Cyprus Vacation Rental Condos, Houses, Cottages and Apartments.

Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean and is located in the northeastern area of the Mediterranean Sea.With a population of only 700 000, large areas of the island remain completely unspoiled.

Cyprus is an island steeped in history and has a rich cultural heritage. Visitors and tourists that travel to Cyprus have an overwhelming choice of ancient monuments and archaeological sites to visit. This is particularly so in Paphos, which has been included in UNESCO’s list of World Cultural Heritage sites.

The majority of the population is Greek Cypriot, and they follow the Christian Orthodox religion. The main language spoken is Greek but English is widely spoken, along with German, in the tourist areas

Cyprus’ colourful history is reflected in the rich cultural life in Cyprus today. Almost every week there is some sort of celebration, a festival, a wedding or a saint’s day (which are celebrated instead of birthdays).

Religious festivals are particularly significant in Cyprus and none more so than the Greek Orthodox Easter. This is the highlight of the religious year and is considered more important than Christmas. On Easter Saturday most Cypriots will be found in the church, attending midnight mass. There is a bonfire with an effigy of Judas outside the church and also fireworks. On Easter Sunday families sit down together to eat the traditional roast lamb lunch.

Springtime is also festival time with all the major towns hosting carnival parades. There are flower festivals with parades of flower-covered floats. The largest carnival is in Limassol, with its many floats, parades and other entertainment.

Kataklysmos is another important festival - the festival of the flood- and there are celebrations in every town, with open-air fetes, games and competitions.

Harvest time is time for the wine festivals, the largest being held in Limassol. Every year thousands of visitors go to the festival to enjoy the large range of food and wine on offer.

There are many excellent value products to be bought in Cyprus and all the main towns offer busy shopping centers and bustling markets. There are also Cyprus Handicraft Centres in all the major towns, offering a wide selection of locally produced items. Shops are closed all day Sunday and on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. However, in the tourist areas, shops usually stay open late in the evenings and all day Sunday.

In particular, Cyprus is noted for its leather goods, especially jackets, handbags and shoes; for handmade lace, and for high quality jewellry. Spectacles are very good value, often being offered at substantially lower prices than in Europe. Visitors to the mountain village of Lefkara will be able to see the villagers hard at work making their traditional lace and filigree silver products. In the other mountain villages good buys include homemade honey and sweets such as sujouko and palouze, which are made from grapes.

Ceramics are also very popular, with potteries in all the major towns offering a wide selection of brightly painted pots, plates and other gift items. High on many tourist shopping list is the famous Cyprus Delight, and visitors can visit the many workshops around the island that produce it, for a free taste and to see how it is made.

Cyprus is also well known for its wines and many wineries and breweries offer tours around their premises. Specialties of Cyprus include Cypriot brandy, the famous dessert wine, Commandaria, the orange liqueur Filfar, and Keo beer. Many locally produced spirits are also available and are much cheaper than well-known brands.

The mild climate in Cyprus means that sports enthusiasts can enjoy sporting activities all year round.

Golfers can choose from two golf courses near Paphos. The Tsadha Golf Club is situated near Tsadha village about 12 km north of Paphos. It is an 18 hole course which plays to a par 72, total length 6 050 metres.

The Secret Valley Golf Course is located between Paphos and Limassol, about 18 km from Paphos. It also plays to a par 72 and is 6 300m long.

Hiking is a very popular pastime in Cyprus, due to the large areas of unspoiled countryside. Many specialist companies offer excursions and these are an excellent way for tourists to discover Cyprus. In addition there are numerous sign-posted trails all over the island.

Sea sports are also very popular due to the calm and clear waters surrounding the island. All nature of water-sports can be pursued including water-skiing, scuba diving, wind-surfing and sailing. Trained instructors are also on hand to offer assistance and tuition.

Water-lovers will also like to try Water Park near Ayia Napa. "Waterworld" has a large number of slides, an activity pool as well as a children's pool.

Although most people consider Cyprus a summer resort, winter sports can also be enjoyed in the brief Cyprus winter. The high Troodos mountain range sees some heavy snowfall enabling skiing from January often until March.

Many tourists decide to spend their holidays on Cyprus, this beautiful and natural island in the east Mediterranean, not only because of it's beauty and history, but also to take the chance of short trips or Cruises to nearby places like Israel, Egypt or to the Greek islands.

The unit of currency is the Cyprus pound (current value US$ 0.60) and all major credit cards are accepted.