This document provides information about Cyprus and some of its main cities and places of interest. It begins with an overview of Cyprus, including facts about its population, government, landscape, currency, and climate. It then discusses several cities - Nicosia, Limassol, Paphos, and Larnaca - and highlights important historical sites, museums, and attractions to visit in each city. The document also profiles some famous Cypriots and provides a brief history of Cyprus.

1. 2016-2017
Prepared by the students and
teachers of fourth grade of
the Chryseleousa Primary
School.
THE CYPRUS COMMON GUIDE BOOK

2. 1
CYPRUS (KIPROS)
Cyprus, officially the Republic of Cyprus is an island country in the Eastern Mediterranean and the
thirdlargestand thirdmostpopulousislandinthe Mediterranean.Itislocatedsouthof Turkey,west
of Syria and Lebanon, northwest of Israel and Palestine, north of Egypt, and southeast of Greece.
The Republic of Cyprus is divided into six districts: Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos, Famagusta
and Kyrenia. Nicosia (Lefkosia) is the capital of Cyprus.
The current population of Republic of Cyprus is 1,184,561.
Cyprus population is equivalent to 0.02% of the total world population.
The population density in Cyprus is 129 per Km2 (333 people per mi2).
The total land area is 9,243 Km2 (3,569 sq. miles)
66.8 % of the population is urban (792,815 people in 2017)
The median age in Cyprus is 36.3 years.
Government type: Presidential democracy

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Landscape
The islandisdominatedbytwomountainranges,the TroodosMountainsandthe KyreniaMountains
or Pentadaktylos,andthe central plain,the Mesaoria,betweenthem.The Troodos Mountains cover
most of the southern and western portions of the island and account for roughly half its area. The
narrow Kyrenia Range extends along the northern coastline. Coastal lowlands, varying in width,
surround the island.
Currency
On January01, 2008, the Republicof Cyprusintroducedthe Euro(€) as itsofficial currency,replacing
the Cypruspound(CY£) as the legal tender of Cyprus, at the irrevocable fixed exchange rate of €1 =
CY£ 0,585274. All banksoperatingin Cyprusofferforeigncurrencyexchange services and quote the
exchange rates of the Euro against all major foreign currencies daily.
Climate
Cyprus enjoys an intense Mediterranean climate, with long dry summers from mid–May to mid–
October, and mild winters from December to February, which are separated by short autumn and
spring seasons. Summer is a season of high temperatures with cloudless skies, but the sea breeze
creates a pleasant atmosphere in the coastal areas. Isolated thunder showers are possible mainly
over the mountains during early afternoons. Winters are mild with rain and snow on Troodos
Mountains. The island enjoys abundant sunshine, and even in December and January, there is an
average of six hours of bright sunshine per day, whilst over the six ‘summer’ months, there is an
average of 11.5 hours of bright sunshine per day.
Cypriot Cuisine
The ritual of sharing good, fresh local cuisine is an important part of the island’s culture, and is
intrinsicallylinkedwitheverysocial event,fromfamily gatherings and special occasions to religious

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festivals… each marked with its own distinct delicacies and recipes. From hearty meat dishes and
specialty cheeses to unique desserts of carob and grape, the Cypriot cuisine is an exotic blend of
Greek and Middle Eastern cultures. Here are some of the island’s specialties:
Famous Cypriots
Koumandaria ( Cypriot wine) Stifado (leanbeef)
GrilledHalloumi cheese
Sheftalies(mincedpork)
Kolokasi (taro root) Cyprus coffee
Meze (many dishes) Zivania (local drink)

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Michael Cacoyannis (11 June 1921 – 25 July 2011)
was a Greek Cypriot filmmaker, best known for his
1964 film Zorba the Greek. He directed the 1983
Broadway revival of the musical based on the film.
Much of his work was rooted in classical texts,
especially those of the Greek tragedian Euripides.
He wasnominatedforan AcademyAwardfive times,arecordfor anyCypriotfilmartist.He received
Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film nominations for Zorba the Greek, and two
nominations in the Foreign Language Film category for Electra and Iphigenia.
Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou (25 June 1963 – 25
December2016), knownprofessionally as George Michael,
was an English – Cypriot (from a Cypriot father) singer,
songwriter,recordproducer,andphilanthropistwhorose to
fame as a member of the music duo Wham! He was best
known for his work in the 1980s and 1990s, including hit
singles such as "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" and "Last
Christmas", and albums such as Faith (1987) and Listen
WithoutPrejudice Vol.1(1990). Up to the time of hisdeath,
Michael sold more than 115 million records worldwide,
makinghimone of the best-selling music artists of all time.
Anna Vissi (born 20 December 1957), is a Greek Cypriot
recording artist and actress. Born in Cyprus, she studied
musicat conservatoriesandperformedlocallybefore moving
to the professional scene in Athens, where she collaborated
withothermusical artistsandreleasedpromotional singlesof
herown witha greatsuccess.Vissi hasalsomade attempts at
establishing a career abroad. She struck some success with
her 2005 single "Call Me", which made her the first Greek or
Cypriot artist to top the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play
Chart and hasalso representedGreece inthe Eurovision Song Contest in 1980 and 2006, and Cyprus

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in 1982. While her performance for Cyprus remains the highest placement the country has ever
received in the contest, her Greek performances were less successful.
Marios Tokas (8 June 1954 – 27 April 2008) Cypriot composer
of traditional music born in Limassol, Cyprus. In 1975, he
wentto Athensinorderto study in the philosophical school.
At the same time,he studiedinthe Ethniko Odio because he
wantedto start a career as a musician. In 2004, Tokas and his
six-member orchestra gave a concert in Vienna. The concert
was co-organisedbythe GreekSocietyof Austriaandthe AthensSportsAssociation"Pantalkis" with
the supportof the General Secretariatof HellenismAbroadof the GreekForeignMinistry, under the
auspices of the Cypriot ambassador to Austria.
Marcos Baghdatis (born 17 June 1985) is a Cypriot professional tennis
player. He was the runner-up at the 2006 Australian Open and a
semifinalistatthe 2006 WimbledonChampionships and reached a career-
high ATP singles ranking of World No. 8 in August 2006. He was born in
Paramytha (Limassol district).
Pavlos Kontides (born 11 February 1990) is a Cypriot sailor. He
became the firstCypriotathlete ever to win an Olympic medal
for his country, by winning the silver medal at the 2012
Summer Olympics in the Men's Laser class. Kontides was born
in Limassol and he is a member of the Limassol Nautical Club.
He is studying ship science at the University of Southampton,
and has taken a two-year break.The Republic of Cyprus
honored Kontides through the issue of a Commemorative Stamp.

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Sir Christopher Antoniou Pissarides FBA (born 20 February
1948 isa British-Cyprioteconomist. He is the School Professor
of Economics & Political Science and Regius Professor of
Economics at the London School of Economics. His research
interests focus on several topics of macroeconomics, notably
labour, economic growth, and economic policy. In 2010, he
was awarded the Nobel Prize in economics, jointly with Peter
A. Diamond and Dale Mortensen, for his contributions to the
theory of search frictions and macroeconomics.

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NICOSIA (LEFKOSIA)
Nicosiaisthe capital of Cyprus and it’slocatedinthe centerof the island.Itisdividedinto two parts,
as a resultof the division of the island in two that followed the Turkish invasion and occupation of
over one third of the island in 1974. One cannot freely wonder through all of Nicosia. Since 2003
there are onlycertainpolice controlledcheckpointswhereone cancross fromone side to the other.
Places to visit in Nicosia
Cyprus Museum
The wonderful Cyprus Museum should be on every
visitor's hit list.
Thisexceedingly well-thought-out museum traces the
history of the island with an extensive collection of
artifacts that date from the Neolithic period to the
Byzantine era.
Venetian Fortifications
Nicosia's most defining features are its impressive
Venetian walls, which encircle the old city.
Makarios Cultural Foundation: The Byzantine Museum
For anyone interested in Cypriot religious artwork,
the Byzantine Museum contained within the
Makarios Cultural Foundation is an important stop in
the city.

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Ledra street
Ledra Streetisa majorshoppingstreet in
Nicosia.Itgetsitsname from the ancient
kingdomof Ledra.There isa large variety
of shops, ranging from department
storesto small specialty shopssellingarts
and crafts.
House of Hatzigeorgakis Kornesios
From 1779 to 1809, the House of HatzigeorgakisKornesios
belonged to Kornesios, the Great Dragoman of Cyprus,
whoaccumulatedhis vast wealth through various estates
and tax exemptions, and became the most powerful man
in Cyprus. The house itself is more beautiful and
interesting than the exhibits within.
Famagusta gate
Famagusta,the easternmostgate,isthe most
photographedandbest-preservedof the three
original gatesthatledintothe OldCityof Nicosia.
Laiki Yitonia
Thistinysouthernpart of the OldCity isNicosia’s
onlytouristarea.Thismeansit’sfull of restaurants
here you can try traditional dishes. It’salsopretty
and pleasantenoughforashort stroll.

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Panagia Chrysaliniotissa
The church of Panagia Chrysaliniotissa is dedicated to
the Virgin Mary. It’s considered to be the oldest
Byzantine church in Nicosia and was built in 1450 by
Queen Helena Paleologos. It is renowned for its rich
collection of old and rare icons.
Pancyprian Gymnasium Museum
Dating back to 1812, and the oldest school still
operating in Cyprus, there are several museums here
spread throughout a 12-room space

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LIMASSOL (LEMESOS)
Limassol (also known as Lemesos) is a shoreline city that sweeps along a broad stretch of
beach. This is the cosmopolitan hub of Cyprus, effortlessly blending sophisticated
modernisation with its ancient past.
Places to visit in Limassol
Ancient Kourion
One of Cyprus'mostspectaculararchaeological sites,
the ancientcity-kingdomof Kourionhasbeensettled
since the Neolithicage.
Limassol Old Town
Limassol'slively old town district is the most interesting
part of the city to explore.
Kolossi castle
Probablythe dinkiest castle you're evergoingtosee.
Kolossi Castle wasbuiltin AD 1210 by the Knights of
St. John.

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Ancient Amathus
Amathus has been settled since approximately
1000 BC and was one of the island's original four
city-kingdoms
Beaches
Marina
Limassol Marina combines elegant
residences and a full service marina with
an enticing mix of restaurants and shops.

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PAPHOS
Paphos, with its pleasant harbour and medieval fort, combines a
cosmopolitan holiday resort, spectacular countryside and historical
sites. The region offers the possibility of enjoying both sea and
mountains, as well as getting a taste of the island's culture with its
manyarchaeological sites.Feel the romance inthe airinthe land where
Aphrodite,the ancientGreekgoddessof love andbeauty,once roamed.
Kato (Lower) Paphos
Paphos was the original island capital and contains a wealth of historical sites. It was founded in
about 300 BC, soon becoming an important administrative and commercial centre. The lower
town,by the sea, has now expanded rapidly as a tourist centre. The harbour area being the main
attraction with its medieval fort, cafes and restaurants. The coastal region, southwest of the
harbour,containsa longstripof hotelsthatstretchfor about2 km alongthe coast. The beacheshere
are small but many are sandy and good for swimming.
Paphos Old Town
PaphosMarketThe oldertownof Paphos sitson a plateauoverlookingthe west coast. It is a place of
government buildings, old churches, museums, a thriving market and many old shops that have
remainedunchangedoverthe years.The market,tothe leftof the townnearthe local busterminus,
is an ideal place to shop for a bargain. Stalls sell everything from souvenirs, jewellery, paintings,
clothes and locally produced leather goods, metalwork and lace.
Archaeological sites in Paphos
Witha historydatingbackmore than eightthousandyears, Paphoshasa wealthof treasures for the
visitor.Fromthe Stone Age,Hellenisticand Roman times, Byzantium through to today, many of the
ancient monuments are included in the UNESCO Global Heritage List.

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Paphos castle
Paphoscastle wasoriginally aByzantine fortbuilttoprotectthe harbour. During its long history, the
PaphosCastle wasused, aswell asfor protection, as prison cells, and even as a storage area for salt
when the island was a British colony. In 1935 it was declared an ancient monument and today is
considered as one of the hallmarks of the Paphos region.
Mosaics
These verybeautifulandrare Roman mosaicswere discoveredbyaccidentwhenthe land was being
ploughedin1962. Over40 mosaicshave now been found, containing many interesting geometrical
decorations usually surrounding a central mythological scene.
The tombs of the kings
The tombs,whichdate from aboutthe 3rd centuryBC, were continuouslyinuse asa burial ground
duringthe HellenisticandRomanperiods.Laterthe areawas usedasa place of refuge byearly
Christiansintimesof persecution,whenone of the tombswasturnedintoa chapel.Duringmedieval
timessome of the undergroundchamberswere occupiedasdwellings.Althoughnoroyaltyisknown

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to be buriedinthe tombs,the grandnessandscale of these structuresgivesthe impressionthey
were designedassuch.
Odeion and Agora
These decaying ruins were once at the very heart of
the ancient city of Paphos. The small Roman Odeion
(amphitheatre) was built in the 2nd century, where
musical performances were given. In front of the
theatre are the remains of an acropolis and agora
(market),which were probably built around the same
time.
Saranta Kolones Castle
Named after the 40 grey granite columns found on
the site. The castle originally comprised a moated
square keep,anda massive externalwall with towers
at each corner. It was built around 1200 AD on the
site of an earlierByzantine fort but was destroyed by
the earthquake of 1223 and never rebuilt.

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Other historical sites of interest:
 Early ChristianBasilica,StPaul'sPillar
 AgiaSolomoni andAgiosLamprianosCatacombs
 Byzantine Museum
 DistrictArchaeological Museum
 Ethnographical (HumanCulture) Museum
Akamas And Chrysochou Bay
The main road north from Paphos takes you to Chrysochou Bay, which runs from the tip of the
AkamasPeninsularinthe westtoPomosPointinthe east.The mainvillagesof significance are Polis
and the fishingharbourof Latchi.The more adventurous can find many fine undiscovered beaches,
further to the east but most tourists head for the beach resorts on the coast near Latchi and Polis.
Romantics, however, usually head further west till the road reaches a parking lot by the Baths of
Aphrodite, in the heart of the Akamas National Park.

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LARNACA
Beautifully compact, easily accessible and truly authentic, Larnaca is the island’s oldest soul; the
longestcontinuallyinhabitedregionof Cyprus,withahistorythatdatesback 4,000 years.And whilst
it isrich inancientculture,Larnaca isalsoa thrivingandmodernEuropeancitythatoffersthe bestof
all worlds. One of its most popular spots is the bustling promenade of Phinikoudes, which is lined
with mature palm trees and flanked by beach, eateries and entertainment.
Places to visit in Larnaca
Many of the main sights, including the Municipal Cultural Centre, the ancient church of Agios
Lazaros and the old fort, are a few steps away from the main axis of Phinikoudes promenade.
Furtherwest are the town’s archeological and natural history museums, the site of Ancient Kition,
the Municipal Theatre and the impressive old Kamares Turkish aqueduct. South of the fort, along
Piyale Pasa whichcontinuestoskirtthe sea, are Skala, the old Turkish area now dominated by craft
shops, the distinct holiday area of McKenzie Beach, and the huge salt lake.
Larnaca International Airport is located on the
southwest part of Larnaca and is the largest
among the country's two airports (the other one
being the Paphos International Airport).

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Larnaca fort St. Lazaros church
Hala Sultan Teke
Kamares Turkish AqueductAncient Kition

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FAMAGUSTA (AMMOCHOSTOS)
Famagusta is a city on the east coast of Cyprus. It is located east of Nicosia, and possesses the
deepest harbour of the island. During the medieval period (especially under the maritime
republics of Genoa and Venice), Famagusta was the island's most important port city. In Greek it is
calledAmmochostos,meaning"hiddeninthe sand".Thisname developedintoFamagusta(originally
Famagouste in French and Famagosta in Italian), used in Western European languages.
The old walledcityandpartsof the moderntown presently fall within the occupied area of Cyprus.
The Varosha suburb of Famagusta was fenced off by the Turkish army immediately after being
capturedin1974 and remainsfencedoff until today.The city has been frozen in time, with houses,
departmentstoresand hotels empty and abandoned and is often referred to as the “Ghost Town”.
Ammochostos…
…the socalledghost town.

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Archaeological sites in Ammochostos
St. Peter andPaul Church
St. Nicholas Cathedral
OthelloTower

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The ancient Roman city of Salamis
Salamis is an ancient Greek city-state on the east coast of Cyprus, at the mouth of the
river Pedieos, 6 km north of Famagusta. According to tradition, the founder of Salamis was
Teucer, son of Telamon, who could not return home after the Trojan War because he had failed
to avenge his brother Ajax.
The port
The gymnasium
The theatre

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KYRENIA (KERINIA)
Kyrenia is a city on the northern coast of Cyprus, noted for its historic harbor and castle. It is
also in the occupied area of Cyprus. The small harbor is overlooked by a grand Byzantine era
castle and backed by an old town district of tangled alleyways and Ottoman period houses
that are fun to explore
VISIT
CYPRUS…
YOU’LL
LOVE IT!