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Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is a beautiful island with almost 320 days of sunshine. Apart from the great weather, Cyprus is also known for the delicious food and the hospitality of local people. The capital of Cyprus is Nicosia, which is also the largest city of the island, and the second largest is Limassol.
There are plenty of things to do in Cyprus. If you like adventures you can try watersports or scuba diving. A great place to scuba dive is the Zenobia wreck in Larnaca. You can hire a professional diver to help you explore the wreck. On the other hand, if you enjoy the nature, Cyprus has such a natural beauty that can take your breath away. From stunning waterfalls, lakes, and nature paths and the list goes on and on. In Paphos you can go hiking in Avakas gorge trail, which is a popular hiking and adventure destination with a dramatic canyon, water views and wildlife.
A special fact about Cyprus is that during the winter season you can enjoy the snowfall on Troodos Mountains and after maximum two hours drive, you can find yourself enjoying the sunshine at the beach.
Cyprus has an interesting history as a lot of empires have tried to conquer the country. The strategic location in the Eastern Mediterranean was one of the reasons. Firstly, the island was seized in 333 BC, by the empires of the Assyrians, Egyptians and Persians and then by Alexander the Great. Then, the Ptolemaic Egypt, the classical and Eastern Roman Empire, Arab caliphates, the French Lusignan dynasty and the Venetians seized the island. In the following years, between 1571 and 1878, the island was captured by the Ottoman rule for over three centuries. In 1960 Cyprus was granted independence and it is celebrated annually on October 1st. Independence Day holds a great importance in the history of Cyprus. It is a public holiday, which means schools and most businesses are closed. The day is celebrated by festivals and a large military parade in Nicosia, where tanks and other armories are displayed. In Larnaca city, as well as the other cities of Cyprus, it is also held a parade with students and army personnel taking part.
Even since the ancient times, Cyprus was popular for its mineral wealth, sandy beaches with amazing coastlines and natural beauty. It is a dream destination for people to spend their vacations. Many visitors have fallen in love with the island so they decided to permanently move to the island. Cyprus has successfully established a growing economy mostly from tourism. Recently it has also developed into an important financial hub, especially for investors from Russia and Eastern Europe.