12/12/2024
15 Interesting Facts You May Not Know About Cyprus
1. Cyprus is home to the world’s oldest known wine label, *Commandaria*, which dates back to around 2000 BC and is still produced today.
2. The island is famous for being the legendary birthplace of the Greek goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite, with Petra tou Romiou being her mythological birthplace.
3. Cyprus has been inhabited for over 10,000 years, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world.
4. The country has two official languages: Greek and Turkish, reflecting its divided governance and complex history.
5. Cyprus has no rivers that flow year-round, but it relies on underground aquifers and reservoirs for water supply.
6. The capital city, Nicosia, is the last divided capital in the world, split between the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus by a UN buffer zone.
7. Halloumi cheese, one of Cyprus’s most famous exports, is believed to have originated on the island as early as the Medieval Byzantine period.
8. The island’s beaches consistently rank among the cleanest in Europe, with dozens receiving the Blue Flag certification each year.
9. Cyprus has its own unique breed of cat called the Cyprus cat, believed to have been brought to the island by Saint Helena to control snakes.
10. Ancient Cypriots were among the first to use copper extensively, with the metal even deriving its name from the island’s Latin name, *Cuprum*.
11. The Troodos Mountains are home to Byzantine churches and monasteries adorned with frescoes that are UNESCO World Heritage sites.
12. Cyprus experiences over 300 days of sunshine annually, making it one of the sunniest countries in Europe.
13. The Lefkara village in Cyprus is famous for its intricate lacework and silver handicrafts, a tradition that dates back centuries and even attracted Leonardo da Vinci.
14. The island has its own version of the evil eye superstition, and many locals use talismans to ward off bad luck and envy.
15. Cyprus is one of the few countries where drivers use the left-hand side of the road, a remnant of British colonial rule that ended in 1960.
