New! Watch a video overview of Nicosia, the host city for our all our Cyprus-based programs!
Since
the dawn of recorded history, Cyprus has been one of the most
sought-after areas of the region, mainly because of its strategic
geographical location, at the crossroads of 3 continents (Europe, Asia
and Africa). Ancient Greeks, Egyptians and Romans, along with
Crusaders, Byzantines, Franks and Ottomans, have left a remarkable
legacy for the modern visitor to explore.
Today,
Cyprus is still an important trading hub and is quickly becoming a
center for education and research in the region, with continuous
incoming investment from international organizations and educational
institutions.
Diversity on Many Levels
Cyprus
is truly an "island for all seasons". With over 300 days of sunlight
annually, four distinct seasons and a mild climate, it is an ideal
year-round destination. Every year, over 2.5 million tourists choose
Cyprus as their vacation destination and many Europeans invest in
second homes on the beautiful beaches and mountains of Cyprus.
Cyprus
offers a remarkably diverse natural and cultural environment for such a
small country. In the same month, you can visit snow-tipped pine
forests in the Troodos mountains, drive through fields of olive trees
and relax by the clear blue Mediterranean sea.
The cultural
heritage of Cyprus mirrors its physical diversity. Ancient Greek
temples, Roman amphitheaters, pre-historic settlements, Crusader
castles, Venetian fortifications and Byzantine churches can all be
found within a day's drive of each other. Today, Cyprus retains a
multi-cultural heritage combining Greek, Turkish and British influences
in a modern European society.
Nicosia
Students
are based in Nicosia, the vibrant and modern capital of the Republic of
Cyprus, located in the center of the island. Nicosia is a safe and
accessible city of about 270,000 that combines a medieval "Old City"
filled with rich Greek, Venetian and Ottoman monuments with a thriving,
cosmopolitan "New City", attuned to the latest European business and
fashion trends.
Old
Nicosia is enclosed within Venetian fortifications, built in the 16th
century by the then rulers of the island. Even though Nicosia has grown
way beyond its medieval boundaries, these walls still contain the
cultural center of the city and the quaint streets are filled with
museums, cafés, music bars, restaurants, art galleries and cobbled
roads.
New Nicosia that developed outside the walls is the
political, economic and educational center of Cyprus and presents many
opportunities for site visits and program activities. It also has
lively shopping, restaurant and nightlife areas for students to
explore.
The
standard of living in Nicosia is on par with other prosperous cities in
southern European countries and English is widely spoken. Nicosia has a
large university community of over ten thousand local and international
students and most students blend in and make friends easily.
Finally,
the central location of Nicosia is a great base to explore all the
fantastic beach and mountain towns of Cyprus, which is something we do
on all of our study abroad programs.
