Cyprus Property News
101 Cyprus Greatest Hits (from 59 to 40)
Date: 03/03/20Cyprus has a great wealth of various attractions ranging from the obvious leisure and amusement facilities you can enjoy on your holiday to significant historical sites and places of amazing natural beauty. The history of the island is full of colorful events that produced a unique culture. In the series of articles “101 Cyprus Greatest Hits” we will guide you through the top facts, activities and
59. Pita Bread
Cypriot Pita bread has a soft fluffy texture, and should not
be confused with the standard tasteless cardboard pita found vacuum sealed in
UK supermarkets. Cypriot pita is often enjoyed with souvla, grilled halloumi,
or a simple vegetable salad.
58. Loukoumi (Cyprus Delight)
Cyprus delight is a jelly sweet that has been produced in
the county for centuries. “Loukoumi Geroskipou”, production of which dates back
to 1895, is the first Cypriot name to be registered as a Protected Geographical
Indication (PGI) in the European Union. The village of Geroskipou situated in
the Paphos district is famous for its delicious Loukoumi and is definitely
worth a visit.
57. Souvlaki
Cyprus Souvlaki kebabs are served in many local taverns
where you could choose to eat in or Take away and enjoy in the comfort of your
own home. Cypriot Souvlaki are traditionally pork or chicken skewered BBQ meat
served in a fresh pita with garnish of fresh vegetables and dressing.
56. Halloumi
Halloumi or the “squeaky cheese”, is one of the most famous
worldwide favourites, which originated in Cyprus. In the hot summer Halloumi
can be enjoyed cut into slices and eaten cold, while during winter its best
served either grilled or fried.
55. Sheftalia
A visit to Cyprus is not truly complete without trying
traditional grilled Sheftalia sausages. No restaurant has the exact same
recipe, but the sausages usually comprise of pork or lamb mince spiced with
parsley, onion, salt and pepper. Definitely reserve a spot on your plate for Sheftalia.
54. Vasilikon Winery
If you visit Paphos, save time for a trip to a local winery.
Vasilikon Winery established in 1993 in Kathikas is an award-winning winery
which is highly favoured by Paphos locals. The winery owns 16 hectares of
vineyards and produces 350,000 bottles annually, each expressing the unique
terroir of the property.
53. Troodos Mountains
Travel to the highest peak of Cyprus, Mount Olympus in
Troodos, by the adventurous mountain roads and enjoy the view of the hundreds
of pine trees on the way. Do not forget to visit the waterfalls of Troodos and
treat yourself with the selection of tasty nuts at the Troodos Square. Visit
Troodos in winter for skiing, snow ball fights, or just a peaceful walk. In
Cyprus you can go from sunbathing on Limassol beach to being in winter
wonderland in Troodos in just under an hour and a half.
52. Tala Monastery Cat Park
Tala Monastery Cat Park is only a short 15-minute drive from
the center of Paphos and is home to 750 lovable cats and kittens. The Park is
open 7 days a week and run by volunteers. Visitors could spend the day giving
the cats their attention, or even go the extra mile by sponsoring a cat, giving
a donation or volunteering to help. You could even adopt one that you connect
with! For all cat lovers, this is the place to be!
51. Kourion
The ancient roman ruins in Kourion have some of the most
stunning mosaics and an amphitheatre which gives breath-taking views of
Episkopi Bay. Kourion is one of the most popular UNESCO Roman
Architectural sites in Cyprus. There are often events hosted at the theatre
including performances of Shakespeare's plays.
50. Turtle Nesting
Argaka is well known for being a Green and Loggerhead
turtles nesting area. The turtles come during the period of May to August to
lay their eggs on Cyprus beaches, including the Akamas, Argaka and Lara Bay.
The turtle eggs hatch approximately 50 days later. The peak season for hatching
is between August and September, so do not miss out!
49. Zenobia Wreck Diving
The Swedish ship MS Zenbodia sunk just off Larnaca in 1980
and has since been rated one of the top 10 wreck dives in the world. The wreck
which lies approximately 42 meters beneath the ocean still has its cargo of
trucks which were worth an estimated £200 million. The wreck now attracts
grouper, barracuda, tuna, turtle and trigger fish, making the diving site a
truly unique attraction.
48. Great Tourist Destination
Tourism is an extremely important contributor to the
island’s economy. Cyprus has received multiple awards including VISION on
Sustainable Tourism and Totem Tourism for its overall competitiveness and
tourism infrastructure. A Cyprus Hospitality Report published by KPMG in 2019,
showed one of the best years from the Cypriot tourist industry. Tourist
arrivals increased by 7.8%, reaching 3.9 million arrivals of which 33% and 20%
being British and Russian respectively.
47. Hospitable Residence
Cyprus currently holds a population of around 1.17 million
and is the third largest and third most populous island in the Mediterranean.
This population consists of many different nationalities forming a strong
coalescence.
46. Guaranteed Rights of UK Citizens
It’s estimated that around 65,000 citizens of the United
Kingdom reside in Cyprus. Cyprus Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides works
towards safeguarding the rights of UK citizens residing in Cyprus in the event
of a “No Deal” BREXIT. On Friday the 08
November 2019 the CY parliament passed two regulations guaranteeing the right
of UK nationals for GMI and employee rights.
45. Cedar Valley
Cedar Valley is located on the crossroads of Nicosia, Paphos
and Limassol, in the center of Cyprus' Troodos mountains. This valley is full
of the gorgeous trees known as The Cyprus Cedar (Cedrus brevifolia species) and
therefore was later recognised as a European protected natural area for birds,
flora and fauna (Natura 2000).
44. KEO
The “Cyprus Wine Company” is the English abbreviation from
KEO which is a European beverage company founded in 1927 in Cyprus. KEO
produces a variety of alcoholic products such as wine and beer, as well as
non-alcoholic products, that are sold locally and in over 30 countries worldwide.
43. Stifado
This dish is perfect for meat lovers. Stifado is a beef stew
with tomatoes, onion, cinnamon, garlic and a combination of red wines which all
contribute to one of the most distinctive flavours on the island.
42. Loukoumades
If someone in the family is having a craving for delicious
desserts, look no further than Cypriot Loukomades. Also known as Greek Donuts,
Loukoumades are sweet little balls of dough drizzled with honey and then
sprinkled with cinnamon.
41. Moussaka
Moussaka is to Cyprus what Lasagne is to Italians. A rich
tomato meat sauce layered with eggplant instead of pasta sheets, and topped
with a thick layer of béchamel sauce. Moussaka is the top of the list Cypriot
dish, highly recommended to tourists.
40. Commandaria
Cyprus is home for one of the oldest named wines that is
still in production. Commandaria is a legendary wine that is produced by the
long fermentation process of the Mavro blue and white Xynisteri grapes. These
grapes are grown on the southern slopes of the Troodos Mountains.
(We will continue the countdown in our next issue of “101 Cyprus Greatest Hits”.)