| Cyprus or The Republic of Cyprus is the third-largest | | | | for the vast majority of the country's tourism |
| island country in the Mediterranean, after Sicily and | | | | income. It is understandably an attractive location for |
| Sardinia. It has a rich history, supposedly the birth site | | | | sun-hungry Brits: average temperatures only dip |
| of the Greek goddess Aphrodite, and due to its | | | | below 21 degrees Celsius between November and |
| proximity to both Greece and Turkey it has a cultural | | | | April, with the country receiving over 300 days of |
| heritage that owes much to both nations. | | | | sunshine a year. |
| It also has a British influence, coming under British rule | | | | In addition the country can boast of stunning |
| in 1878 in return for British support of the Ottoman | | | | architecture due to the different waves of invasion |
| Empire in the Russian-Turkish war. The island was | | | | and delicious cuisine due to its Turkish and Greek |
| then formally annexed by the United Kingdom in 1913 | | | | heritage and access to the sea. Local delicacies |
| in the run-up to the First World War when the | | | | include calamari, octopus in red wine, sea bass, |
| Ottoman Empire, a former British ally, joined the | | | | souvlaki (pieces of meat and vegetables grilled on a |
| Central Powers. In 1960, following internal strife | | | | skewer) and sheftalia (skinless pork or lamb |
| regarding the rule of the nation, with different groups | | | | sausages). |
| wishing annexation to either of the cultural | | | | Thanks to its connection to Britain, English is widely |
| "motherlands" of Turkey or Greece, the island | | | | spoken by the local population and has become a |
| became a sovereign nation, with Britain retaining the | | | | semi-official language. Most forms, both public and |
| Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia for | | | | private, are available in both English and Greek, |
| strategic military purposes. | | | | including bank contracts, phone bills and tax returns |
| Today the country is spilt into four de facto areas - | | | | Furthermore, English documents from abroad, such as |
| the south of the island, under the effective control | | | | birth certificates and university degrees, do not need |
| of the Republic of Cyprus; the Turkish-occupied area | | | | to be translated into Greek to be used officially. |
| in the north, calling itself the Turkish Republic of | | | | Cypriot legal and land registry systems are largely |
| Northern Cyprus, recognised only by Turkey; the | | | | based on British practices, making it relatively easy |
| United Nations-controlled Green Line, separating the | | | | for Brits looking for property for sale in Cyprus to |
| two and the British Sovereign Base Areas. Cyprus | | | | find that perfect home away from home. The |
| joined the EU in 2004 with no trade restrictions | | | | Republic of Cyprus is also one of four countries in the |
| between the north and south of the island. | | | | EU to drive on the left side of the road, making |
| A notable British presence remains in Cyprus to this | | | | Cyprus a great location for Brits looking to |
| day. The republic has become home to a sizeable | | | | experience the fantastic weather, cuisine and history |
| expatriate community, roughly 50,000 out of a | | | | it has to offer while maintaining some of the |
| population of 788,457, while British tourists account | | | | comforts of home. |