Maria  Pingouras

(Lisenced Guide by C.T.O. , WFTGA's Accredited Trainer).

Welcome to Cyprus and let me show you around and help you enjoy and share my country’s age old and exciting history, its varied nature and countryside and its traditions.

I have been guiding since 1983 and have never lost my enthusiasm for guiding.  As a qualified licensed Tourist Guide I am permitted to work in all Cyprus.  I have guided tours for groups and individuals,  coach tours organized by Travel Agents,  tours for conference groups or incentive groups,  Walking tours, Nature tours, tours for special interest groups,  tours of Archaeological sites and Museums,  tours of historic areas in towns, tours by private vehicle and tours conducted in my own car.  I can design your program to your time available and provide you with plenty of ideas.

Qualified:  1982

Qualifications: 
In 1983 I completed my college studies on Travel and Tourism and the one year course of the School of the Guides.  I have attended all sorts of courses and annual seminars organized by the Cyprus Tourism Organization (C.T.O.), including an intensive course in Archaeology and Byzantine Art and I have been trained in nature trails by the Cyprus Tourist Guides Association.  Since April 2007 I have been a WFTGA's  (World Federation of Tourist Guides Association)  Accredited Trainer after passing the Federation's Programme Train the Trainer Part 1, 11  and 111 held in Cyprus Regional Training Centre in 2006 and 2007 in collaboration with the University of Cyprus.  I have attended a course on Public Relations. I have attended a course on Mosaic and pottery making.

Regions: 
All Cyprus.

Sites:
Old town of Lefkosia (Nicosia),  the Cyprus Museum (Archaeological), the Byzantine Museum and Art Galleries,  the National Struggle Museum,  the St. John’s Cathedral,  the House of the Dragoman Hatzigeorgakis Kornesios,  the Leventis Municipal Museum of Lefkosia,  The Ethnographic Museum,  the Famagusta Gate,  the State Gallery of Contemporary Art.

All prehistoric sites of Cyprus including the Neolithic sites of Choirokoitia and Kalavassos-Tenta and the Chalcolithic sites of Lemba-Lakkous and Kissonerga-Mosfilia.

All archaeological sites and Museums of Cyprus, including ancient Tamassos site,  Ancient Kition site,  the Larnaca district Museum,  the Pierides Foundation Museum,  Ancient Amathus site,  the Lemesos District Archaeological Museum,  Ancient Kourion site and the Sanctuary of Apollon,  the Episkopi – Kourion Museum,  Ancient Salamis site,  the old town of Famagusta and Othello Tower,  the Sanctuary of Aphrodite and Palaipafos Museum,  Archaeological Park of New Pafos (the Mosaics of the House of Dionyssos, House of Aion, House of Theseus,  the Agora of New Pafos,  Asclipieon,  Hellenistic fortifications, St. Paul’s Pillar, Chrysopolitissa Basilica,  the Tombs of the Kings),  Pafos District Archaeological Museum, Yeroskipou Folk Art Museum,  the Museum of Mycenaean Colonisation and Maa-Palaeocastro, the Pafos Medieval Fort,  the Kolossi Medieval Castle,  the Lemesos Medieval Castle and Medieval Museum,  the Kyrenia Castle,  the  Abbey of Pellabais,  Early Byzantine Basilicas in the area of St. George, the Archaeological Museum of Marion-Polis,  the Baths of Aphrodite.

All Byzantine and medieval churches of Cyprus including the Byzantine churches of Troodos which are included in the UNESCO catalogue of World’s Heritage Monuments,  old Monasteries and Convents.

Traditional villages.

Nature Trails in the Troodos Region, in the Pafos Forest and in the Akamas Peninsula.

Address: 
P.O.Box  25082,   1306 Lefkosia,  Cyprus.
Email:  mpiggouras@yahoo.gr
Fax: 00357 22814910
Phone:  00357 22 325050
Mobile:  00357  99 524624

Languages:  Greek – English