Archive for February, 2008

Cyprus has been a gateway to the eastern Mediterranean for 10,000 years, when it was first settled by Anatolian tribes. Since then, the 3,600 square mile island has endured millennia of invasions. It has been fought over by the Ancient Greeks, Egyptians, Romans, Venetians, the Ottomans and the British. Conquerors came initially for the timber, then for the copper (from whence the name ‘Cyprus’ is derived) and then for the strategic position the island continues to occupy between the eastern and western Mediterranean.

Lefkosia was first inhabited over 5000 years ago. It was first known as Ledra during the Hellenistic period, but later the name was changed to Lefkothea under the Ptolemists. During the first Christian years it became known as Lefkosia.

Lefkosia, the capital of Cyprus is better known to foreigners by its mediaeval name, Nicosia. The city’s origins go back in history as the earliest human settlements found in the vicinity of the modern city date back to the 3rd millennium BC.

Above: A beautiful scenic view in Cyprus

Starting Mid-May to Mid-September, Cyprus enjoys it dry hot summer. Only having mild winters in rainy days would start on November till Mid-March. Smooth weather of spring and autumn intervals. Overall in a year there are more clear blue lit skies than cloudy ones the daylight ranges from 9.8 hours to 12.5 hours.

Cyprus’s weather is describes with summers in heat but mild with winter falls. Making it more appealing for the basic reason that it is not in extremes making it healthy for the body because one’s body that it need not adjust drastically with changes of weather.