Re: Autumn issue | Page 70

10 facts about Cyprus Cyprus became a province of the Roman Empire in 45AD, and was the first country to be governed by a Christian. Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, is now the only capital in the world to be divided between two nations - North Cyprus & South Cyprus. The English crusader king - King Richard the Lionheart - wed Queen Joanna at Limassol Castle on May 12, 1191. To this day it is the only foreign venue at which an English Royal Wedding has been hosted. Cyprus is known as ‘the playground of the gods’ and for good reason too! Aphrodite is said to have risen out of the water near Paphos. 68 Crime rate is very low in Cyprus, making it one of the safest places in the world to live. George Michael (musician/pop singer), Fatima Whitbread (Olympic athlete) and Muzzy Izzet (English premiership soccer player) were all born in Cyprus. Cyprus was once the wealthiest nation in the known world. It was during the Copper and Bronze Ages when the island’s rich natural copper resources were exported to other countries. There are more than 1950 species of flowering plant in Cyprus, 140 of which are found nowhere else in the world. Traffic in Cyprus drives on the left-side of the road. Commandaria is a sweet red wine produced in Cyprus. It is reputed to be the oldest wine in the world. 69