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| Holiday in Cyprus |
 Cyprus, according to Mythology, is the birthplace of the goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite. The island is both an ancient land, with an eleven thousand year-old history and civilization as well as a young independent republic since 1960. Its geographic location at the crossroads of three continents- Europe, Asia and Africa- and is an island of oceanic origin which has never been connected to the mainland. Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily and Sardinia with an area of 9,251 sq. kilometers. It has a maximum length of 240 km from east to west and a maximum width of 100 km from north to south.
It is situated at the north-eastern end of the East Mediterranean basin at a distance of 380 km north of Egypt, 105 km west of Syria and 75km south of Turkey. The Greek mainland is some 800 km to the west. Cyprus is an island of legends that basks year-round in the light of the warm Mediterranean sun. People do tend to get possessive when faced with such beauty.
On holiday in Cyprus today you can see is a modern country that effortlessly marries European culture with ancient enchantment. 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.
A former British colony, Cyprus received independence in 1960 following years of resistance to British rule. Although only the internationally recognized Greek Cypriot-controlled Republic of Cyprus joined the EU on 1 May 2004. EU laws, however, will not apply to north Cyprus.
On holiday in Cyprus you can enjoy a rich fauna including a large number of endemic birds, reptiles and animals. About 17% of the whole island is being classified as woodland. Among the animals the moufflon occupies an outstanding position and is considered as one of the natural treasures of the island. This animal, which is the symbol of the Cyprus Republic and is used on its coins, has long been in danger of extinction, but today is a fully protected species.
On holiday in Cyprus you can relish an intense Mediterranean climate. Hot, dry summers and rainy, rather changeable winters are separated by short autumn and spring seasons. Snow occurs rarely in the lowland and on the Northern Range. Temperatures are high in summer and the mean daily temperature in July and August ranges between 29 C on the central plain to 22 C on the Troodos Mountains, while the average maximum temperature for these months ranges between 36 C and 27 C respectively.
The population of Cyprus is 793.100. The language of the Greek Cypriot community is Greek and the community adheres to the Autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus. The language of the Turkish Cypriot community is Turkish and the community adheres to Islam.
The capital of Cyprus is Nikosia.The name of Nicosia (Lefkosia, in Greek), probably comes from Lefkos, son of Ptolemy, who rebuilt the city in the 3rd century B.C. The city also bore the name of Lefkothea - the white goddess. The core of Nicosia is surrounded by 16th century Venetian fortifications. If you are on holiday in Cyprus don’t miss the possibility to visit the city which is rich in museums and monuments of different periods. Nicosia successfully blends its history with the developed modern administrative commercial and business centre it has become.
The second largest town is Limassol in the south, it is Cyprus' main commercial port and an important tourist resort.
Larnaca, in the south-east of the island, is the island's second commercial port and an important tourist resort. To the north of the town lies the island's oil refinery, while to the south of Larnaca the International Airport is situated.
Cyprus offers a wide variety of holiday accommodation ranging from modern, large and luxurious establishments to small and simple family-run operations. Holiday accommodation includes hotels, hotel apartments, tourist villages, tourist villas, camping sites, traditional houses, tourist apartments, furnished apartments, guesthouses and hotels without star. Accommodation in private houses is not available in Cyprus. English is spoken in all hotels; French and German are also widely spoken.
The «Blue Flag» "Blue flag" is an exclusive eco-label awarded to beaches that fulfill a number of criteria, including the quality of the bathing water, environmental education and information and beach area management and safety. In 2003, a total of 39 beaches in Cyprus were awarded the «European Blue Flag» by the European Jury.
Ports and harbors: Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos, Vasilikos
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