COST 2015 / About Cyprus

About Cyprus

Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean. A story past 10,000 years long has seen civilizations come and go and the likes of everyone from Alexander the Great to Cleopatra stake their claim here. Aphrodite made her home on Cyprus and travelers throughout antiquity came here just to pay her tribute.

Today Cyprus is a modern country that combines European culture with ancient enchantment. One of the benefits of being a Mediterranean island is plentiful sunshine throughout the year, and Cyprus is no exception. In fact, Cyprus epitomizes the ideal weather of the region with sunny days and fine temperatures almost every day. Extremes of temperatures are rare, meaning Cyprus has something to offer every month of the year, whether it's swimming (as late as November) or enjoying cultural sites and festivals (all year long).

Cyprus Currency

The European Union's Council of Ministers has approved the entry of Cyprus into the Eurozone.

European finance ministers (collectively known as Ecofin) set fixed rates of one euro to 0.585274 Cypriot pounds and the euro is the official currency used in Cyprus since January 1, 2008.

The design of the Cypriot euro coins:

1 cent, 2 cent and 5 cent: The Mouflon, the most characteristic species of fauna in Cyprus, representing the island's nature and wildlife.
10 cent, 20 cent and 50 cent: The Kyrenia ship of 4th Century B.C., representing Cyprus's history and its character as an island as well as its importance in trade.
1 and 2: The Idol of Pomos, a cross-shaped idol dating back to the Cypriot chalcolithic period (3000 B.C.), found in Pomos, a village in the district of Paphos. It is a characteristic example of prehistoric art in Cyprus, representing the island's antiquity, culture and civilization.

Depiction of Cypriot euro coinage \| Obverse side
€ 0.01	€ 0.02	€ 0.05	€ 0.10	€ 0.20	€ 0.50

The Mouflon			The Kyrenia ship
€ 1.00			€ 2.00

The Idol of Pomos