Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean,
situated 60 km south of Turkey and 300 km north of Egypt. It
has two mountain ranges – the Pentadaktylos range (max
height 1,042 m) along the north coast and the Troodos massif
(Mt Olympus 1,953 m) in the central and south-western parts
of the island. Between the two ranges lies the plain of Messaoria.
Climate is Mediterranean – hot, dry summers and changeable
winters.
Travel Insurance for Cyprus:
Area: Europe
The Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) are sovereign British territory
and cover 98 square miles of the island of Cyprus. The SBAs are
purely military in nature. They are run by the SBA Administration
and have their own legislation, police force and courts. They
are very closely linked with the Republic of Cyprus with whom
they are in a customs and currency union.
The island of Cyprus is located in the Eastern Mediterranean
Sea , south of Turkey and west of Syria . After Sardinia and
Sicily , it is the next largest island in the Mediterranean .
The highest point of the island is Mt. Olympus at approx. 6,000’.
The island is divided into six separate administrative districts
with the northern part known as the Turkish Cypriot section and
the southern part the Greek Cypriot section.
The population is comprised of mainly Greek with some Turkish
and others. Greek and Turkish are the official languages, although
English is widely spoken. The dominant religion is Greek Orthodox,
with Islam and other faiths. Cyprus gained its independence from
the British in 1960.
The Mediterranean climate makes Cyprus a very popular year
round tourist destination and is a particular favourite of the
British. Among other popular activities, golf, fishing, sailing,
cycling and all manner of water sports are available along its
hundreds of miles of beaches.
The capital and largest city, Nicosia , is located
on the Pedieos River in the central part of the island. It is
a must-see place on every visitor’s agenda with its rich
history which can be traced back to the Bronze Age. It is an
agricultural and administrative area, as well as manufacturing
in items such as leather and textiles. Nicosia was home to the
kings of Cyprus at one time. The Venetians were then in control
for a period of time from the 14 th century and remains of their
influence and architecture can still be seen, particularly in
the old Venetian fortress walls which enclosed the city. There
are many museums, churches and medieval buildings containing
valuable antiquities from these old worlds. Nicosia is also regarded
as the shopping area of Cyprus and the shops can be enjoyed via
the many pedestrian streets. It also has a busy nightlife with
many bars, restaurants and discos.
Paphos is the capital city of the western part of Cyprus
.It has a very scenic old harbour and castle and legend
is that the Greek Goddess of love, Aphrodite, was born near Paphos.
It is believed that you will live longer if you bathe near Aphrodite’s
rocks. Paphos is a very popular place for tourists and two popular
areas are the town of Pano Paphos and coastal resort area of
Kato Paphos.
The port city of Larnaca is the location of the
main airport for Cyprus , and because of this many visitors tend
not to spend time there. However, Larnaca has some lovely beaches,
museums and sites of archaeological and cultural interest. According
to legend, the St. Lazarus church is the site of Lazarus’s
tomb. The church also contains some lovely Byzantine religious
art.
The port city of Limassol is located in
the south part of the islandon Akrotiri Bay and
is the main administrative and industrial area of the country.
It is also a resort area. There are many sites of architectural
interest. Ricahrd I of England (Richard the Lionheart) married
Berengaria of Navarre at Limassol in 1191. The old town is a
popular area with its thriving community of shops and artists. |
