About Cyprus
With a land area of 9,251 km the island is the third largest in the Mediterranean after Sicily and Corsica, it's landscape is rich and diverse and is dominated by two mountain ranges, those of Pentadactylos in the north and the central and larger more well known Troodos range, where winter skiing is possible.
The population of the island is approximately 650,000 with the majority residing in the four main cities / towns, Nicosia (the capital), Larnaca, Limassol and Pafos. As a former British colony and a member of the Commonwealth there are many features to everyday living which have a distinctly English feel to them, not least the fact that English is widely spoken throughout the island with 80% of all locals being relatively fluent, with all administrative (i.e. utility bills) and legal dealings (contracts of sale) being conducted in English, indeed the local legal system is modelled upon the British system.
Cyprus joined the EU in May 2004. Residents of Cyprus enjoy a crime free environment, state of the art telecommunication and international business services, and excellent healthcare and medical services. There is little poverty, indeed the GDP is higher than some EU countries.
Excellent infrastructure and facilities, high standard and quality of life, low cost of living, and generous tax incentives are all major factors that attract people to the island from all over the world, whether it be simply for holidays and vacation or investment and permanent residence.
However for many the one overriding factor that makes Cyprus the ideal location to purchase property is simply the weather and climate. The climate is often regarded by many as the best in Europe, with an almost unbelievable average of 340 days of sunshine per year. The peak tourism season is from April to October, with June, July and August averaging in excess of 12 hours of sunshine per day and temperatures consistently exceeding 32c. The winter months are mainly classified as December, January and February mainly because the weather is a little inconsistent and there are a few showery days, however it has still been known for swimmers to venture into the sea on Christmas day and sun seekers to get a healthy tan in January.
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