CYPRUS, the third largest island in the Mediterranean.

Cyprus has a typical Mediterranean climate, warm and dry with little rainfall, which makes Cyprus very popular as tourist destination. The island enjoys an intense Mediterranean climate with long, warm and dry summers from mid-May to mid-October.

Its cultural influences are dominated by Western Europe, but its geographic proximity to Asia and Africa gives it more than just a hint of the East. Long coveted by mainland Greece and Turkey, this small island has its own definite and beguiling character. And although English is widely spoken and understood on both sides the official languages of Cyprus are Greek and Turkish.

There are two parts to Lemesos (Limasol): the Old City, a much-renovated, historic part of town with stylish cafés, restaurants, shops and bars around the Old Fishing Harbour and the former Turkish quarter; and the tourist area (also known as Potamos Germasogeias), a rather abysmal stretch of town around 3km to the east of the Old City.

What's on when...?

• August – Village Festivals
• August-September - Limassol Wine Festival
• September – Paphos Aphrodite Festival
• October - Afamia Grape Festival

Did you know...?

• Cyprus have two seperate governments for the Greek and the Turkish cypriots. Each has its own elected parliament, with its own Prime Minister.
• The early settlers most probably came from the nearby Mediterranean countries clearly visible from Cyprus' shores.
• The first Governor from Rome was Marcus Portius Catto who had the task of implementing the annexation of the island. He arrived in 58 BC and began almost four hundred years of the Roman period.