History: Cyprus is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. It is the third-largest and third-most populous island in the Mediterranean, after Sicily and Sardinia. The Mycenaean and Achaean Greeks settled on the island between the 13th and 11th century BC. They introduced the Greek language and culture, both of which are preserved by Greek Cypriots to this day. At the end of the 4th century BC Cyprus became part of the kingdom of Alexander the Great. The Hellenistic period ended in 30 BC when Cyprus became part of Roman Empire until the 4th century AD. In 330 AD Cyprus formed part of the Eastern Section of the Roman Empire and later of the Byzantine Empire, and remained so until the 12th century AD. During the Crusades Cyprus was conquered by Richard the Lionheart followed by the Lusignans and the Venetians. In 1571 Cyprus was conquered by the Ottomans and in 1878 it was ceded to Britain. In 1914 Britain annexed the island and in 1923, under the Treaty of Lausanne, Turkey relinquished all claims on the island. In 1925 Britain declared Cyprus a crown colony. The island won its independence in 1960. In 2004 the Republic of Cyprus joined the European Union.

Climate: Cyprus has a Mediterranean climate with the typical seasonal rhythm strongly marked in respect of temperature, rainfall and weather generally. Hot, dry summers from mid-May to mid-September and rainy, rather changeable winters from November to mid-March are separated by short autumn and spring seasons. Sunshine is abundant during the whole year, particularly from April to September when the daily average exceeds eleven hours. Winds are on the whole light to moderate. Gales are very infrequent and heavy storms rare.

Gastronomy: The ritual of sharing good, fresh local cuisine is an important part of the island’s culture, and is intrinsically linked with every social event. The Cypriot cuisine is an exotic blend of Greek and Middle Eastern cultures, sprinkled with remnants of ancient civilizations such as indigenous Roman root vegetables or old Phoenician delicacies. "Mediterranean diet" is also considered particularly healthy given its abundance of heart-healthy olive oil, pulses, lean meat, local herbs and freshly grown fruits and vegetables.

Winemaking: Cyprus has more than 4000 years of tradition in winemaking. Cypriot wine is already mentioned in Homer. The most famous Cypriot wine is Commandaria. It is an amber-colored sweet dessert wine made in the Commandaria region of Cyprus on the foothills of the Troödos mountain. It is made from sun-dried grapes and has the distinction of being the world's oldest named wine still in production, with the name Commandaria dating back to the crusades in the 12th century. There is still a large number of wineries operating around Cyprus

Nicosia is a cosmopolitan city, rich in history and culture that combines the amenities of a modern city with its historic parts. Nicosia is the island’s financial capital and its main international business center. The historical center of today's Nicosia is located within the large medieval walls, which were built by the Venetians. These walls are a hallmark of the town with its bastions and its gates being used in order to house important buildings, such as the Town Hall and others. The new part of Nicosia has developed outside the old-city walls and has become a contemporary, business and cultural center. Just a few miles away are enchanting places of interest such as Byzantine churches and monasteries, archaeological sites and charming villages. The uniqueness of such a combination makes the capital of Cyprus a place worth knowing and certainly a place worth visiting!