Cyprus is situated in an exposed way between Orient and Occident since ancient times as an island in the intersection of continents.

History and culture of the island were hereby decisively shaped. From Europe came the Greeks and Romans, the Crusaders and the Englishmen. The Phoenicians already colonized the coast in the antiquity. Later the Turks conquered the island. Cultures of different origin overlapped each other and were combined.

After Sicily and Sardinia Cyprus is the third biggest and the most eastern situated island in the Mediterranean. Geographically it already belongs to Asia, culturally however definitely to Europe.

Timeline

Tracks of first settlement can be retraced at least at 9000 B. C.

1570 - 1878: Turkish rule

1878 - 1960: British rule

On 16.08.1960 Cyprus become independent and archbishop Makarios III. is the first president. He governs the island for 17 years.

In the middle of 1974 Cyprus gets divided. A part of the republic (approx. 37%) is occupied by Turkey. 60% of the island are allotted to the Greek Cypriots. A buffer zone (3%) between both island sections is subordinated to be checked by the United Nations.

In 1993 Gláfkos Klerides becomes president of the state and of the government.

Since February 2003 Tassos Papadopoulos is new elected president of the Greek Cypriots.

He is followed by Dimitris Christofias in Februar 2008.

A paradise with dark sides

The island of Aphrodite could be a paradise on earth wouldn't be there the big policy. Since August 1974 the island and the capital Nicosia are divided.

Along a demarcation line from the bay of Morfu to the bay of Famagusta Greek and Greek-Cypriot and Turkish and Turkish-Cypriot soldiers face each other. Between them there are on patrol approx. 1.100 soldiers of the peacekeeping forces of the United Nation.

However the vacation peace on the island is not disturbed by political conditions . Cyprus appears to the visitor as an extremely peaceful island - and as a very wealthy as well. Everywhere on the island you can feel the southern joy of life - life as celebration.