Short general data on Cyprus

Today Cyprus is independent sovereign republic with a presidential form of government. Capital of Cyprus within ten centuries is the largest city of island - Nicosia. As the former colony of the Great Britain Cyprus is included into Commonwealth.

The Population of Cyprus compounds 730  thousand persons, annually to this number is added million tourists.

Ethnic composition of the population - Greek-Cypriotes, including maronites, Armenians and latinov (nearby 85 %), turko-Cypriotes (nearby 13 %) and other nationalities (nearby 2 %).

Island Official languages - Greek and Turkish. Almost each Cypriote speaks in English, many - in French and German.

Cypriotes are distinguished by hospitality and a kind locating to people. Russian tourists feel on Cyprus especially comfortably. It speaks, probably, historical bonds which exist between our people, and not in the last instance, the general roots of orthodox Christianity. After all Cyprus became one of the first states which have accepted this religion. The island involves Christian pilgrims with abundant of the saved Christian relics. The majority of Cypriotes is shrived by orthodox Christianity, a smaller part - Moslem.

The siesta is traditional For Cyprus (after-dinner rest in the most hot time of day) which is observed in May-September.

The Basic transport on island - cars and autobuss. A journey average cost by the autobus on distance 25  miles - 55  cents. Traffic here link sided. The international and foreign driver's licence admits. There is an assemblage of rental agencies of cars.

Cypriotes widely ekportirujut clothes, shoe, tanning items; diverse vegetables, a potato, citrus, a grape and the well-known wines.

The Cyprian wines are considered as the most ancient in the world, they are mentioned already in an Illiada of the Homere. A bottle of wine in volume 0,75  the l costs 0,8-2,5 pounds. As historical chronicles bear, the Cyprian wines were preferred still by ancient Romans. On taken place in Limassol in 1191  to year to wedding of British king Richard Lvinoe Serdtse and Berengarii the Navarrsky river flew Kumandarija (Commandaria) - dense red wine which till now effect on Cyprus. Kumandarija it was popular in the Middle Ages at yards of the English and French kings, and also in Venice. Cyprus - the recognised producer not only wines, but also a brandy, konjachnogo spirit, liqueurs, sherri and uzo-anisette.

the National Cyprian cuisine something reminds the Caucasian: in it agencies of the Arabian and Turkish culinary art also are strong. The most popular appetizer - the shish kebab which has been wrapped up in a wafer (souvlaki stin pitta), and the Cyprian cheese (halloumi), submitted in natural or a fried aspect.

Mutton, beef and pork on Cyprus usually grill on coals, bake in clay or in small pots with an onion, a bay leaf, pepper and other spices. It is very tasty prepare fish, octopuses, crabs, shrimps, oysters, mussels. From sweet dishes are most traditional: green walnut trees in a syrup; rizogalo (sweet boiled rice with einnamon); the halvah prepared from semolina and walnuts with addition of Saccharum, honey and vegetable oil; baklava; kadaifi and other east sweets.

Travelling should be cautious in sampling of the Cyprian culinary exotic: first, the unusual nutrition not to approach for a stomach, secondly, it can is necessary to know some subtleties - for example, it is impossible to wash down octopuses with water, from it they swell and gradually fill in all stomach. At the Cyprian restaurants (and also in a taxi and so forth) it is accepted to abandon tip: 10 % for service and 3 % in favour of the Cyprian organisation on tourism.

Cypriotes are very cheerful. In each city of island there are cheerful feasts and festivals. colourful feasts of flowers, oranges, waters and fault are especially popular.

Going back to Ancient Greek antesterijam vernal pradnik flowers passes on Cyprus in May. The big flower-shows will be organised, in many cities the flowers parade is spent. The feast of oranges happens in January-February in regions of residing of refugees from Famagusta.

In May-June (through 50  days after Easter) in bayshore cities the unusual feast of water - Kataklizmos is arranged. Its sources go back to the most ancient festivals in honour of the Aphrodite. This day Cypriotes pour one another water; hold competitions on marine aspects of sport, poetic competitions, concerts of amateur performances, the exhibition of national creativity.

the wine festival uses the Big popularity held in September in Limassol. The feast program switches on free degustation of the Cyprian wines, concerts and theatrical representations.

In July-August on island there passes Festival of an Ancient Greek drama. Representations are given in ancient amphitheatre Kuriona (in 19  km from Limassol), in pafosskom Odeone, in forte Larnaka and on the Monastic square in Aja-Nape.

On Cyprus in the big honour all Christian feasts, in particular Anastasis Christ's (Easter) and Christmas; Turks-Cypriotes celebrate also Muslim feasts, among which greatest - Ramazan-Bajram and Kurban-Bajram. On a shrove in cities and villages there pass carnivals. In the Cyprian villages the tradition panairov, the agricultural feasts dated by day of the aboriginal sacred till now is alive.