Festivals in Nicosia are an excuse for the international celebration of the arts.

Beginning in mid-May, the International Bellapais Music Festival features renowned performers from the Meditarranean region: Turkey, Bosnia, Macedonia, Turkey, Albania; Germany, France and Belgium; and from faraway locations such as Japan and Korea. At the magnificent Bellapis Abbey, audiences enjoy solo recitals and concerts by bands and orchestras in one time performances. This year's edition included violin recital by Ayse Karaoglan, Song and piano recital by Tenor Andrea Raiti and pianist Gianfranco Pappalardo, Moscow Balalaika Quartet Concert and Viloin and Guitar recital by Maria Kaminskaia-Sommerfeld and Andreas Koch. For further details, check out the festival's website at: http://www.bellapaisfestival.com.

In March, Cyprus International Film Festival brings foreign films that are shown in Nicosia, Lamaca and Limassol. In this four-day event, foreign features, documentaries and short films are shown as part of the competoition for the Golden Aphrodite award. The festival includes tributes to national and international filmmakers, special screenings of films by Cypriot directors and exiled Greek/Cypriot filmmakers, workshops and seminars on scriptwriting and film production, and conferencies by key note speakers. For details, check out the festival's website at www.ciff2006.com.  

In Fall, don't miss the International Cyprus Theatre Festival. Nicosia, Famagusta and Kyrenia host international theater performances over the three weeks of this celebration of the performing arts. For details, check out Cyprus Center of the International Theatre's website at www. cyprus- theatre-iti.org .