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Troodos Mountains Biodiversity and Climate Core

Troodos Mountains Biodiversity and Climate Core

The Troodos Mountains rise from the heart of Cyprus as the island’s highest mountain system, with Mount Olympus reaching 1,952 meters above sea level. More than a scenic landscape, this mountain range forms the ecological and climatic core of the island. Its slopes regulate water supply, shape weather patterns, and support an extraordinary concentration of life found nowhere else in the Mediterranean. What makes Troodos truly exceptional is its geological origin. The mountains expose one of the most complete sections of ancient oceanic crust ever discovered on land, creating conditions that shaped a unique and fragile ecosystem over millions of years. Historical Background The Troodos Mountains formed approximately 92 million years ago at the bottom of the ancient Tethys Ocean, nearly 8,000 meters below the sea surface. Molten rock from the Earth’s mantle rose through fractures in the ocean floor, solidifying into layers of basalt, gabbro, and peridotite. When the African and Eurasian tectonic plates collided, this section of oceanic crust was pushed upward rather than sinking back into the mantle. Geologists describe this phenomenon as an ophiolite complex, and Troodos represents the best preserved and most accessible example in the world. Uplift began around 20 million years ago, with Mount Olympus at its center. Over time, erosion stripped away upper layers and exposed deeper geological formations normally hidden beneath…

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Larnaca Medieval Museum

Larnaca Medieval Museum

The Larnaka Medieval Museum offers visitors a compact yet fascinating journey through 15 centuries of Cypriot history. Located on the second floor of the Medieval Fort at the end of Foinikoudes promenade, this small museum houses a carefully selected collection that spans from the Early Christian period to Ottoman rule. The museum occupies three rooms within the fort's upper level, a structure that itself tells a story of Cyprus's layered past. The building sits directly on Larnaca's waterfront, where the Mediterranean laps against stone walls that have witnessed centuries of change. The location proves as significant as the exhibits themselves. The fort began as a small Byzantine fortification in the late 12th century, positioned to guard the harbour. Between 1382 and 1398, Lusignan King James I ordered its expansion into a proper defensive castle. This transformation occurred because the Genoese had occupied Famagusta, Cyprus's primary port, and the Lusignans needed an alternative harbour for their kingdom's maritime trade. The Collections on Display Room one focuses on the Early Christian period, presenting antiquities from the 4th to 7th centuries AD. The display includes photographs of Byzantine and post-Byzantine monuments throughout Cyprus, providing context for the island's early Christian heritage. These visual references help visitors understand the wider architectural and religious landscape that shaped medieval Cyprus. The central room showcases Byzantine art…

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Cyprus Corporate Tax System

Cyprus Corporate Tax System

The corporate income tax rate increased from 12.5% to 15% on January 1, 2026. This change aligns Cyprus with the OECD's Pillar Two global minimum tax framework. Parliament approved the comprehensive tax reform package on December 22, 2025, marking the most significant update to the Cyprus tax system in over two decades. Despite the rate increase, Cyprus maintains competitive positioning within the European Union. The 15% rate remains lower than most EU member states. The reform preserved key exemptions and deductions that define the Cyprus tax advantage. Companies earning profits before 2026 can still apply the previous 12.5% rate to retained earnings under specific conditions. Large multinational enterprises with annual revenues exceeding €750 million face additional considerations. These companies already operate under the Qualified Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax, which took effect in 2025. The QDMTT ensures compliance with global minimum tax requirements while maintaining domestic competitiveness. Core Tax Exemptions That Remain Unchanged Cyprus continues to exempt dividend income from taxation. Companies receiving dividends from Cyprus resident or foreign entities pay zero corporate tax on this income. This exemption applies regardless of where the distributing company operates, subject to certain anti-abuse provisions. Capital gains from the sale of shares remain tax-free. Companies can dispose of securities, bonds, debentures, and other corporate titles without triggering corporate income tax. This creates significant advantages…

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