DK Travel : Cyprus : History & Culture

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Chirokitia Neolithic Settlement

An aura of almost unimaginable age hangs over Chirokitia, where archaeologists have discovered the foundations of a settlement that thrived on this hilltop almost 9,000 years ago. Some of the round stone houses have been reconstructed, and UNESCO has declared it a World Heritage Site.
Commerce

Cyprus had far-reaching trade ties in ancient and medieval times and the arrival of the Venetians made it part of a commercial empire that spanned the Mediterranean. But it was its proximity to the Suez Canal and the advent of the British that gave it an importance out of all proportion to its size. Today, the island sits at the hub of a trade web that spans western and eastern Europe, the Middle East and the Arabian Gulf.
Cyprus Museum

A treasury of archaeological finds here, uncovered from sites all over Cyprus, wonderfully illustrate the island’s historic past and make this the most fascinating of all its many museums. Exhibits highlight the marvellous skills of sculptors, metalworkers, potters, painters and other craftsmen across more than four millennia (see Cyprus Museum, Nicosia).
Dali

A lively farming village that comprises not much more than a main street lined with shops and a scattering of traditional cafés and a village church, Dali offers a taste of Cypriot life largely untainted by tourism. It takes its name from one of Cyprus’s most ancient city states, Idalion, which archaeologists are continuing to explore nearby. Also nearby are the much ruined, but still haunting, remains of a Gothic church and summer palace of the Lusignan kings, who came here to escape the heat of summer on the coasts (see Ancient Idalion).
Divided Cyprus

In 1983 the northern part of the island declared itself independent as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). It was, and continues to be, recognized only by Turkey.
EU membership

In April 2003 the Turkish Cypriot authorities decided to allow free movement by Greek Cypriots and visitors to the north of the island. Members of both communities now visit the “other side” on a regular basis. Despite the failure of a UN plan for reunification, Cyprus became a full member of the European Union on 1 May, 2004.
Evagoras of Salamis

Evagoras (410–374 BC), king of the city-state of Salamis, conquered much of Cyprus, but was defeated when rival city Amathous allied itself with the Persian Empire.
Famagusta Walled City

Within Venetian ramparts, Famagusta conceals a wealth of Gothic and Islamic architecture. At its heart is the Lala Mustafa Pasa Mosque, originally the cathedral of St Nicholas, with its graceful Gothic porticoes and sixpaned rose window. Huge stone cannon-balls, relics of the eight-month siege of the city in 1570, lie in the streets, while overlooking the harbour is the “Othello Tower”, so called because Famagusta was the main setting for Shakespeare’s play.
Fasouri Watermania Waterpark

With its high-speed chutes and slides, interactive games, pools for grown-ups, teens, sub-teens and toddlers, Cyprus’s largest and most exciting waterpark offers full-on family fun. A very welcome relief from the often blistering heat of high summer, and there are restaurants and shops on site too (see Fasouri Watermania, Limassol).
Fikardou

The hill village of Fikardou has won tourism awards for its living museum that shows Cyprus village life as it was until just a few decades ago (see Fikardou Rural Museum).