Cyprus, the third largest island in the Mediterranean, lies off the southern coast of Turkey, and the western shore of Syria. It was the site of early Phoenician and Greek colonies.
For centuries its rule passed through many hands. It fell to the Turks in 1571, and a large Turkish colony settled on the island. The British had control of Cyprus for sometime after World War I, but finally Cyprus became an independent nation on August 16th, 1960.
Cyprus is famous for many things. Its dessert wine, produced in the fertile high-altitude slopes in the southwest of Cyprus, has a sweet, herby taste that has made it very popular.
One of the most visited spots in Cyprus is the town of Paphos. The remains of ancient tombs, fortresses and palaces have made it a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
There is also an interesting legend about Cyprus. The local people believe that the Greek Goddess of Love, Aphrodite, was born on a beach in Cyprus that’s named after her. Waves breaking over the rocks create pillars of foam, which according to the islanders, look like the goddess herself!