CYPRUS

Casa Europa Mexico presents...

There are always discussions about which countries really shouldn't belong to the European Union, especially now that the United Kingdom has exited through Brexit. If many suggest that Azerbaijan or Georgia are not entirely European, what do you think about Cyprus based on its geographical location?

For English, click → Cyprus

The Republic of Cyprus, its official name, is an island geographically located in the Mediterranean, southwest of Asia, but politically and culturally it is more closely linked to Europe. The Cypriot territory is divided into six districts, but one-third of the island, to the north, is occupied by Turkey and is an independent country that only Turkey recognizes as such, the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," which is not part of the European Union, the United Nations, NATO, or any other international organization.

Cyprus's history is as ancient as some texts of the Hebrew scriptures of the Old Testament or Greek mythology because, it is said, Aphrodite was born there. Due to its strategic location on the Mediterranean Sea trade routes, throughout its history, Cyprus has been occupied by different empires. It has been an independent country since 1960 and a member of the European Union since 2004, but in 1974 Turkey took away a third of its territory. Manufacturing and citrus agriculture are sources of income, but the Cypriot economy is mainly based on tourism, in addition to mentioning the tax haven in the south. Since Cyprus has two very strong cultural influences, the Greek-Cypriot and the Turkish-Cypriot, the official language is Greek, but Turkish is also spoken. On the other hand, the majority religion is Greek Orthodox Christianity, followed by Islam.

The city preserves archaeological remains from the Greek and Roman periods, as well as parts of the medieval wall that surrounded it since the time of Venetian occupation in the 15th century, and it is a historical and architectural marvel, as are the mosques, Orthodox temples, or the museums of Cypriot History, Byzantine and Art Galleries, and Folk Art.

Due to its good climate and being relatively cheap by European standards, Cyprus is an ideal destination for tourists. Besides Nicosia, Famagusta is a splendid place for its history and beaches.

Limassol, a major port where cruise ships stop, a place that combines archaeology from the Greek classical period and has, among its attractions, a medieval castle. There are many places on the island to explore, observe, learn, and enjoy.

Casa Europa Mexico recommends...

A tourist reading about Cyprus published by the Mexican newspaper El Universal in its "Destinos" section. It's worth it if you want to know more about this Mediterranean island or if you plan to visit it someday, an island that combines the Asian with the European.

https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/destinos/chipre-la-isla-del-mediterraneo-que-rindio-culto-afrodita

And for a taste of the musical styles in Cyprus, with different cultural influences, this video is ideal:

References from the internet:

Text and image credits appear at the bottom of the corresponding image.

Text adaptation: Homero Adame

Cyprus text translation into English: Pat Grounds