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Cyprus is an island country in the Eastern Mediterranean. Its total land area is only 3,572 square miles, but it includes several cities, towns, and villages.

The largest cities in Cyprus are Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Famagusta, Paphos, and Kyrenia, each of which is the country's district capitals.

Situated on the banks of the River Pedieos, Nicosia is the largest city in Cyprus and the country's capital city. Nicosia has been inhabited since the beginning of the Bronze Age, more than 4,500 years ago, and has been the capital of Cyprus since the 10th century. Other names that it has been known by include Ledra, Lefkosia, and Kallenikesis.

Limassol is on the southern coast of the island, and the second largest city in Cyprus. The city was established between the ancient cities of Amathus and Kourion, probably after the ruin of Amathus. Although the city itself was founded later, people have inhabited the area since ancient times. The English king, Richard the Lionheart, is known to have stayed at Limassol during the Third Crusade, and it was on his orders that Amathus was destroyed.

Located on the southern coast of Cyprus, Larnaca is the third-largest city on the island. The city was built on the ruins of Citium, a city-state that had been established in the 13th century BC, and was the birthplace of Zeno, founder of the Stoic school of philosophy.

Now the fourth-largest city in Cyprus, Famagusta was once the island's most important port city and a gateway to trade with the Silk Road merchants. Located east of Nicosia, it has the deepest harbor on the island. Founded around 274 BC, in ancient times, it was known as Arsinoe.

Located in the southwestern part of the island, on the Mediterranean coast, Paphos is believed to have been founded by Nicocles, the last king of Palaepaphos, around 310 BC. In ancient times, two cities were known as Paphos. Old Paphos is now known as Kouklia.

Although there is some evidence that Kyrenia was founded as early as 5800 BC, tradition has it that it was founded after the Trojan War. When the city became prosperous, the Roman constructed a castle in the 1st century AD. Today, the city is populated mostly by mainland Turkish settlers.

Nicosia, Famagusta, and Kyrenia are claimed both by the Republic of Cyprus and by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, comprising the northern portion of the island, which is recognized as an independent state only by Turkey. The Turkish military maintains a large force in Northern Cyprus, viewed as an occupation force by the Republic of Cyprus.

Topics related to any of these cities, or any smaller cities, towns or villages in Cyprus, are the focus of this category or its subcategories. Businesses, industries, schools, religious institutions, or organizations within any city, town or village in Cyprus may be listed in this category, with the exception of those with a national or wider focus, which would appropriately be listed directly under the Cyprus category.

 

 

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