape of Cats, from the great number of that animal which was reared in the monastery of S. Nicolas, where there are Basilian monks, called Acrotiri. The cats were kept to destroy the great quantity of snakes found there, and large sums were left to it for that purpose or jewels, for they are all rich, and pledges are easy to find.
The 'What I saw...' series is made possible with the support of OPAP Cyprus and Active Citizens Fund.
Girolamo Dandini, S.J., Professor of Theology at Perugia, was sent in 1596 by Pope Clement VIII as nuncio to the Maronites of Lebanon. In August of the same year, he landed in Cyprus where is made a short tour.
The Christians, whether Greeks or Franks, wear no turban, nor shave their heads, but keep their hair decently cut like us, and wear a hat or black cap. They wear however, in Eastern fashion, a garment without a collar, falling to the knees or a little lower, with wide sleeves which reach to the elbow.
They gird themselves with a sort of sash of linen or other material wound four or five times round. Under their garment they wear a petticoat over a shirt with a collar, and stockings on their legs, and over all another garment without a belt cut very much like the first. They wear generally black or violet or any other colour they may prefer.
Cyprus is at least 480 miles in circuit, 80 broad and 100 long, and has two capes. On the west may be included C. S. Epiphanio, called by the ancients Acamas, C. Trapano and Celidonio, or Point Melonta, or C. Zephiro. The other is called S. Andrea, whence one makes for the east. Its only harbour is Famagusta on the east. This is a famous town which was built by Ptolemy Philadelphus. But large vessels can also ride safely near the shores of Baffo, Liniisso, Crusoco and Salines. There are in several places capes which jut into the sea, the most marked is called the Gape of Cats, from the great number of that animal which was reared in the monastery of S. Nicolas, where there are Basilian monks, called Acrotiri. The cats were kept to destroy the great quantity of snakes found there, and large sums were left to it for that purpose or jewels, for they are all rich, and pledges are easy to find.
The 'What I saw...' series is made possible with the support of OPAP Cyprus and Active Citizens Fund.
