Explore Cyprus with Our Interactive Map

Featured Articles

Explore our top stories and discover ideas worth your time.

View all articles
Public Services and Governance in Cyprus

Public Services and Governance in Cyprus

Cyprus operates as a presidential representative democratic republic where the President serves as both head of state and head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government, while legislative power rests with both the government and the House of Representatives. The judicial branch remains independent of both executive and legislature. Cyprus joined the European Union in 2004 and adopted the euro in 2008, aligning its governance structures with EU standards and regulations. The government consists of the President, Council of Ministers, and various ministries and departments that deliver services to approximately 1.38 million residents and thousands of businesses. Digital Transformation Accelerates in 2026 Cyprus has outlined a broader push to digitalize public administration in 2026 after expanding online services in 2025. Deputy Minister of Research Nicodemos Damianou announced that 75 new digital services were launched in 2025, exceeding the initial target of 60, whereas more than 100 additional services are expected to become available in 2026. The upgraded gov.cy portal now records over 500,000 monthly visits, rising to more than one million when linked government sites are included. Usage increased substantially in 2025, with over 32,000 civil registry applications submitted online. Meanwhile, 16,000 student sponsorship applications were processed fully electronically for the first time, while more than 13,000 military-related applications were handled digitally. In addition, 7,000 citizens received 71.41…

Read more
Haunted Mills and Ruins Across Cyprus

Haunted Mills and Ruins Across Cyprus

Cyprus holds a collection of abandoned places that attract visitors interested in supernatural tales and historical mysteries. These locations range from ghost towns frozen in time to mountain hotels shrouded in dark legends and villages deserted by their residents. The island's troubled 20th century history, particularly the 1974 division, created numerous abandoned settlements that locals and visitors now associate with paranormal activity. These sites blend documented historical events with folklore, creating spaces where reality and supernatural stories overlap. Historical Context The modern haunted landscape of Cyprus emerged primarily from two sources. The 1974 Turkish invasion created instant ghost towns when residents fled their homes. Varosha in Famagusta represents the most dramatic example, a once glamorous resort sealed off by military forces and left untouched for decades. The invasion displaced hundreds of thousands of people, leaving behind dozens of villages that remain empty today. Earlier events also contributed to abandoned sites. The intercommunal violence of the 1960s forced Turkish and Greek Cypriots to abandon mixed villages. Mining closures in the 1930s and natural disasters like earthquakes created additional deserted settlements. Each abandonment brought its own set of stories about what happened and what might remain. Features of Cyprus most notorious haunted locations Varosha stands as Cyprus most famous ghost town. Before 1974, this Famagusta district attracted celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor and…

Read more
Famagusta Canbulat Museum

Famagusta Canbulat Museum

The Canbulat Museum sits within the Arsenal Bastion, a fortified structure that forms part of the massive Venetian walls surrounding old Famagusta. The bastion was first opened as a museum in 1968, then underwent renovation and reopened in 2008. The museum occupies a site that witnessed one of the most decisive moments in Cypriot history. The building dates back to the Venetian period and houses a tomb made of cut stone surrounded by iron railings. Visitors enter through the southern section of the fortress walls, adjacent to the Canbulat Pasha Gate. The location holds both historical and spiritual significance for many Turkish Cypriots, who regard it as a pilgrimage site honoring Ottoman military courage. Historical Background The Ottoman conquest of Cyprus began in July 1570 when invasion forces sailed from Anatolia. Famagusta fell to the Ottomans in August 1571 after a siege that lasted nearly a year. The large and wealthy island had been under Venetian rule since 1489, together with Crete, representing one of the major overseas possessions of the Republic. The Ottoman forces kept pressure on for eleven months, while their artillery relentlessly pounded the city's bulwarks. After capturing Nicosia in September 1570, where 20,000 members of the garrison and citizens were massacred, the Turkish cavalry appeared before Famagusta on September 15, 1570. The Venetian defenders numbered about…

Read more