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The people of Cyprus owe their individuality and warmth to the fact that they are the product of an amazingly colorful history. This sun drenched island has been at the crossroads of world events for centuries. Roman, Byzantine, Greek and British influences (to name just a few) have all had a bearing on life in Cyprus.

Perhaps that's why Cypriots have a special knack of making visitors feel at home as soon as they step off the plane or ship. That warm welcome, plus the unhurried pace of daily life, makes Cyprus an instant favorite of anyone who goes there.

The island nation is a fascinating land of contrasts. It has some of the most sophisticated cities in the region, and yet, a short distance away, you can feel as if you have stepped back into a previous century, not just the 19th, but far back to a time when people pursued simpler pleasures. Drop into almost any country teverna, or join the locals at a town market, and you will feel the atmosphere of a way of life that has remained essentially the same for centuries.

The island has proved irresistible to many famous historical personalities, such as Cleopatra, Alexander the Great, Leonard da Vinci and Richard the Lion Heart. When Richard freed his imprisoned bride-to-be, Berengaria of Navarre, in 1191, Cypriots all across the island seized on the opportunity to have a party!

As you can see, a delight in having a good time is at the heart of the Cypriot personality. Observe the fun Cypriots have when they go out - perhaps in large family groups - to eat and drink, and you will see how important a lust for life is on this enchanted island. Get to know the people, and you will probably be invited back to a Cypriot home to enjoy a meal of meze. Then, you'll truly learn the meaning of the word  "hospitality."

Cyprus is deservedly called the "Island of Love." Come and find out for yourself!

Greek is the national language of Cyprus, but English is spoken almost everywhere.

It has been said that if you "scratch the soil anywhere in Cyprus you will find traces of the islands civilizations." To prove the point, look at an archeological map, and you'll see that Cyprus is studded with sites from every period of its turbulent history, going back to the Neolithic Age. A visit to Choirokoitia, near Larnaca proves the point. There you'll find excavations that reveal the whole society of a Neolithic settlement dating from 7000 BC: defensive walls, circular houses, and tombs.

One of the most fascinating aspects of archaeology in Cyprus is the gradual unearthing of the ten "city kingdoms" that were established in the Geometric Period (1050-325 BC). 19 km's west of Limassol, you'll find Kourion, one of the most spectacular sites on the island. The magnificent Greco-Roman Theatre was designed in the 2nd century BC. The site is rich in archeological lore, including a private Roman villa, an Early Christian Basilica, and the houses of Achilles and the Gladiators, which have fine mosaic floors.

Another nine City Kingdoms are to be found in different parts of the island, including Idalion near Nicosia where legend has it that Adonis, the lover of Aphrodite, was killed by a wild boar sent by her jealous husband, Kition near Larnaca with its cyclopean walls and a five-temple complex, and 11 km's from Limassol, the city Kingdom of Amathous where it is said that Theseus left the pregnant Ariadne after his battle with the Minotaur.

Teams of archeologists are constantly working on new excavations that uncover not only Neolithic remains, but those from The Bronze Age, and the Roman and Byzantine periods. A good example can be found near Pafos - the famous underground Tombs of the Kings, some complete with Doric columns, which date back to the fourth century BC.

In addition to a wealth of outdoor sites, many artifacts are attractively displayed in museums, such as The Cyprus Museum, in Nicosia - itself one of the oldest cities in the world. There you can see domestic objects dating almost from the dawn of time, including stone vessels and pottery.

The location of Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean gives it special religious significance. The island is a treasure trove of religious icons, mosaics and artifacts, as well as ecclesiastical architecture, because religion, which has played a vital part in the life of Cyprus for thousands of years, is woven deeply into the fabric of the island.  Its proximity to the Holy Land means that Cyprus has been the scene of many important religious events, including the visit of Saint Paul and Saint Barnabas who converted the proconsul to Christianity during the Roman period. The saints were guided by Irakleidios, whose name is commemorated in the name of the Agios Iraqleidios Convent near Nicosia. That's just one of the hundreds of places of worship - almost every village has a picturesque church with interesting details, paintings, or an unusual architectural feature.  And Cyprus is famous for its monasteries and convents. In the mountainous Troodos region, 20 km west of the village of Pedoulos, is the most famous and richest monastery in Cyprus, Kykkos Monastery. It possesses one of the three surviving icons ascribed to Saint Luke. Fairs are held here in August and September. And also in Troodos you'll find nine beautifully painted Byzantine churches, so remarkable that the they are listed in UNESCO's prestigious World Heritage List. Another remarkable Monastery is Stavrovouni Monastery near Larnaca, which is perched on a rocky peak. According to legend it was founded in the 4th century by Saint Helena, who left a  fragment of the Holy Cross to the monastery. Any traveler who is interested in religion should experience the wonders of Cyprus.

A Timeline of Cyprus:

7000-3900 B.C.- Neolithic Age. The oldest settlements found on the island
date from this period. Stone vessels and later, pottery was used.

3900-2500 B.C.- Chalcolithic Age. Chalcolithic settlements and evidence of a fertility cult, have been found in Western Cyprus. Copper discovered.

2500-1050 B.C.- Bronze Age. Cyprus was known as "Alasia" during this great trading period with its neighbors, partly because of its exploitation of copper. After 1400 B.C., the first of many waves of Greek merchants and settlers (Mycenaeans and Achaeans) reached the island, spreading the Greek language, religion and customs. They gradually took control and established the first city-kingdoms.

1050-750 B.C.- Geometric Period. The Hellenization of Cyprus was complete, with ten city-kingdoms. The cult of Aphrodite flourished in a period of great prosperity.

750-325 B.C.- Archaic and Classical Period. An era of prosperity and conquest. Cypriot kingdoms became tributary to Assyria, Egypt and Persia.  But King Evagoras (411-374) unified the island, making it an important center of the Greek world.

333-325 B.C.- Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia, takes Cyprus as part of his empire.

325-58 B.C.- Hellenistic Period. Alexander's generals fought for succession, and Cyprus eventually came under the Hellenistic state of the Ptolemies of Egypt, belonging from then on to the Greek Alexandrine world. Pafos became capital.

58-B.C.-330 A.D.- Roman Period. Cyprus became part of the Roman Empire. But Saints Paul and Barnabas converted the Roman proconsul to Christianity, and he became the first Christian ruler in the world. In 313 freedom of worship was granted, and Cypriot bishops attended the council of Nicea in 325. The period was marked by earthquakes that required the rebuilding of cities.

330-1191 A.D. - Byzantine Period. After the division of the Roman Empire, Cyprus became part of Byzantium, with Christianity becoming the official religion. Empress Helena visited the island and founded the Stavrovouni Monastery. The period again saw earthquakes and rebuilding, including large Basilicas. In 488, after the discovery of St. Barnabas' tomb, the Church of Cyprus was granted full autonomy by Emperor Zeno. In 647 the first of a series of Arab raids occurred. The raids went on until 965, when Arabs were expelled from Asia Minor and Cyprus.

1191-1192- Richard the Lion-Heart and the Knights Templar. Richard, leader of the Third Crusade, took possession of Cyprus and married Berengaria of Navarre, crowning her Queen of England. A year later he sold Cyprus to the Knights Templar who resold it to Guy de Lusignan, deposed King of Jerusalem.

1192-1489- Frankish (Lusignan) Period. The Catholic Church officially replaced the Greek Orthodox Church, but the latter managed to survive. The city of Famagusta became one of the richest cities in the world in this period, which ended when the last queen Catherina Cornaro ceded Cyprus to Venice in 1489.

1489-1571- Venetian Period. The Venetians fortified the island against the Ottomans, building formidable walls around Nicosia and Famagusta, where the defenses were considered works of art in military architecture.

1571-1878- Ottoman Period. Cyprus fell to the Ottoman troops after much bloodshed. The Latin leadership was expelled and the Orthodox Church restored, with the Archbishop becoming the people's representative to the Sultan. When the Greek War of Independence broke out in 1821, many prominent Cypriots, including the Archbishop, were executed. During this period a proportion of Cypriots and Latins succumbed to pressures and converted to Islam, thus creating the Muslim minority.

1878-1960- British Period. In 1878 Britain assumed administration of the island, subsequently annexing it in 1914, after the Ottomans entered the First World War on Germany's side. In 1923 under the Treaty of Lausanne, Turkey relinquished all rights to Cyprus, and in 1925 Cyprus became a Crown Colony. During the Second World War, Cypriot volunteers served in the British forces. Hopes for self-determination by the Cypriot people however, were denied by the British, who considered the island strategically vital. A national liberation struggle began in 1955 against Colonial rule and for the union of Cyprus with Greece, which lasted until 1959.

1960- The Republic of Cyprus. Cyprus became an independent republic in 1960, and a member of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the Commonwealth and the Non-Aligned Movement. Britain, however retained two sovereign bases. The given Constitution of the Republic proved unworkable, and in 1963 the President proposed some amendments. The Turkish Cypriot community responded with rebellion. Turkish Cypriot Ministers withdrew from the Cabinet, and Turkey threatened with invasion. Since then, the Turkish Cypriot leadership, acting on instructions from Turkey, has aimed at the partition of Cyprus and its annexation to Turkey. Using as a pretext a coup instigated by the Greek military junta against the Cyprus Government in July 1974, Turkey invaded and captured 37% of the island, violating all principles governing the UN Charter. As a result, approximately 40% of the Greek population were violently uprooted and are, to this date, deprived of the fundamental right of returning to their homes and properties. Repeated Security Council and General Assembly UN Resolutions have failed to convince Turkey to withdraw its troops. Moreover, more than 85,000 settlers have moved from mainland Turkey to the occupied area, while in 1983 the Turkish Cypriot leader declared the so-called "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus", an illegal regime recognized by no country except Turkey. Despite repeated rounds of talks, a solution has not yet been found, and Turkey maintains the island's division by the force of arms.

Culturally a Western nation, Cyprus expects to become a full member of the European Union.