2022-2023 Cyprus Country Report

CYPRUSCOUNTRY REPORT 2022
SPORTS & OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Cyprus offers a host of energetic pursuits to engage the visitor. Becoming increasingly
popular as a destination for golfers, Cyprus offers first-class facilities with four
professional courses in magnificent locations, and the development of several new
courses in the pipeline. Spectacular pine-clad mountains in the centre of the island
offer walkers and cyclists welcome respite from the heat. Breathe in the bracing pine
scented air, whilst admiring the series of Venetian stone bridges and waterfalls that
pepper various hiking trails in scenery that looks as if it has been lifted from a book
of fairy tales. In winter months, skiers can test the slopes on Troodos whilst the rest
of the island wear short sleeves and bask in winter sun. The island provides excellent
opportunities for water sports, such as windsurfing and kitesurfing. There are also
excellent dive sites and facilities, with one of the best wreck dives in the world, the
Zenobia, situated off Larnaca. Other popular dive sites include Ayia Napa, Paphos and
the Akamas Peninsula, where divers are often able to see artefacts such as Roman
pottery on the seabed.
CUISINE
I
t is of course impossible to talk about Cyprus without mentioning the food. As with
most Mediterranean countries, food plays an important role and is to be enjoyed
at a leisurely pace with friends and family. One of the first Greek phrases to learn in
Cyprus is siga siga, which means ‘slowly’, and is a mantra one will hear almost daily. The
fabulous Cypriot food is to be savoured unhurriedly, usually al fresco with friends and
family. Even a cup of coffee can be a two hour past time. Cypriot food bears a distinct
resemblance to Greek cooking, but also has Turkish and Lebanese influences. As in
other Mediterranean countries, eating is an activity to be savoured and enjoyed and is
certainly not to be rushed in any way. Which is a good job as a traditional Cypriot meze
– a meal of small plates similar to tapas – can consist of up to 30 dishes.
Cypriot cuisine features lots of fresh fish, meat, beans, pulses and vegetables
flavoured with lemon, fresh herbs and spices. Cyprus is also one of the world’s oldest
grape-growing and winemaking regions, with its fruits of the grape ranging from
delicate whites and full-bodied reds to the rich sweet, amber-coloured dessert nectar
known as Commandaria. This is one of the oldest wines in the world, representing an
ancient wine style documented in Cyprus back to 800 BC and has the distinction of
being the world’s oldest named wine still in production, with the name Commandaria
dating back to the crusades in the 12th century.
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