THE TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS

North Cyprus is one of the last unspoiled corners of the Mediterranean.  In its old-style charm, the warmth of its close-knit community and its spectacular beauty, the country's quality of life harks back to a bygone era.  We have often heard it described as A Corner of the Earth Touched by Heaven, or the last jewel in the crown of the Mediterranean.  Indeed, the country is the modern product of a unique historical blend.  Dating back 200 million years, Cyprus is the Mediterranean's third-largest island and has passed, over the centuries, through the hands of Persian, Assyrian, Egyptian, Roman, Byzantine, Lusignan and Venetian rulers - each leaving their own imprint.

The clearest influences today are those of the British colonial era, from the 19th century to 1960, which makes for a smooth transition and a warm welcome for UK visitors and residents. English is widely spoken and familiar practices extend as far as driving on the left and even the use of three-pin plugs.

GEOGRAPHY

North Cyprus is characterized by a unique blend of mountains, plains, and beaches. The Kyrenia (Five Finger) mountain range, with its magnificent jagged limestone peaks, the highest of which is Mount Içova at 3,357 ft. runs along most of the northern coastline form a startling backdrop. To the east of the island the mountain range loses height as it extends along the narrow peninsula known as Karpas, or more affectionately, `The Panhandle'.  It is here that the best beaches of Cyprus can be found; long wide empty bays of the purest sand that stretch for miles.