Cyprus - Useful information for your trip

Cyprus is the third biggest island of the Mediterranean Sea, and it is a state of the European Union since 2004. The climate of the island is subtropical-Mediterranean, with hot and dry summers and wet but temperate winters. In the summer the areas of the hinterland are characterized by drought of low vegetation that favours fires. Hot winds coming from African deserts often blow in Cyprus.

Because of its position, Cyprus has always had a very important historical role in wars. The British Empire occupied Cyprus for  many years in the modern era and only in 1959 did the island become independent. This independence brought to strong tensions between ethnicities, so that a coup of the Greek ethnic majority offered Turkey the chance to intervene militarily, basing on the Treaty of Zurich, and to occupy a big part of the island. For these reasons, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was founded, without any international recognition. With the entrance of Cyprus in the European Union, it was asked through a referendum to both ethnical groups to say what they thought of the country reunification. Since the result was negative, only the Greek part of the island was able to enter the European Union.

Cyprus is a presidential republic and Nicosia is its capital. Marine and archaeological tourism has improved in the late 30s. The island has wonderful coasts in the south, which represent the symbolic landscapes of the Mediterranean Sea and of its climate. Cyprus lives out of tourism; lots of cruises choose the island as a stopping point and lots of tourists are fascinated by the landscape of the hinterland, especially in the summer. Cyprus also has big tourist attractions protected by UNESCO as world heritage sites. 

The sea represents one of the principal attractions of the country, because it is one of the most beautiful in the world. Beaches are more than 50 and one of these, Ayia Napa has been chosen as the most beautiful in Europe. Anyway Cyprus is not only sea, but it is also one of the cradles of modern civilization and it has witnessed the occupation of different civilizations over the centuries. Some Byzantine churches and some monasteries, oases of culture and peace, are breath-taking. Mount Troodos, in the centre of the island, contains dozens of monasteries and churches and 10 of these are UNESCO’s world heritage sites.