There are influences from all different culture including the Greeks, the Egyptians, the Romans, the Persians, the Byzantines, the Turks and the British.

When the British began their rule of Cyprus in 1878, they used Larnaca as their point of entry. The British ruled the island until 1960. In the 1970’s, Turkey invaded the island and Larnaca’s population increased dramatically due to the Greek Cypriot refugees of Northern Cyprus, driven out by the Turks during the partition years. This also makes Larnaca’s cultural influences more Christian than Turkish.

Nowadays, Larnaca remains an important point of entry to the country with its large port and International Airport.
The true culture of Larnaca can be seen through various festivals and cultural event that take place throughout the year. These include:
• Arts festivals including summer music and performing arts that attract both national and international performers.
• Religious Events in particular events to celebrate the beginning and end of Lent.
• General Festivals including Europe Day in May.

Aeneas Hotel’s breath-taking free form swimming pool, one of the largest in the world, is a major attraction in itself, featuring crossover bridges, jacuzzi, fountains, water jets and waterfalls. The entire pool area covering 4000sqm is surrounded by terraces and garden. There is an extensive range of year round on-site sports facilities.
The sports grounds are within walking distance from the hotel and remain in an excellent green condition all year round. Recent teams to train here are FC Mainz of Germany and FC Aarau of Switzerland.
To balance your vigorous workout, relax with a professional massage, sauna, steam bath or heated jacuzzi.
The 5* Aeneas Hotel is Located in Ayia Napa on the southeastern coast of the island. Once a sleepy fishing
village, Ayia Napa is now most renowned for its lively night life, its excellent choice of shops, restaurants
and bars, its picturesque harbour and of course its beautiful beaches.
The Aeneas has extended the pool right up to the main building to provide for executive suites featuring steps from their terrace leading directly into the pool, as well as their own private outdoor Jacuzzi for the ultimate
in exclusivity and relaxation.
All 325 rooms and suites have a balcony or terrace with inland or pool view and offer the following facilities.
• Air-conditioning/heating
• International direct dial telephone
• Multi channel satellite colour TV
• Mini Bar/Hair Dryer/Safe deposit Box
Executive rooms offer the exclusive feature of direct pool access (some offer private Jacuzzi).

Cyprus is the perfect destination for football and sports training camps, particularly during the winter months
when the island enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate.
European infrastructure, outstanding hotel facilities and first class football stadia set the perfect pitch for your stay in Cyprus.
The management of GMG Special Interest Tourism, with locations in Limassol and Paphos, looks forward to
welcoming you to Cyprus and introducing you to its extensive network of professional partners. These include
hotels, tour guides, airlines, logistics experts and the helpful staff at the Cyprus Tourism Organisation, to
provide you with a full-service organisation to ensure enjoyable and problem-free training visits to Cyprus.
SC Freiburg, TSV 1860 Munchen, FC Mainz, FC Utrecht, Sparta Rotterdam, FC Chelsea and FC Basel are just a few of the professional teams who have enjoyed our top quality facilities and professional management to date – why not come and see for yourself what so inspired them to visit, stay and play?

Village facilities include tavernas, coffee shops, supermarket, bank, post office and limited souvenirs, all of which are within easy strolling distance of your accommodation. Tochni will be the destination for european bikers in springtime, when the Cyprus Bike Festival will take part in the area.

Every year, a lot of high standard UCI-races are the highlights during the training-sessions and hundreds of riders from all over the world – well known professionals, teams and as well as amateurs and hobby-bikers participate on the races.
In spring 2007 – all bikers should meet on this place – in a warm, like a familiy.village-atmosphere, at Tochni.

During the Cyprus Bike Festival – incl. the season opening marathon of the popular German Bike Masters, Cyprus Villages and Zypernbike are offering some Specialpackages for really good rates, especially for riders who are staying 1 or 2 weeks or longer and plan to take part in 1 or more races.

RESPONSIBILITIES
The Water Development Department is responsible for implementing the water policy with objective the national development and management of the water resources as well as the long term planning and strategy to satisfy all future water demands of Cyprus. In this context the responsibilities of the Department cover a wide and diverse spectrum which includes managing, planning, designing, constructing, operating and maintaining water supply, irrigation and wastewater schemes.

ACTIVITIES IN THE WASTEWATERS MANAGEMENT
In the field of the wastewater the Water Development Department is responsible for the management of all rural sanitation schemes, the recycling of treated effluents and the protection from pollution of all water resources.
These activities include studying, designing, constructing, operating of sewage schemes including collection networks, treatment plants and distribution, storage and recharge of recycling waters. Also the Department is responsible for the formulation of standards for all discharges into the aquatic environment.

MAJOR WATER SUPPLY AND IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT WORKS
Paphos Irrigation Project which includes the construction of Asprokremmos dam and the development of 14 boreholes for the irrigation of 5000 hectares.
Pitsilia Integrated Rural Development Projects which include the construction of a large number (19) of offstream earth ponds, two dams and the development of 20 boreholes for the irrigation of 1530 hectares.
Vasilikos-Pendaskinos Project which includes the construction of two major dams, one water supply treatment plant and the irrigation of 1429 hectares.
Khrysokhou Irrigation Project which includes the construction of a major dam and the irrigation of 3100 hectares.
Southern Conveyor Project which includes the construction of two major dams, a conveyance system of 150 km, two water supply treatment plants and the irrigation of 13,662 hectares.

MAJOR WASTEWATER PROJECTS
Vathia Gonia Centralised Treatment Plant which provides for the treatment of septage and industrial wastewaters from the Districts of Nicosia and Larnaca and the reuse of treatment effluents for agricultural crops.
Rural Sanitation which provides for the collection of treatment of wastewaters derived from several number of
communities.
Reuse of Treated Effluents for Irrigation (Limassol-Larnaca-Paralimni- Ayia Napa, Paphos). Provides for the reuse of treated effluents from the centralised wastewater treatment plants installed at the major cities and the tourist areas of the Island, for the irrigation of agricultural areas and recreation facilities including parks, lawns, golf courts etc.

Cyprus is included in the international markets concerning holiday homes (for medium/high income buyers), with Spain on top of the list, Portugal second, Cyprus third, Malta fourth, with Croatia, Turkey and Bulgaria to follow as the new up coming markets. Greece is not included in the list concerning the purchase of this type houses, for numerous and various reasons, (it has only one international airport, short property supply, complicated title deeds, peculiar and perplexing legislations, almost compulsory false declaration i.e. an objective value instead of the real one etc, etc). In Cyprus the 20% of the overall property purchases comes from foreigners, however it represents the 70% of holiday home purchases in Cyprus.

The purchase of holiday homes in the areas of increased demand, in relation to foreigners/locals is analyzed as follows:
Free Famagusta – Protaras areas ( 50% Cypriots + 50% foreigners). Larnaca
area ( 20% Cypriots + 80% foreigners). Limassol (10 % Cypriots + 90% foreigners). Paphos district (5% Cypriots + 95% foreigners). In the mountainous resorts (Platres – Moniatis etc) the percentage is 60% Cypriots + 30% foreigners, while in other mountainous villages including those with traditional architecture (Lania, Lefkara, Kakopetria) the buyers are mainly foreigners, excluding expatriates.

What should you look for when buying a holiday home?
• Location – This is a main criterion, which is also decisive concerning the fixing of the price/value. The closer to the sea the higher its value is. However, choosing the location is important and you need to examine the immediate environment to the property for any noise pollution (it is situated close to clubs, motorway etc).
• Architecture + Functioning – If the project is architecturally in a bad condition you can be sure that, in a few years, following its delivery/ occupancy, it will have turn into a slum, thus causing a rapid drop in the value of your investment.
• Environment – Examine the immediate surroundings of the project you are buying. Has the Contractor / Developer provided for the planting of any trees and other decorative plants? Has he made a fence around the building and has he secured it? Are there any green areas, parking, storage areas and easy access to the project?
• Administration/Common expenses – A serious disadvantage for a holiday project is its administration after the delivery. A general meeting of the residents is almost impossible, owing to its seasonal usage, and under the circumstances it is advisable to look for projects, the administration of which has been undertaken by the contractor himself for, at least, a 5-year period. From our experience we have observed that if this arrangement is not done, you would most likely be in an environment of unknown to you buyers, who probably would not be very cooperative, thus leading to catastrophic consequences for your investment.
• Research on Buyers – Unfortunately some of us (mainly Cypriots) do not behave as owners of a joint property and this is particularly noticeable in the case of holiday homes. Therefore a “research” on the others that have bought houses in the project you are interested in, would probably be good for you. We have to admit that 90% of the foreign buyers behave perfectly.
• Prices – Prices show a constant increasing trend, excluding Paphos where prices have shown a downfall by 10% (which is due to the fact that demand by foreigners has been reduced by 20% during the years 2004/05.

We are giving you the average prices on holiday units (both on the beach and
elsewhere):
* Paphos £1200/sqm. (—)
* Limassol £900/sqm. (£2000/sqm.)
* Larnaca £800/sqm. (£1500/sqm.)
* Famagusta/Paralimni £800/sqm. (£1500/sqm.)
* Mountainous Resorts £1000/sqm.

Prices refer to new good quality units that are situated at attractive locations and to projects of exclusive quality in architecture.

North Cyprus Property Top Tip #5: Understanding TRNC Deeds

You must ensure your property comes with a Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) freehold deed. Due to the division of Cyprus in 1974, these come in four formats;

1. Pre 1974 Turkish Freehold Title, for land or property owned by a Turkish Cypriot before 1974.

2. Pre 1974 Foreign Freehold Title, for land or property owned by a foreign national before 1974. These titles are internationally recognised.

3. TRNC Exchange Title, for land or property given to a Turkish Cypriot in exchange for land and property they owned in south Cyprus before 1974, and have relinquished their rights to.

4. TRNC TMD Title, for land given to Turkish Cypriots for military or government service, or to settlers.

All four titles are acceptable, with the first type commanding around a 30% premium.

North Cyprus Property Top Tip #6: Save Money with ‘Nearly New’

If you want to buy a North Cyprus property you can move straight into, consider resales at recently completed developments. Your property should be already sorted with all utilities, minor snagging issues ironed out, and yet the property should still be in excellent condition. Unlike new build properties, where your money may be tied up for two years with no return, a resale property can be enjoyed or rented out as soon as you get the keys!

North Cyprus Property Top Tip #7: Get Professional Advice

Buying any property is a major financial commitment, so don’t be pressured into signing any agreement. Always employ your own, independent solicitor to advise you and act on your behalf, never one suggested by a property developer. With a complex buying process, new tax laws and various permits to be gained, a good North Cyprus solicitor is well worth the modest fees they charge. Again, online forums are good sources of feedback on reliable firms – and those to avoid…

With many top quality developments now being completed, there has never been a better range of property for sale in North Cyprus, or a better time to invest.

North Cyprus Property Top Tip #1: Do Your Research Online

When considering buying any property in North Cyprus, always research your options online first. Most North Cyprus developments have websites complete with glossy site maps and impressive floor plans, which only tell half the story. For the full picture, join a North Cyprus property online forum, where real buyers compare experiences of purchasing at specific developments. You can post questions, or just browse the post titles to see which North Cyprus developers keep their promises, and which don’t! Best of all are the independent North Cyprus web sites that offer independent reviews of developments alongside comments from their forum members.

North Cyprus Property Top Tip #2: Pick Your Area

North Cyprus is a beautiful country with several distinct areas, each with their own particular appeal. If you are buying a home for yourself, decide what you want most; walking distance to a sandy beach, or a mountainside location with views over the sea. The same applies to considering possible rental markets or investment potential; golf tourists will wish to be close to the new course at Esentepe, while couples with young children will prefer to rent a holiday home right next to a beach. Make a short list of one or two areas that interest you, then check your online forums for local insights, such as good schools, top restaurants or problems with water supplies!

North Cyprus Property Top Tip #3: Visit North Cyprus

At this stage, don’t take an inspection trip organised by a developer; you need to be free to follow your instincts. Armed with your short list of areas, spend the first two days simply driving around and getting the feel of the places you are interested in. Drop into the local caf¨¦ for coffee, and chat to the locals. See for yourself which developments are actually busy with residents or workmen, and those that are standing empty or half-finished.