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Traditional Cypriot Coffee Fortune Telling

Traditional Cypriot Coffee Fortune Telling

Coffee fortune telling, known as kafemanteia in Greek, represents one of Cyprus's most enduring folk traditions, blending social ritual with mystical practice. After drinking a coarsely ground coffee such as Cypriot coffee, a skilled reader interprets the shapes formed by the coffee grounds left in the cup, which indicate the fortune of the drinker. The Ottomans brought this form of divination to Cyprus alongside coffee itself after conquering the island in 1571. Over centuries, tasseography became deeply woven into Cypriot culture, practiced in homes, traditional coffee shops, and family gatherings as entertainment, spiritual guidance, and a way to address life's uncertainties through symbolic interpretation. The Ottoman Roots of Cyprus Coffee Culture Coffee drinking arrived in Cyprus during Ottoman rule beginning in 1571, though Cypriots initially rejected the new beverage along with other Turkish customs. Ottoman authorities established coffee houses across the island, but these remained primarily Ottoman spaces. Coffee drinking became popular only in the late 16th century as Cypriots gradually integrated with Ottoman rule and adopted Turkish cultural practices. The traditional Cyprus coffee shop became known as the kafeneio, spaces that remain central to village social life today. These gathering places brought men together to drink coffee, exchange news, discuss politics, and play games like tavli or pilota. The ritual of coffee preparation and consumption carried social significance beyond…

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Chinese Banyan In Cyprus

Chinese Banyan In Cyprus

Picture yourself in a bustling Cypriot park on a warm afternoon, where a massive tree spreads its branches like a living umbrella, its twisting roots dangling mysteriously from above. This is the Chinese banyan, a grand fig tree that has found a second home on our island, offering shade and a touch of tropical wonder to everyday life. Meet the Mighty Fig The Chinese banyan is a type of fig tree from the vast Moraceae family, which includes over 800 species worldwide, from the sweet edible figs we enjoy to towering rainforest giants. In Cyprus, it's an evergreen tree cherished for its lush foliage and sturdy presence, blending seamlessly into our urban landscapes. Locally known as Ινδική δάφνη (Indikí dáphni), meaning "Indian laurel," a name that reflects its glossy leaves reminiscent of the laurel wreaths of ancient victors. An Asian Traveler's Tale This remarkable tree hails from the tropical forests of southern China, India, and Southeast Asia, where it has been revered for centuries in local cultures as a symbol of longevity and spiritual energy. Introduced to Cyprus during the British colonial era in the late 1800s, it was planted to provide quick-growing shade in towns and gardens, much like other exotic arrivals that helped green our sun-baked streets. Over time, it naturalized gently, adding its own chapter to the…

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Toumba tou Skourou

Toumba tou Skourou

Near the town of Morphou in northwestern Cyprus, an artificial hill once rose from the fertile plain where the Ovgos River flows toward the sea. For over 600 years during the Bronze Age, this spot was home to potters who made beautiful ceramics, copper workers who processed metal from nearby mines, and families who buried their dead in tombs cut into the rock. Bulldozers destroyed much of the site before archaeologists could study it, but what they found in three short years changed how we understand Bronze Age Cyprus. Historical Background Toumba tou Skourou was a Late Bronze Age settlement and cemetery located 4 kilometers from central Morphou on Cyprus's northwestern coast. The name means "Mound of Darkness" in Greek, though scholars debate where this unusual name came from. The site consisted of an artificial mound about 10 meters high, 12 meters wide, and 20 meters long, created from the accumulated debris of centuries of human activity. The settlement flourished from the Middle Bronze Age through the Iron Age, roughly 1650 BC to 750 BC. During its peak, Toumba tou Skourou functioned as an industrial center where craftspeople made pottery and processed copper from mines in the nearby Troodos Mountains. The site also contained residential areas, storage buildings with large pithoi (clay jars), and at least six chamber tombs with…

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