Home
About Cyprus
The EDEN Project
Cyprus Tourism Organisation
EU EDEN Home
Press Section
European Tourism Forum
Photo Gallery
Contact Us
Rural Destinations
Troodos
Western Larnaca
Pafos



This project has been co-financed by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation and the European Commission under the 2006 Grant Programme, Pilot Project ENT/TOU/06/6.1 “European Destinations of Excellence”

Website design:
CMP Polymedia Ltd.

© Cyprus Tourism
Organisation
, 2007

 
About Cyprus

The Republic of Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean, situated at the crossroads of the continents of Europe, Asia and Africa. It is an EU member state with a long history and rich culture.

The island’s strategic geographic position has since antiquity played an important part in its turbulent history. Inhabited since prehistoric times, it has been conquered and dominated by many different cultures and civilisations. Phoenicians, Assyrians, Persians, Egyptians, Romans, Franks, Venetians, Ottomans, British, have all left behind visible traces of their passage. On this island once walked Christ's apostles.

The Mycenaean Greeks introduced their civilisation 3,500 years ago and permanently installed the island’s Hellenic roots. In antiquity, rich copper deposits put Cyprus on the world map. It is widely acclaimed that cuprum, the Latin word for copper is derived from the word Cyprus.

The island is an open air museum where one can visit prehistoric settlements, classical Greek temples, Roman theatres and villas, early Christian basilicas, Byzantine era churches and monasteries, crusader castles, Gothic cathedrals, Venetian fortifications, Moslem mosques and British colonial architecture style buildings.

Cyprus enjoys a typically Mediterranean climate, with long hot summers and mild sunshine-drenched winters with little rainfall. The Troodos range occupies most of the southwestern part of the island. The coastal areas of Lemesos (Limassol), Pafos, Polis, Larnaka, Agia Napa and Paralimni have been developed into popular tourist holiday resorts. Lefkosia (Nicosia), the capital, is located inland.

In the hinterland villages of Cyprus one may still witness old ways of life, customs and traditions. “Philoxenia”, the Greek word for friendliness toward strangers, characterizes the people of the region. Authenticity, warmth and genuine curiosity create a feeling of welcome towards the visitor. Communication is facilitated by the fact that throughout the island the English language is widely spoken.

Follow these links for information on rural Cyprus as well as travel and tourism information in Cyprus.

Cyprus Tourism Organisation
Cyprus’ National Tourism Organisation. Visit this site for in-depth information on tourism in Cyprus.

Cyprus Agrotourism Company
The company offering licensed traditional agrotourism accommodation in various villages across Cyprus.

Association of Cyprus Travel Agents
The official association of travel agents and tour operators, regulated by CTO and EU law.