About Cyprus
The Island of Cyprus And What It Has To Offer
The island of Cyprus has become very popular and many people that visit want a house of their own on the island and there are many reasons why they want their own house on the island. Some of the many reasons that they may want a house on the island are the sunshine; this island is known to have very few rain days. The island has about 325 days of sunshine, which leaves few days of dreary rain.
The weather is only one of the reasons, there are so many others like the fact that this island is situated where it is surrounded by the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea and the island not only has miles of sand beaches it also has mountains. There are small villages with friendly inhabitants that welcome visitors as well as the house buyer. The larger villages have everything to offer that one would expect in a city, the fine dinning with local cuisine and the International fare, there are also restaurants that the children claim as favorites like McDonalds. Then there is the shopping with stores that are found in many countries such as Woolworth’s and for the working person employment opportunities in many different industries as well as the ability to bring business to the island with you and receive special tax incentives.
This is also an island that welcomes new business to the island with tax incentives meaning when a house in Cyprus is bought the new resident can bring their business with them.
The island of Cyprus has been known throughout history as the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa. Cyprus has fallen under many different rules, the Phoenicians, the Assyrians, the Egyptians, the Persians, the Romans, the Crusaders, the Venetians, the Ottomans, the British and the Greeks. The history of the island says that the Disciples of Christ walked this island among the villages and visiting the churches and monasteries. The structures that are left on this magical island is of such religious importance and many of the Greek temples, the Roman theatres, the Christian Basilicas, the Byzantine churches, the monasteries, Cursader castles as well as Venetian fortifications. The island's history dates back to prehistoric times that includes King Cinyas Teucer for one. Cyprus in the sixth century BC had been conquered by Amasis of Egypt, after which it soon fell under Persian rule after Cambyses conquered Egypt. Then after this it fell to Egyptian rule and in 58-57 the Christian Apostles Paul of Tarsus, and St. Mark visited BC to Rome, Cyprus in 45 AD.
Cyprus became a part of the Byzantine Empire for nearly eight hundred years, during which time many of the churches that exist today were built and are open for visitors. Visitors and house owners can spend time roaming through some of the historical sites that have withstood time on Cyprus and now waits for the visitor and the resident of the island to come walk into the past.
There are museums and churches have stood there since Byzantine rule along with those that were built earlier than that period according to archeological dating. This takes up days of cool weather for the explorer to dig through each of the historical sites that are left on the island.
This is where Adonis and Aphrodite of mythology were said to have been born to the parents of Zeus and Dione. As well as the place that Aries sent a bull to kill Adonis because he was the lover of Aphrodite.
It is this kind of mythology along with documented history that stands in the forms of structures is a sure draw for the history lover to return to the island again and again. Today you can see a statue at the Nicosia Museum in Cyprus of Aphrodite that has an approximate date of ca. 100 BC. that is thought to be Roman artistry that awaits inspection by the visitor.
There are many activities that can be found on the island of Cyprus and have been made so much more fun because of the beauty of the island. These activities in Cyprus are ones such as hiking, horse riding, skiing, mountain biking, and cycling.
People who enjoy swimming and water fun there are places other than the sea to swim with the water parks that are filled with fun for the entire family like the one that is named the Aphrodite Water Park. This park has a very large number of visitors, more than 100,000 per year with attractions such as the kiddie’s pools, a slow slide, a fast slide, as well as a soak and splash, to enjoy. Some of the more exciting water fun at the Aphrodite Water Park is the Pirate Ship Slide, the Wet Bubble or the Mini Volcano and Water Mushrooms that will be sure to excite the whole family.
There is the person or family that enjoys the island not only for the usual reasons to visit the island but also for religious reasons; this island holds many churches, monasteries, religious statues and festivals. One of these religious sites is the Ayios Ioannis Cathedral that was built in 1662 by the Archbishop Nikiforos. This beautiful cathedral includes delicately restored wall paintings that were originally painted during the 18th century and the Ayios Ioannis Cathedral is open all year round for visitors that hunt for the remaining religious treasures the world has to offer. The tomb of Saint Barnabas at Salamis is also found here as well and many tourists and residents alike feel it is a religious site of great importance and they visit both these sites often.
This was the home of the famed Cypriot sculptor Pygmalion, who was the famous sculptor who has been shown to be carving a woman from ivory and in Ovid’s Metamorphoses X he was portrayed as the sculptor who fell in love with this lady of ivory. The lore is that Pygmalion gave his statue gifts and even prayed to Venus, who heard his prayers and granted them. His prayers were to have his beloved woman of ivory come to life, which she did and she and Pygmalion married and she bore him two daughters who grew up and married.
The shopping that is both local and international stores and shops, the nightlife, the friendly residents and the fun and relaxation that the visitors turn into home owners time after time for and will continue according to statistics that say by the year 2010 there will be approximately 2 million visitors to the island of Cyprus so house investments make sense for many of these people to buy a house in Cyprus.
Cyprus is such a wonderful holiday that it makes them want to stay and this is why the visitors purchase houses with all that there is to do and see, along with the help of the government who has recognized that tourism is such a large part of their economy and they have also made it easy for the new house owner to bring their business with them or open a new business.
The Location Of The Island Of Cyprus
As has been discussed the island of Cyprus has long be called the island that is the crossroads of Asia, Europe and Africa and the reason for this is because of its location of course. This island has fallen under many different rules, the Phoenicians, the Assyrians, the Egyptians, the Persians, the Romans, the Crusaders, the Venetians, the Ottomans, the British and the Greeks that have all influenced the island.
The location of the island of Cyprus is east southeast of Greece, to the north of Egypt, to the south of turkey. Of three islands in the Mediterranean, Cyprus is the largest of these islands and for these reasons the island fell under many different rules during its long history and was also formed from many different cultures. This is also what helps to make it such an interesting place and also a historically relevant island.