EXHIBITION 1
Cyprus, comes to you

The exhibition “Cyprus Comes to You” introduced colleagues in Seville to Cyprus through a collection of cultural exhibits reflecting the island’s history, traditions and everyday life. The displays included maps, stamps, engravings and historical materials, with contributions from institutions such as the Cyprus Postal Museum, the Patticheio Municipal Museum of Limassol, and the Military Intelligence Museum in the United Kingdom, alongside private collections such as the stamp collection of Costas Christou. Visitors also encountered elements of Cypriot gastronomy, including rosewater, traditional sweets and Commandaria wine, highlighting the island’s traditions of hospitality. Through these objects, together with the folk tales illustrated by Cypriot engraver Hambis Tsangaris, the exhibition offered colleagues an accessible journey into Cyprus’ cultural memory and heritage, creating a small cultural bridge between Cyprus and the international community of the Joint Research Centre in Seville.

https://simerini.sigmalive.com/article/2026/1/16/e-kupros-ste-sebille-ena-taxidi-mnemes-politismou-kai-philoxenias/

EXHIBITION 2
Limassol Carnival

The exhibition “Limassol Carnival” introduced colleagues at the Joint Research Centre in Seville to one of Cyprus’ most vibrant cultural traditions. Through carnival posters from 1990 to today, historical photographs from the archive of the Patticheio Historical Museum of Limassol, carnival costumes, and pellomaska constructions by Monika Pieridou, the exhibition presented the history and festive spirit of the Limassol Carnival. The experience was further enriched with video projections by Stelios Georgiades and the music of traditional kantadoroi, creating a vivid atmosphere of celebration and memory. 

https://simerini.sigmalive.com/article/2026/2/13/ekthese-gia-to-karnabali-tes-lemesou-ste-sebille/ 

DIGITAL ART GALLERY
As part of the Cyprus Semester, we hosted a digital art gallery sharing art works from artists in Cyprus with our colleagues. Click on the respective link to visit the artist's website (where applicable). 

ONLINE TALKS
As part of the Cyprus Semester, the Online Talks series brings Cyprus closer to colleagues through conversations, presentations, and discussions of Cypriot researchers. These sessions offer an opportunity to explore Cyprus from multiple perspectives: history, culture, economy, society, and contemporary challenges.

GET TOGETHER EVENT: VASILOPITTA

The Vasilopita cake-cutting event marked the beginning of the Cyprus Semester activities at the Joint Research Centre in Seville, bringing colleagues together around a cherished Cypriot New Year tradition. The event combined celebration and cultural discovery through a 20-question quiz about Cyprus, with the winner, Abian García Rodríguez, receiving a travel guide to Cyprus. Colleagues then shared two traditional cakes, vasilopita and fanouropita, each prepared with the customary hidden coin that brings luck to the person who finds it. The lucky winners received small gifts from the Cyprus Postal Museum along with traditional Cypriot products. Through this event, colleagues were introduced to the symbolism of Cypriot customs and the spirit of community and good fortune that accompanies the beginning of a new year. 

CYPRIOT COOKING CLASSES

The Cypriot Cooking Classes brought colleagues at the Joint Research Centre in Seville together to discover the flavours and traditions of Cypriot cuisine through a series of five hands-on cooking sessions organised over two weeks in March. Participants prepared traditional dishes such as koupepia, koliva, halloumi ravioli and amygdalota, accompanied by classic meze including talattouri, tahini dip and tsakistes olives, learning recipes that reflect Cyprus’ rich culinary heritage and everyday food culture. The classes were taught by Androulla Leonidou. The posters were designed by María José Fernández de Ossó Fuentes. The initiative was made possible with the generous support of COPAS JRC Seville, Agrose, Sklavenitis Cyprus Ltd, and Charalambides Christis Ltd, whose contributions helped bring the ingredients and traditions of Cyprus to the JRC community. 

simerini.sigmalive.com/article/2026/3/20/mathemata-mageirikes-apo-ten-kupro-ste-sebille/ 

https://www.politis.com.cy/food-and-drink/993519/apo-koypepia-mekhri-kolliva-h-kipriaki-koyzina-ftanei-stin-sevilli

https://www.cna.org.cy/article/10016065/mathimata-kypriakis-mageirikis-sti-sevilli-sto-plaisio-tis-kypriakis-proedrias-ee