Situated on the northeastern domain of the Mediterranean, Cyprus is the third largest island in the region. Neighbor to Africa, Europe and Asia, Cyprus has an area of 9,250 kilometers square.

Over 9,000 years old, the island was once Anthonis gift to Cleopatra and the birthplace of the goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite, as mythology has it. In addition, Cyprus’ rich heritage is manifested in the plethora of Stone Age ruins, Greek temples, Roman theaters, Venetian structures and Byzantine churches.

A desired holiday destination, Cyprus is an attraction for its gourmet dishes and its variety in outdoor activities. Cyprus’ cuisine has been influenced by its positioning the Mediterranean as well as its vibrant heritage of Venetians, Greek, British and Near Eastern countries. With the aid of the sun, which shines approximately 340 days a year, holiday makers spend their time water sporting, hiking, parachuting and sky diving, as well as camping on the coast or mountain terrains. In the evenings, outings begin relatively late and finish in the early hours of the morning.

Locals are as warm as the summer sun and are accustomed to foreigners as they welcome them with open arms. Often English speaking, locals will aim to please and frequently go out of their way to achieve this. This openness is mirrored in the charming villages but remains as strong in the cities.

The Cypriot economy is small, diversified, and prosperous. With a moderate industry, a healthy service sectors and the rapid growth in exports of agricultural and manufactured products as well as in tourism have all played important roles in making the Cyprus Pound very strong amongst other currencies, which has turned Cyprus into a developed nation.

The ideal weather and ideal location define the ideal lifestyle of this magnificent Mediterranean island. With more that 340 days of sunshine, residents and tourists get to enjoy the clear warm waters of Cyprus throughout the year.

In November you can swim in the warm Mediterranean in the morning and ski on the slopes of Troodos Mountains in the afternoon.

The sun has an incredible effect on the Cypriot lifestyle and reveals itself in many ways, especially through the diet and characteristics of the Cypriots.

Two of the main industries on the island, tourism and farming prosper from the sun. Cyprus produces a wide array of fruit, vegetables and free-range meat resulting in a delicious and healthy diet evolved from many influences. Greece , Armenia , Lebanon , Syria and Italy have all left their mark on the Cypriot cuisine.

Dining in Cyprus is a very sociable affair and is usually the main reason for friends to meet friends and family to meet family!

Cyprus also has a long tradition of winemaking that goes back over 4,000 years. In ancient times wine was a major source of wealth for the island. Approximately 10% of the island is covered in vineyards. The wines are best sampled at the annual wine festival in Limassol in September.

Cypriots widely speak English as a result of the British influence, and of course to accommodate the great numbers of English speaking tourists that visit the island.