Cyprus – Britain’s Home Away From Home

Cyprus or The Republic of Cyprus is the third-largest island country in the Mediterranean, after Sicily and Sardinia. It has a rich history, supposedly the birth site of the Greek goddess Aphrodite, and due to its proximity to both Greece and Turkey it has a cultural heritage that owes much to both nations.

It also has a British influence, coming under British rule in 1878 in return for British support of the Ottoman Empire in the Russian-Turkish war. The island was then formally annexed by the United Kingdom in 1913 in the run-up to the First World War when the Ottoman Empire, a former British ally, joined the Central Powers. In 1960, following internal strife regarding the rule of the nation, with different groups wishing annexation to either of the cultural “motherlands” of Turkey or Greece, the island became a sovereign nation, with Britain retaining the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia for strategic military purposes.

Today the country is spilt into four de facto areas – the south of the island, under the effective control of the Republic of Cyprus; the Turkish-occupied area in the north, calling itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognised only by Turkey; the United Nations-controlled Green Line, separating the two and the British Sovereign Base Areas. Cyprus joined the EU in 2004 with no trade restrictions between the north and south of the island.

A notable British presence remains in Cyprus to this day. The republic has become home to a sizeable expatriate community, roughly 50,000 out of a population of 788,457, while British tourists account for the vast majority of the country’s tourism income. It is understandably an attractive location for sun-hungry Brits: average temperatures only dip below 21 degrees Celsius between November and April, with the country receiving over 300 days of sunshine a year.

In addition the country can boast of stunning architecture due to the different waves of invasion and delicious cuisine due to its Turkish and Greek heritage and access to the sea. Local delicacies include calamari, octopus in red wine, sea bass, souvlaki (pieces of meat and vegetables grilled on a skewer) and sheftalia (skinless pork or lamb sausages).

Thanks to its connection to Britain, English is widely spoken by the local population and has become a semi-official language. Most forms, both public and private, are available in both English and Greek, including bank contracts, phone bills and tax returns Furthermore, English documents from abroad, such as birth certificates and university degrees, do not need to be translated into Greek to be used officially. Cypriot legal and land registry systems are largely based on British practices, making it relatively easy for Brits looking for property for sale in Cyprus to find that perfect home away from home. The Republic of Cyprus is also one of four countries in the EU to drive on the left side of the road, making Cyprus a great location for Brits looking to experience the fantastic weather, cuisine and history it has to offer while maintaining some of the comforts of home.