Are you looking for lesser-known facts about Cyprus? Here is a collection of interesting and fun facts about Cyprus which You’ve Never Heard Before as well as you can also read general information about Cyprus.

Geographically located in Asia, Cyprus is in the north-eastern part of the Mediterranean, 380 km from Egypt, 105 km from Syria and 75 km from Turkey. So friends, know more interesting facts about the history, economy, and culture of Cyprus.

General facts about Cyprus

• Total Population – 1.17 Million (11.7 lakhs) 2016
• Highest Mountain – Mount Olympus 1,952 metres (6,404 ft)
• Total Area – 9,251 km²
• Largest Lake – Limassol salt lake
• National Day – 1 April
• Currency – Euro
• National Song – “Druk tsendhen”
• Capital – Nicosia

Amazing Facts About Cyprus For Tourists  and Kids

1. How was copper named?

Cyprus is an ancient island located in the eastern Mediterranean and is surrounded by countries such as Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Egypt and Greece.
The name Cyprus was known as ‘Cuprous‘ in the Greek language during the time of Greek civilization, which changed in time after Cyprus when the Roman Empire was dominated instead of the Greek civilization. The word ‘Cuprous‘ is synonymous with copper.

Copper wealth has been old and valuable

The history of mining and production of copper in Cyprus is believed to date from four centuries BCE.According to the InvestingNews report, copper was also found on the surface here in the Bronze Age of history, but after that when the surface was reduced, mining techniques were developed. Another report says that the people of ancient Cyprus had excellent knowledge of metallurgy because copper was present in a large area there.

2. Cyprus met the copper needs of the whole world

By the time of the Roman Empire’s domination, copper production and mining of Cyprus had been able to meet almost all the copper requirements in the world.
But with the fall of the Roman Empire, copper mining began to languish here till the 19th century.Due to the need for production of sulfur from the 19th century, the mining industry once again arose and from this time mining of ores like pyrite and chalcopyrite was started along with copper.

3. Cyprus is situated among several Middle Eastern nations including Syria, Lebanon, and Israel but the closest country in proximity is Turkey to the south. This unique location has established the island of Cyprus as a neutral crossroads for many diplomatic proceedings throughout history.

4. The oldest wine level in the world is of Cyprus. Yes, you heard it right. Commandaria is recognized as the oldest known wine in the world which was made 5000 years ago.

5. Leonardo da Vinci is reputed to have visited Lefkara village in 1481 to purchase lace.

6. Cyprus was once the wealthiest nation in the known world. This was during the Copper and Bronze Age when the island’s rich natural copper resources were exported to other countries.

7. Cyprus is a divided island. The northern part of the island, called the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus“, is ruled by Turks, but the title is recognized only by Turkey, with everyone calling it “Occupied Cyprus“.
The southern part of the island is known as the Independent Republic of Cyprus or “Greek Cyprus”, although it is not part of Greece.

8. Cyprus is a former British colony Great Britain still owns about 3% of the island.

9. There are 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Cyprus – Paphos, Colorful Church and Choirokoitia in the Troodos region.

10. You will hear a mixture of Greek, Turkish and English on the island of Cyprus. And most locals know how to speak English because the island was colonized by Britain in 1878 and did not gain independence until 1960. In fact, there are still many British military bases on the island.

11. Alexander the Great annexed the island in 333 BC from the Assyrian, Egyptians, and Persian people.

12. Cyprus became the province of the Roman Empire in 45 AD and was the first country to be ruled by a Christian.

13. The major industries contributing to the Cyprium economy are tourism, fruits, and vegetables, wine, cement, clothing, and footwear.

14. A controversial fact is that one version says that the island derives its name from ‘copper’. Another version states that it is derived from the name of the cypress tree, which is ubiquitous on the island.

15. Stavrovouni Monastery is the oldest monastery in Cyprus in the Troodos Mountains. It was founded by St. Helena in the fourth century.

16. Milk Women

Rafaela Lamprou, a resident of Cyprus, has set a unique example. You will definitely be shocked after knowing about the woman.

Let us tell you that this mother of two children sells her milk. You will be surprised to know that this woman now earns millions of dollars by selling her milk. According to the information, Rafaela milk is in great demand among bodybuilders.

Being told that Rafaela gave birth to the baby, Rafaela felt that her milk was coming in an extraordinary amount while breastfeeding the baby. But the surprising thing is that there was such a quantity of milk that at one time there was a shortage of space to keep all the milk in their house.
But when some bodybuilders came to know about Rafaela about this, they contacted her to buy milk. After which Rafaella started selling milk for bodybuilders. Bodybuilders believe that this milk is very beneficial for the muscles.
You will be surprised to know that Rafaella has sold more than 500 liters of milk so far.

17. The ghost town of the world

Varosha city is a place of mystery and adventure, which is considered one of the most dangerous and haunted place in the world.

The city of Cyprus Varosha was once known for tourism in Iceland, but now it has become the largest haunted city in the world. Apart from tourists, there is a ban on the entry of common people.
In 1974, the city was attacked by Turkey and after this attack, the city became completely empty.Even after almost 40 years, this city is still deserted. Before the Turkish attack, the town had a population of around 40,000, which had become weak in the face of the Turkish army’s attack.

Now haunted palace

Fearing the Turkish army, all the people of the city took refuge in the nearby cities. Let me tell you that the Turkish army attacked the European country Cyprus in protest against the coup of Greece nationalists.
According to Turkey, the protection of Turkish minorities living on the island was an important reason behind the attack. As a result, Greece was divided into two parts in the name of Cyprus and Turkey Cyprus.
After this attack, the city of Varosha is under the occupation of the Turkish army. Apart from the Turkish patrolling team, no visitors are allowed to come here. However, many students bring official permission to know the history of the place.

18. The world’s oldest water wells are found in Cyprus

19. The Cyprus Orthodox Church has the largest bank in Cyprus. The church also plays an important role in the social and political life of the people of the island.

20. Cyprus became independent from the British on 16 August in 1964 although they celebrate their Independence Day on 1 October every year

21. People of Cyprus believe that Greece’s girlfriend Embroidery was born in Cyprus. This country is also called God’s Playground.

22. Cyprus is also one of the safest places in the world with a very low crime rate

23. Cyprus is the only foreign destination, On which an English Royal Wedding was hosted which took place on 12 May 1191 between King Richard and Queen Joanna

24. The shape of the country of Cyprus is like a cigar pipe. If you look closely at the map of Cyprus, you will know

25. The people of Cyprus do not like fishing, and surprisingly they do not like fishing despite being an island nation.

26. There are only two nations in the world who have shown the map of their country on their flag, the first is Cyprus and the second is Kosovo.

27. Out of a total of 1901 species of flowering plants worldwide, 140 species are found in Cyprus.

28. About 20 to 30% of the country’s population smokes, To curb this unhealthy habit of its population, the country has banned smoking although smoking is still allowed in various establishments across the country.

29. 2000-year-old tombs opened for visitors

These tombs of kings are 2,400 years old and are known as an archaeological site in the Paphos district of Cyprus.
The site is so vast that 19th-century travelers believed it to be the remains of an ancient palace or city. The large size of the tombs still confirms the luxury of kings.

Historical Facts About Cyprus

Let’s talk about the history of Cyprus , In ancient times Cyprus was very important for the trade route because of its geographical location.It was captured by Alexander, the ruler of Greece, in 333 BC, which proved to be extremely helpful for him in the war against Persia.
It also saw independence for a few days after Alexander’s death, but it had a deep impression of Greek civilization.
This place is also known for the birthplace of Aphrodite, who is considered to be the goddess of love. Later the Romans captured it.

From the seventh century onwards, this small country had to face attacks from Arab countries. By the 11th century, it became the center of a war for religion.

Christian countries made it a base for attacks on Arab countries so that they could get their land back.When the rulers of Cyprus made the mistake of arresting the sister of the King of Britain, then King Richard I captured Cyprus.after he sold it to the king of Jerusalem. Then for almost three centuries, there was stability and it also prospered.

Center of power

It was re-centralized in 1489 to deal with the emerging threat of the Osmania Sultanate. The kingdom of Osmania occupied a large part of Kustuntunia and Greece. The Kingdom of Osmania annexed Cyprus in 1571.

Age of Sultans

The Ottoman influence on this island can still be seen today. Ottoman emperors bypassed the traditional feudal system and began a friendship with Christians. But this did not last long and in the meantime, the war of independence of Greece also started.

British Power

At the time when the people of Cyprus were fighting against the Turks, the colonial power Britain saw an opportunity and occupied the place in 1878.
In the First World War, the Osmania regime decided to support Germany against Britain. In such a situation, Britain’s occupation of Cyprus proved to be very beneficial for the Allied countries.

Independence of Cyprus

Meanwhile, the people of Cyprus started making efforts to reunite with Greece. The guerrilla war also started but Cyprus was finally granted independence in 1960. It was not mixed in Greece.

Greece and Turkey

Cyprus was also not relieved by independence and in 1963 a quarrel started between the Greeks and Turks living in Cyprus. After this, the United Nations army was deployed there, whose job was to establish peace there.
Even after fifty years, this army is stationed there and continues to patrol. Following the Turkish invasion of 1974, Cyprus split into two. Part of the south is of the Greek-speaking people and the north is of the Turkish-speaking people.

Important history events related to Cyprus country

• 1878 – In 1878 the British leased it. The lease ended after World War I and in 1925 the island became the colony of the British state.
• 02 November 1914 – Britain incorporates Cyprus into its empire.
• 13 December 1959 – Archbishop is elected the first President of Cyprus.
• 19 February 1959 – Greece, Turkey, and Britain enter into an agreement regarding the independence of Cyprus.
• 16 August 1960 – Cyprus is liberated from the United Kingdom. This day is celebrated there as Independence Day.
• 21 December 1963 – Communal fighting between Greek and Turkish Cyprus begins.
• 1974 – Turkic Muslims called on Turkey to invade Cyprus. The government of Cyprus could not stop this invasion. The saddest thing is that in the July – August incursion of 1974, Turkish invaders brutally drove away from the Greek Christians.200, 000 Greek Christians expelled by force. They left their homes and moved to the south where Greek Christians lived.
• 1975 –  Turkic Muslims demanded partition. The separated part declared itself independent in 1983 and named it ‘The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus‘ and Turkey gave it the status of a new country.
• 13 December 2002 – European Union expanded. Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovakia were included.

Read More

• Lesser-Known Facts About England
• Interesting and fun facts about Denmark

Tourism in Cyprus

Cyprus, a major tourist destination in the Mediterranean, is known for its culture, art, music, literature, mass media, cinema, and fun foods.Music, dance and art are integral parts of social life in Cyprus. Limassol Carnival Festival is an annual carnival that is held in Limassol and is very popular in the country.

1. Tomb of the Kings – Paphos

Cyprus is one of the countries in the world that has a rich cultural heritage. If you are planning a trip to this place, then you should visit the Tomb of the King.
It is located in the north western necropolis of Paphos and was built in the 8th century. It is said that this is the tomb, which is underground, which was once related to the Paphian aristocracy which existed thousands of years ago.There are several locations in the Tomb of the Kings, but you start with knowing the history of the place as it is said that the area was designed for administrative officials and members of their families were buried there.

2. Paphos Castle – Paphos

If you are interested in China history and architecture, then Paphos Castle in Cyprus is for you. The Castle was built as Byzantine Fort in an effort to preserve the port.
The structure was rebuilt by the Lusignans in the 13th century and was rebuilt by the Ottomans in the 16th century.
When this area was under British rule, this place was used as a prison cell and a storage area for spices. It was declared as an ancient monument in 1953

3. Sea Caves – Ayia Napa

Visiting and exploring the sea caves makes the place attractive. But around Cyprus’ Ayia Napa, you have the possibility of discovering many sea caves.

What better way to discover the hidden secrets of some of the best and most fascinating sea caves in the world? There are many things to do in the sea caves that can make you interesting and memorable for the experience of your lifetime. So if you are interested in adventure, be sure to keep your attention open to the sea caves of Ayia Napa.

4. Larnaca

There is a lot of historical attraction to visit the extraordinary city of Larnaca. After all, Cyprus is a fusion of two unique cultures, East and West, with one color of the Mediterranean Sea. The Hala Sultan Mosque offers breathtaking experiences of one of the most important religious sites in Turkey Ottoman history.

5. Larnaca Salt Lake – Larnaca

Larnaca offers one of the many attractions for tourists. The lake, which consists of four different salt lakes, facilitates the ideal fusion of the east with the west. Visitors have plenty to do in Larnaca Salt Lake, perfect for traveling with family members or friends.

6. Kolossi Castle – Limassol

Surrounded by beautiful green parts, Kolossi Castle is located in the south-western periphery of the village of Kolossi, 15 kilometers west of the town of Limassol. Built-in the 13th century, the Castle was initially constructed as a grand arch by St. John of Jerusalem.

If you know any new things about Cyprus, then definitely tell through the comments so that other people can read,thanks.