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The island of Cyprus is located in the Mediterranean Sea, and the varied countryside – from barren, desert-like landscapes to lush forestry – helps craft the image of this great country. The majority of the country is the Greek-controlled Republic of Cyprus, whereas the North of the country is the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus – though this region is only officially recognised by Turkey and some tiny states. Cyprus is a country with a strong history of invasion and occupation, with the island evidently in a prime location for trade and whichever military base or kingdom/empire wanted to set up shop in the region. From the Phoenicians, through the Egyptians, and the Persians, to the English, the Venetians, the Ottomans and then to the British for a while – it was no real surprise that by the early 20th Century the seeds of dissent had been well-sown. The need of the Cypriot people to finally have a country of their own was unfortunately the catalyst in the ongoing Greek/Turkish Cypriot animosity, as the will of the people to form a union with Greece did not sit well with the Turkish population. By 1960 Cyprus was an independent state, but tensions hit boiling point as the appointed Greek leader pushed for closer ties with mainland Greece – fighting was regular and UN peacekeeping forces had to be sent to the area. Turbulent times didn’t let up however, and 1974 saw the Northern part of the country invaded by the Turkish – a retaliatory action after a junta Greek-organised coup had overthrown the Greek president. Nearly 200,000 Greek Cypriots were displaced and the junta Greeks swiftly pulled out of the country. The UN set up a control region through the middle of the country which still stands today, helping maintain a long-standing ceasefire and standing as a buffer between the Greek and Turkish regions of the country. In 1983 the Turkish region of Cyprus declared itself as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, though as mentioned this is a title only recognised by Turkey and a few small states. Very recent history has seen talk of unification at the forefront, especially as Cyprus sought entry to the EU – which it achieved in 2004, despite unification plans falling apart at the last minute. Travel restrictions between the two regions have seen some vast reductions and it is now quite easy for Cypriots to visit between both regions of the country as they see fit. Cyprus is a country with a hopeful future – relations between North and South are slowly becoming less frosty and there is real optimism that unification could happen some time in the near future. Economically, the country is in a decent position and this doesn’t look set to change much – with tourism offering the highest contribution to the country and travelling around the island becoming easier as it is, it doesn’t seem stupid to anticipate the effect of tourism in the country becoming even more positive. Off plan buyers could do worse than looking into this beautiful Mediterranean island. The standards of healthcare in Cyprus are generally good, with English-speaking medical staff common. No agreements exist with the UK but tourists are entitled to free healthcare for accidents or illnesses on production of a British passport – other charges may still apply, however. Health insurance is still recommended in case emergency evacuation is necessary and to cover the cost of treatment. Mobile phone coverage stretches across most of the country, though obviously quality of service cannot be guaranteed in more rural areas. Landlines are widely available and lines are of a decent standard. Internet cafes are widespread in urban areas.
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Property for sale in Peyia
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Tersefanou Village Larnaca
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