Explore Cyprus with Our Interactive Map

Featured Articles

Explore our top stories and discover ideas worth your time.

View all articles
Kakopetria Historic Village Byzantine Churches

Kakopetria Historic Village Byzantine Churches

Kakopetria is a mountain village in the Troodos range that combines well-preserved traditional architecture with important medieval heritage sites. Located about fifty-five kilometers from both Nicosia and Limassol at an altitude of 667 meters, the village offers a clear example of rural Cypriot life shaped by its natural environment and long historical continuity. Two rivers, the Kargotis and the Garillis, flow through the settlement and merge to form the Klarios River, which continues toward Morphou Bay. This constant water supply has played a central role in the village’s development, supporting fertile greenery, dense vegetation, and year-round cultivation. Plane trees, orchards, pine forests, and cultivated gardens create a landscape that stands out in comparison to much of the island’s drier terrain. The higher elevation also provides cooler temperatures and a more temperate climate throughout the year. The village is divided into two distinct sections. Old Kakopetria, known locally as Palia Kakopetria, sits between the two rivers and preserves its traditional identity through narrow stone streets and two-story stone houses with wooden balconies. New Kakopetria extends toward the eastern valley and includes more modern residential development. The older section has been granted protected heritage status, ensuring the preservation of its 18th and 19th-century architectural character. Historical Development Archaeological findings from excavations in the surrounding area indicate human presence dating back to the…

Read more
Solar Energy Projects in Cyprus

Solar Energy Projects in Cyprus

Cyprus has positioned itself as a European leader in solar energy adoption, capitalizing on one of the continent's strongest solar resources. The island receives between 2,500 and 3,500 sunshine hours annually, with coastal areas averaging 19 to 20 megajoules per square meter daily. This exceptional solar potential has driven two parallel developments: a world-leading adoption of solar thermal water heaters dating back to the 1960s, and a rapid expansion of photovoltaic installations over the past decade. By the end of 2024, Cyprus had installed 797 megawatts of solar photovoltaic capacity, with renewables generating approximately 25 percent of the island's electricity. These achievements demonstrate how geographic advantage combined with supportive policies can transform energy infrastructure, though serious challenges around grid management and energy storage threaten to undermine further progress. From Israeli Innovation to National Standard Solar water heating arrived in Cyprus in the late 1960s when Israeli companies introduced the technology to the island. The timing proved fortunate. Many rural areas lacked electricity infrastructure, and solar thermal systems offered a practical solution for hot water without requiring grid connections. The technology was remarkably simple: solar panels heat water that circulates through copper pipes into an insulated storage tank. Within two hours of installation, households had access to free hot water powered entirely by sunshine. This simplicity drove rapid adoption across both…

Read more
Nissi Beach

Nissi Beach

The Nissi beach stretches 500 meters along a crescent-shaped bay on the eastern coast of Cyprus, approximately three kilometers from Ayia Napa town center in the Famagusta district. The bay's distinctive feature is the small island, or "nissi" in Greek, positioned about 50 meters offshore. The water depth remains shallow throughout the bay, typically staying below waist level even 100 meters from shore, making the entire area accessible for wading and safe for families with children. The beach actually consists of two connected sections. The main stretch near the islet attracts larger crowds and hosts most water sports activities and beach bars. A second, smaller, quieter section extends to the west, providing more relaxed conditions for visitors seeking less activity. Both areas share the same water quality and sand characteristics that earned Nissi Beach its Blue Flag designation, an international eco-label awarded for excellent water cleanliness, environmental management, safety standards, and proper facilities. Historical Background Archaeological excavations conducted along the western borders of the bay in 2005 revealed firelighting equipment dating back 12,000 years. This discovery suggests the area may have been among the first locations settled by humans arriving on Cyprus. The artifacts included chipped stone tools and evidence of fire use. That shows early inhabitants recognized the bay's advantages, including protected waters, access to marine resources, and suitable…

Read more