Cyprus
Visiting Cyprus
A Mediterranean holiday is never complete without a visit to Cyprus. According to most surveys, the country is the most popular travel destination on this side of the world, bringing in more than two million tourists each year and for a very good reason. Its geographical location at the northeastern part of the Mediterranean and its being large island has attracted the attention of many travelers seeking for a more laid-back summer vacation. Added to that is the country’s breathtaking natural scenic attractions and other entertainment options that cater to other types of tourists. There’s always something to do in Cyprus no matter what kind of travel personality you happen to have.
The lure of this country can also be attributed to its interesting culture as is reflected through its local literature, music, traditions and its art. Its history was never straightforward as it went through many struggles before it finally became what it is today – a highly independent and developed country that makes up over ninety percent of the island of the same name (the other part is still under the control of the United Kingdom).
In reality, the island is divided into four major partitions with the Republic of Cyprus maintaining its control over 59% of the territory. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has control over 36% and the remaining portion is evenly divided between the Sovereign Base areas that are controlled by the UK and the UN-controlled Green Line.
Culture and people
The country’s name was believed to have been derived from the Greek word for the Mediterranean cypress tree – kyparissos. Some believed it was from the Greek word for the henna plant which is kypros. In any case, Cyprus is widely known as the “land of Aphrodite” because the Greek goddess was said to have been born in this land.
The country is also known as the mythical birthplace of other gods and other notable characters in Greek mythology such as Adonis, King Cinyras, Teucer and Pygmalion. But its real history stretches back to more than ten thousand years ago when the island was known to have been inhabited by Mycenaean Greeks. Since then, it has gone under several different rulers including Assyria, the Roman Republic and Great Britain. Cyprus finally acquired its independence from the UK in 1960.
Most of the country’s population belongs to the Eastern Orthodox Church called the Church of Cyprus. The church is headed by an archbishop primate with the assistance of three other bishops of the country. Other religions being practiced here include Islam, Roman Catholicism and Judaism.
Greek and Turkish are both its official languages although because other ethnic groups have been known to live in the country, other languages are also spoken. Many towns use the English language probably as an offshoot of its being once a territory of England.
Tourist attractions
One popular tourist attraction in Cyprus includes the little castles that overlook the water. These architectural landmarks have been built in the thirteenth century during the Lusignan Dynasty. These days, most of the castles are open to tourists who want to learn more about the country’s past. One of the most notable of these castles is the Kyrenia Castle which was once used as a stronghold that protected its inhabitants from foreign attacks. Interestingly, this castle has never really taken a direct attack.
This page has the following sub pages.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.