About Cyprus

Republic of Cyprus is a Eurasian island country situated in the eastern Mediterranean south of Turkey, west of the Levant, north of Egypt, and east of Greece. Cyprus is the third largest Mediterranean island and one of the most popular tourist destinations, attracting over 2.4 million tourists per year.



A former British colony, it gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1960 and became a Commonwealth republic in 1961. The Republic of Cyprus is a developed country and has been a member of the European Union since 1 May 2004. It adopted the euro on 1 January 2008.

In 1974, following years of intercommunal violence between ethnic Greeks and Turks and an attempted coup d'état by Greek Cypriot nationalists aimed at annexing the island to Greece and engineered by the military junta then in power in Athens, Turkey invaded and occupied one third of the island. This led to the displacement of thousands of Cypriots and the establishment of a separate Turkish Cypriot political entity in the north. This event and its resulting political situation is a matter of ongoing dispute.

The Republic of Cyprus, the internationally recognized state, claims sovereignty over the entire island of Cyprus and its surrounding waters, with appendix O of the Treaty of Establishment of the Republic providing for 3% of its territory to be used by the United Kingdom as sovereign military bases. The island is de facto partitioned into four main parts:

• the area under the effective control of the Republic of Cyprus, in the south of the island;
• the Turkish-occupied area in the north calling itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus(recognized only by Turkey);
• the United Nations-controlled Green Line, separating the two; and
• two British Sovereign Base Areas (Akrotiri and Dhekelia).

Climate . Cyprus enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with abundant sunshine year round. Long dry summers and mild winters are separated by short autumn and spring seasons. Summer is a time of high temperatures with cloudless skies, but the sea breeze creates a pleasant atmosphere in the coastal areas. Winters are mild, with some rain and snow on Troodos Mountains.

Population of North Cyprus. According to a census carried out by the Turkish Cypriot administration, the TRNC has a population of about 264,172 of which majority is composed of indigenous Turkish Cypriots, with the rest including a large number of settlers from Turkey. Of the 178,000 Turkish Cypriot citizens, 74% are native Cypriots (approximately 140,000). Of the remaining people born to non-Cypriot parentage, approximately 16,000 were born in Cyprus.



The figure for non-citizens, including students, guest workers and temporary residents stood at 78,000 people. An island-wide census in 1960 indicated the number of Turkish Cypriots as 102,000 and Greek Cypriots as 450,000. Estimates state that 36,000 (about 1/3) Turkish Cypriots emigrated in the period 1975-1995, with the consequence that within the occupied area the native Turkish Cypriots have been outnumbered by settlers from Turkey. The TRNC is almost entirely Turkish speaking. English, however, is widely spoken as a second language. Many of the older Turkish Cypriots speak and understand Greek - some may even be considered native speakers of the Greek Cypriot dialect.





The general pattern of its roughly 400-mile (640-km) coastline is indented and rocky, with long, sandy beaches. The Kyrenia Mountains extend for 100 miles (160 km) parallel to and just inland from the northern coast.

The Troodos Mountains in the south and southwest are of great interest to geologists. The range stretches eastward about 50 miles (80 km) from near the island’s west coast to the 2,260-foot (689-metre) Stavrovouni peak, about 12 miles (19 km) from the southeastern coast. The range’s summit, Mount Olympus reaches an elevation of 6,401 feet (1,951 metres) and is the island’s highest point.

Between the two ranges lies the Mesaoria Plain which is flat and low-lying and extends from Morphou Bay in the west to Famagusta Bay in the east. Roughly in the centre of the plain is Nicosia. The plain is the principal cereal-growing area in the island.






Most Greek Cypriots are members of the Greek Orthodox Church, whereas most Turkish Cypriots are Muslim. According to Eurobarometer 2005 , Cyprus is one of the most religious countries in Europe, along with Turkey, Malta, Romania, Greece and Poland. In addition to the Orthodox Christian and Muslim communities, there are also small Bahá'í, Jewish, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Maronite (Eastern Rites Catholic) and Armenian Apostolic communities in Cyprus.





Since the last railway was dismantled in 1950, the remaining modes of transport are by road, sea, and air.
In 1999, Cyprus had six heliports and two international airports: Larnaca International Airport and Paphos International Airport. Nicosia International Airport has been closed since 1974.

Public transport in Cyprus is limited to privately run bus services (except in Nicosia), taxis, and 'shared' taxi services. Per capita private car ownership is the 5th highest in the world. In 2006 extensive plans were announced to improve and expand bus services and restructure public transport throughout Cyprus, with the financial backing of the European Union Development Bank. The main harbours of the island are Limassll harbour and Larnaca harbour, which service cargo, passenger, and cruise ships.



The Cypriot economy is prosperous and has diversified in recent years. According to the latest IMF estimates, its per capita GDP is, at $46,865, the third highest in the European Union. Cyprus has been sought as a base for several offshore businesses for its highly developed infrastructure. Adoption of the euro as a national currency is required of all new countries joining the European Union, and the Cypriot government adopted the currency on 1 January 2008.

Oil has recently been discovered in the seabed between Cyprus and Egypt, and talks are underway between Lebanon and Egypt to reach an agreement regarding the exploration of these resources. The seabed separating Lebanon and Cyprus is believed to hold significant quantities of crude oil and natural gas.

The economy of the Turkish-occupied area is dominated by the services sector, including the public sector, trade, tourism and education, with smaller agriculture and light manufacturing sectors. The economy operates on a free-market basis, although it continues to be handicapped by the political isolation of Turkish Cypriots, the lack of private and governmental investment, high freight costs, and shortages of skilled labor. Despite these constraints, the economy turned in an impressive performance in 2003 and 2004, with growth rates of 9.6% and 11.4%. The average income in the area is $5,000 per capita, and the Turkish government has pledged to increase this to $12,000 through investment and aid. Growth has been buoyed by the relative stability of the Turkish new lira and by a boom in the education and construction sectors.





The Cypriot National Guard is the main military institution of the Republic of Cyprus. It is a combined arms force, with land, air and naval elements.
The land forces of the Cypriot National Guard comprise the following units:
• First Infantry Division
• Second Infantry Division
• Fourth Infantry Brigade
• Twentieth Armored Brigade
• Third Support Brigade
• Eighth Support Brigade

The air force includes the 449th Helicopter Gunship Squadron (449 ΜΑΕ) - operating SA-342L and Bell 206 and the 450th Helicopter Gunship Squadron (450 ME/P) - operating Mi-35P, BN-2B and PC-9. Current Senior officers include Supreme Commander, Cypriot National Guard: Lt. Gen. Konstantinos Bisbikas, Deputy Commander, Cypriot National Guard: Lt. Gen. Savvas Argyrou and Chief of Staff, Cypriot National Guard: Maj. Gen. Gregory Stamoulis.





A number of cities and places on Greek and Turkish maps have different names.
• Nikosiyay (Levkosiya) – Lefkoşa
• Famagusta (Amohostos) – Mağusa
• Kireniya – Girne
• Morfu – Güzelyurt
• Tricomo – Iskele
• Risokarpaso - Dipkarpaz





Cyprus has been an island invaded and inhabited by many different nations and people throughout its history and as a result Cypriot cuisine owes a great deal to the external influences that have directly affected it.

Unsurprisingly most of the traditional food and drink in North Cyprus nowadays is very similar to mainland Turkish cuisine though more modern European influences are now beginning to become apparent as are Asian influences and you can find traces of tradition from as far away as the Balkans to Northern Africa in the food and drink of Northern Cyprus today.





Cyprus is steeped in a rich and colorful history and its numerous archaeological treasures are breathtakingly beautiful. Away from the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean, the golden beaches, secluded bays and great water sports there is unspoilt countryside with rare and endemic flowers and many birds and butterflies. There are undulating hills, golden plains and of course the Troodos Mountains with their cool refreshing air that's lightly scented with pine.

The main towns of Cyprus are bustling with the latest European fashion shops just a street away from the workshops of numerous craftsmen who take tremendous pride in their work be chair making, tailoring or icon painting. There are different museums and art galleries that give visitors a unique insight into the history and culture and there are many fun places to visit like wineries and beer factories and handicraft workshops - and a wealth of different restaurants to try. At night the tempo changes dramatically, but there is still something for everyone with a rich variety of hotel entertainment, classical music concerts and local dance bands. For the born romantics there are the dinners for two and leisurely strolls in the moonlight.

The villages in Cyprus offer a wonderful contrast to the towns. Each village is different from the next, but they all offer many memorable moments with their slower pace of life that is closely linked to the passing seasons. The villages have interesting architecture, diverse crafts and colorful folklore to discover. You will always be proudly welcomed with warm Cypriot hospitality.






Here you will discover a compact world of alluring beaches and fragrant mountain peaks, vineyards studded with olive trees and ancient ruins that stir the imagination, citrus groves and old stone villages where sweet wine flows as freely as conversations at the local cafe.

A carefree place where a sense of timelessness is magnified by the kindness of the people.

From the establishment of the Republic, tourism played an important role for the islands’ economy, while from the 1960s Cyprus became one of the main tourist centers of the Mediterranean, after a rapid and continuous growth.

Cyprus, at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa, is situated in the north-eastern corner of the Mediterranean Sea, 75km south of Turkey, 90km west of Syria and 380km east of the Greek island of Rhodes. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily and Sardinia, with an area of 9.251 sq km.





• New Year - January 1
• Epiphany - January 6
• National Day - April 1
• Labor Day - May 1
• Assumption Day - August 15
• Independence Day - October 1
• National Holiday - October 28
• Christmas - December 25-26





The variety of wildlife in Cyprus is low, but there are still many interesting species to be seen, such as those of mammals and insects.
There are many lizards in Cyprus, they are mostly shy creatures and choose under-populated sites as their habitat.

Snakes live in the Kyrenia mountain range. They hibernate during winter and you will find them in the long grass or basking in the sun in the days of summer and spring. Most species are harmless and will quickly slither off when they are aware of someone approaching.

Cyprus serves as a staging post for migrating birds flying between Europe and the Nile Delta. Hundreds of thousands of birds pass through the island in autumn and spring. There are many watching sites in Cyprus and the number of species during both seasons is high.

The clear waters around the island are home for almost two hundred different fish species.
Enormous sharks and rays are seen in the deep waters far away from the shores. The flying fish is also observed at a safe distance off the shores. The sea bream, octopus, sole and squid are the main types caught and eaten.

In the Karpaz National Park area there are live donkeys which roam wild.