INTRODUCTION
Any self-respecting sun-worshipper knows that one of the world's top destinations for ray-catching is Cyprus, an island renowned for typically having 300-plus sunny days a year. The third largest island in the Mediterranean, over the centuries it has been under Persian, Assyrian, Egyptian, and Roman rule to name but a few. Steeped in history, the icons of myth and film from Alexander the Great to Aphrodite are all said to have set foot on Cyprus' hot sands. The Roman leader Mark Anthony is also said to have given the island as a gift to his lover Cleopatra after becoming enamored with the local wine. Modern Cyrus combines the best of contemporary European culture with the idyll of a sandy, sun-kissed island. The Republic of Cyprus achieved independence in 1960, the north becoming the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1974. Beaches, vineyards and citrus groves abound interspersed with the stony villages of postcards. Cypriots tend to be friendly and tolerant towards visitors and are eager to help them to discover all that the island has to offer. The currency is the Cyprian pound, and most of the North will also accept Turkish lira. Luxurious and often hedonistic 5 star resorts are dotted around the island, sitting comfortably alongside state-of-the-art health spa's and holistic healing centres. There is also a wealth of ancient sites to amuse the amateur archaeologist, and areas such as Agia Napa in the east for party-loving night owls. As one of the closest areas in the Mediterranean to the Asian and African continents, Cyrus is also the perfect base or starting point for further exploration. Cruises and tours abound to Egypt, Israel, the Lebanon and of course the Greek islands
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