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Nicosia Cyprus
The most significant influences upon modern
Nicosia date from the 15th and 16th centuries. Under the
Lusignans, the capital saw the erection of a number of
palaces, mansions, churches and monasteries. Unfortunately,
however, few survive, since the Lusignans' successors,
the Venetians, destroyed most of this architecture. Faced
with the imminent prospect of invasion by the Ottoman
Turks, the Venetians' military planners decided to withdraw
from the Lusignan military fortifications and create a
new, more compact, defensive line around the city. The
buildings standing outside of this new line, including
most of the inheritance from the Lusignan period, were
torn down and used to underpin the vast earthwork of a
new defensive wall. Impressive as Nicosia's defences were,
however, they were unable to keep out the Ottoman invader.
After seven weeks of desperate resistance, Nicosia fell
in 1570 and a period of Ottoman rule, lasting until the
arrival of the British in 1878, followed.
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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.
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Cyprus History
History
in Cyprus dates as far back as 7000 BC, the Neolithic
Age, with settlements along the north and south coasts
of the island.
After1400 BC, the first Greeks came to the island, Mycenaen
merchants, who started the Hellenisation of the island.
By1050
BC Cyprus can be considered a Greek island, with the language,
culture and religion of Greece well established. Cyprus
has ten city-kingdoms and by 800 BC it is a flourishing
and prosperous country.
Meet the Cyprus
people
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 entertainme
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