Explore Cyprus with Our Interactive Map

Featured Articles

Explore our top stories and discover ideas worth your time.

View all articles
Hala Sultan Tekke in Larnaca

Hala Sultan Tekke in Larnaca

Hala Sultan Tekke is a mosque complex located on the western shore of Larnaca Salt Lake. It was built between 1760 and 1817.  This Ottoman-era monument marks the burial site of Umm Haram, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad who died in Cyprus during the first Arab raids in 647 or 649 AD. The site is considered the third or fourth holiest place in Islam by various sources and remains an important pilgrimage destination for Muslims worldwide. Historical Background According to Islamic tradition, Umm Haram was either the foster sister of Muhammad's mother Amina or the wife of Ubada bin al-Samit, a companion of the Prophet. She accompanied Arab forces under Caliph Muawiyah during their expedition to expand Muslim territory in the Mediterranean. Historical accounts describe her as elderly when she arrived in Cyprus. During the siege of Larnaca, she fell from her mule and died from the injuries. She was buried at the spot where she fell, near the salt lake. The tomb remained known through oral tradition but was formally identified by the Ottomans after they conquered Cyprus in 1571. In the 18th century, a dervish named Sheikh Hassan discovered a two-chambered tomb at the site with inscriptions in Old Ottoman. This discovery confirmed the location and prompted religious authorities to develop the site as a place of…

Read more
Loggerhead Sea Turtle in Cyprus

Loggerhead Sea Turtle in Cyprus

The loggerhead sea turtle represents one of the oldest living species on Earth. This marine reptile has survived for millions of years, adapting to changing oceans while maintaining its essential form and behaviors. The species gets its common name from its remarkably large head, which houses powerful jaw muscles capable of crushing hard-shelled prey like whelks, conchs, and horseshoe crabs. Cyprus holds special significance for loggerhead turtles in the Mediterranean. The island's beaches serve as critical nesting sites where female turtles return every two to four years to lay their eggs. These ancient creatures navigate across vast ocean distances to find the exact beaches where they were born, using mechanisms that scientists believe involve magnetic fields, water chemistry, and possibly star navigation. Evolution and Natural History Loggerhead sea turtles belong to the family Cheloniidae, which includes all living sea turtles except the leatherback. The species received its scientific name Caretta caretta from the French word "caret," meaning turtle. Carl Linnaeus first classified the species in 1758, though it underwent several name changes before scientists settled on the current designation in 1873. The Mediterranean Sea hosts a distinct regional population of loggerheads. These turtles differ slightly from their Atlantic cousins, typically reaching smaller adult sizes. While Western Atlantic loggerheads average around 250 pounds and can exceed 400 pounds, Mediterranean individuals rarely…

Read more
Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Standards

Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Standards

Cyprus operates one of the Mediterranean's most comprehensive eco-certification systems for tourism businesses and beaches. These certifications verify environmental performance, safety standards, and sustainable practices through strict criteria and regular audits. The island participates in internationally recognized programs managed by the Foundation for Environmental Education, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, and independent certification bodies. Hotels, restaurants, beaches, and marinas pursue certification to demonstrate environmental responsibility, reduce operational costs, and meet growing consumer demand for sustainable tourism. The certification process requires documentation, training, operational changes, and annual verification. Cyprus currently maintains 66 Blue Flag certifications for beaches and marinas, while Green Key certification gains momentum among hospitality businesses. Building Certification Systems from the Ground Up The Blue Flag program arrived in Cyprus in 1994 through a joint initiative between the Cyprus’s Deputy Ministry of Tourism and the Cyprus Marine Environment Protection Association. Water quality analyses began in 1995, before Cyprus joined the European Union. Fig Tree Bay in Protaras became the first Cypriot beach to receive the Blue Flag in 1996. Green Key certification was launched in Cyprus more recently as hotels and accommodations sought formal recognition for sustainability efforts. The program serves multiple establishment types, including hotels with more than 15 rooms, hostels, small accommodations under 15 rooms such as guesthouses and eco-lodges, campsites and holiday parks, conference centers without…

Read more