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Facts about Cyprus and Famagusta

  • Cyprus is known as 'the playground of the gods', and for good reason too! Aphrodite is said to have risen out of the water near southern coasts .
  • Archaeological evidence suggests that people first lived on the island of Cyprus 10,000 years ago.
  • Cyprus was once the wealthiest nation in the known world. It was during the Copper and Bronze Ages when the island's rich natural copper resources were exported to other countries. The name Cyprus is said to be given because of the copper resources. 
  • Famagusta was once the richest city in the known world during the reign of the Franks and the Venetians.
  • Cyprus is a divided country. A UN buffer zone (known as the Green Line) separates the Turkish controlled Republic of Northern Cyprus and the Greek controlled South. Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, is now the only capital in the world to be divided between two nations - North Cyprus & South Cyprus.
  • 371 species of bird can be seen on the island. Most are migratory birds and are seen during spring and autumn.
  • Cyprus is home to 20 rare species of orchid.
  • There are more than 1950 species of flowering plant in Cyprus, 140 of which are found nowhere else in the world. These include Tulipa Cypria which we choose to use as a sympol. 
  • Cyprus is one of only a few places in the world where Green Turtles & Loggerhead Turtles (Caretta caretta)  nest.
  • In geological term Cyprus is an ophiolite. It rose out of the sea around 20 million years ago.
  • Cyprus is the 3rd biggest and the easternmost island in the Mediterranean Sea.
  • More than 45 beaches on Cyprus have been awarded the EU Blue Flag for cleanliness & safety. Famagusta owns few of the best beaches of the island.
  • Lefkara Lace is produced in Cyprus.
  • Kolokasi is a speciality root vegetable grown on Cyprus. It is a type of sweet potato.
  • Cyprus’s cheese is unique. Haloumi from Cyprus is recognized as the true version of cheese. Many Cypriots make it at home and served almost everywhere on island. The United States and the EU have recognized haloumi as a traditional Cypriot product, so officially haloumi is only haloumi if it's made in Cyprus.
  • Commandaria is a sweet red wine produced in Cyprus. It is reputed to be the oldest wine in the world.
  • A round of the World Rally Championship (WRC) has taken place in Cyprus every year since 2000.
  • Traffic in Cyprus drives on the left-side of the road and the power plugs used are English style. So get ready to feel the cultural breeze of England also.
  • Crime rate is very low in Cyprus, making it one of the safest places in the world to live.
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