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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…

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Modern Housing and Business in Cyprus

Modern Housing and Business in Cyprus

Cyprus housing market experienced substantial transformation over the past decade, with residential prices rising approximately 4.8% year-on-year in Q1 2025 according to Central Bank data. The average apartment cost reached €250,000 while houses averaged €320,000 island-wide. Price per square meter stands near €2,500-2,600, though coastal properties in cities like Limassol command significantly higher premiums starting from €700,000 for modern apartments. The business environment evolved equally dramatically as Cyprus positioned itself as a Mediterranean technology hub. The information and communications sector grew an average 17.7% annually from 2015 to 2024, becoming the largest economic sector by value. This transformation attracted international companies and created a startup ecosystem that ranked Cyprus as the EU's fastest-growing in 2025 with 305 startups, representing 71% annual increase. Housing Market Shows Regional Variations Limassol remains the island's most expensive city with average residential prices around €3,200 per square meter, up 7.4% year-on-year. The city accumulated 45% of apartments and 44% of houses available for rent nationwide as of January 2025. Seafront projects and steady international demand fuel this growth, with 74% of transactions over €1.5 million occurring in Limassol during 2024. Paphos emerged as 2025's surprise leader with houses jumping 16.9% year-on-year to approximately €693,000, though apartment prices slipped 10.3%. Premium villas drive market activity as lifestyle buyers and holiday rental investors compete for quality detached…

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Green Sea Turtle Conservation Programs in Cyprus

Green Sea Turtle Conservation Programs in Cyprus

The green sea turtle represents one of the Mediterranean's rarest nesting species. In this entire sea, only 300 to 400 female green turtles nest each year, with the vast majority choosing beaches in Cyprus and Turkey. This makes Cyprus critically important for the species' survival in the region. The green turtle earned its name from the green fat stored beneath its shell, a result of its diet that consists almost entirely of seagrass and algae once the turtle reaches adulthood. Green turtles belong to the family Cheloniidae and hold the distinction of being the largest hard-shelled sea turtle species. Adults can reach one meter in length and weigh between 130 and 160 kilograms. Their distinctive heart-shaped shell ranges from olive to black in color, while the underside stays pale yellow. Unlike their carnivorous loggerhead cousins, adult green turtles maintain an almost exclusively herbivorous diet, grazing on seagrass meadows and coastal algae. From Crisis to Conservation Action Historical records and testimony from older fishermen confirm that green turtles were once far more abundant around Cyprus than they are today. Exploitation of Mediterranean sea turtles from ancient times through the mid-20th century devastated populations. An estimated 100,000 turtles were shipped from the Eastern Mediterranean to Europe to meet demand for turtle soup and other products. This commercial harvest, combined with coastal development…

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