Useful Information Location Cyprus is situated in the north-eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, 33° east of Greenwich and 35° north of the Equator and has an area of 9.251 square kilometers, of which 1.733 are forested. The population of Cyprus at the end of 2001 in the government controlled area was 705.500. The total population of Cyprus at the end of 2001 (including estimates for Turkish Cypriots) was 793.100. The capital of the island is Nicosia with a population of 206.200 in the sector controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus. It is situated roughly in the centre of the island and is the seat of government as well as the main business centre. Climate Cyprus enjoys a Mediterranean climate with long dry summers from mid-May to mid-October and with mild winters from December to February, which are separated by short autumn and spring seasons. The average temperature in June is 25 °C daytime falling to 16°C in the evenings. Getting there Although Paphos is a port city, there are no direct ferry services and visitors must arrive by air or land. The city has a small international airport located 16kms from central Paphos. Paphos International Airport is small and compact.  There are regular scheduled daily or frequent flights from most European capitals and large cities as well as charters from the UK, other European Eastern and  Middle Eastern countries ,building to a peak during the summer holiday period. Destinations served include London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Exeter, Manchester, Birmingham, East Midlands, Glasgow and Cardiff, while the main carriers are British Airways (GB Airways), Cyprus Airways, Lufthansa, KLM, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, Swiss, Tarom, Aegean Airlines, Olympic Airways, Emirates, Gulf Air, LOT, Czech Airlines, First Choice Airways, FlyJet and Flyglobespan. Larnaca International Airport is within easy travelling distance (1 hour) of Paphos. Comfortable highways connect Paphos with major cities and towns across western Cyprus. Limassol is the port for ferries arriving from Athens, Crete, Patmos and Rhodes as well as from Israel. Paphos is a one-hour drive from Limassol for those renting a car; buses can take considerably longer. The cost of a taxi from Larnaca Airport to Aphrodite Hills is anything between EUR 90-100 (taxi meter is used) and from Paphos Airport to Aphrodite Hills anything from EUR 35-45 (taxi meter is used). There are no other regular buses or other means of public transportation to/from the airports. Transfers to and from the hotel can also be pre-booked (at a cost), to arrange a transfer please contact: servicedesk@scs.com.cy Visa information Visitors from the E.U., Australia, U.S., Canada, South Africa and New Zealand require a valid passport but not a visa in order to enter the country.  We advise that you consult your travel agent or airline before you fly. For more information regarding visas please visit  www.mfa.gov.cy Money matters The currency in Cyprus is the Euro, for current exchange rates please consult www.xe.com  What to wear The ICCA Research Sales & Marketing Programme is informal and casual clothes are recommended, no ties or suits are required. There is no strict dress code. It is however imperative that revealing summery tops, short skirts or shorts are avoided when visiting religious places. Weather in June calls for light summer clothes during the day and for the evening light summer clothes with a light summer cardigan. Power supply The supply in Cyprus is 240 volts, AC 50Hz. Sockets are usually 13 amp, recangular blade plug (type G). For more information consult: www.kropla.com. A Safe and Friendly Country Cyprus is a safe and welcoming country with a stable economy. Since 2004 it is a full European Union country member. With traditional hospitality being a common trait of all Cypriots, crime rate is low and visitors are welcome throughout the island. Archaeology Cyprus history stretches back 11000 years. Archaeological sites range from the Neolithic period to the Roman times and are largely near the coast. Archaeological work in progress may often be seen and many sites continue to reveal exciting finds. The Neolithic site of Choirokoitia and the Antiquities of Paphos are listed in the UNESCO catalogue of World’s Heritage Monuments. Geology The geological formation of Cyprus is an open challenge to both scientists and amateurs. A huge underwater volcanic eruption formed the Troodos mountain range 90 million years ago. From geological point of view Troodos consists of plutonic igneous rocks. The rocks became solidified deep in the earth. Such rocks are the serpentines, gabbro and diabase. The central mass of plutonic rocks is surrounded by a very interesting geologic volcanic formation. Byzantine and Medieval History The Byzantine and Medieval periods are most easily appreciated by visiting the many mountain churches with their frescoes dated from 9th AD - 18th Century. Ten mountain churches are included in the UNESCO catalogue as World’s heritage monuments. Flora Cyprus is a nature - lover’s paradise. Nearly 2000 species and sub-species of flowering flora may be found on the island, 88% of which are endemic to Cyprus. Although late winter/early spring provides an abundance of blossom and flowers, nature trails offer access to many trees and shrubs that can be enjoyed year-round. Historic Towns Each of the Cyprus cities has a historic center and the best way to see it is by walking tours which can be arranged as required. Museums A number of museums in which the rich heritage and history of Cyprus is displayed are located throughout Cyprus. Outdoor Activities Some sporting activities visitors prefer to do when in Cyprus include mountain hiking, biking and nature trails, water sports, boating and boat excursions along the coast and jeep safaris. Excursions In view of the size of the island, excursions that combine dramatically different sceneries can be combined in a day’s tour. Traditional life Villages adorn the countryside of Cyprus. Some are famous for wine-making, pottery and traditional crafts.