Today, we have a holiday!
Each year on 1st October, Cyprus celebrates its' Independence Day. It commemorates becoming an official independent country after their fight against the British between 1955 and 1959 when Cyprus was a colony under the British Empire.
The actual day of independence came about on 16 August 1960 upon an agreement in both Zurich and London - between Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Cyprus later became a member of the Commonwealth in 1961 and has been a member of the EU since May 2004.
The celebration is always held on 1st October with parades in most large towns and cities. The main military parade in Nicosia is televised and distributed throughout the local TV networks.
The above image of the map of Cyprus is taken from Kitab-ı Bahriye (The Book of Navigation by Piri Reis) and is one of the most famous books of navigation. The book contains detailed information on major ports, bays, gulfs, capes, peninsulas, islands, straits and sheltered spots of the Mediterranean Sea.
The Book of Navigation was originally written between 1511 and 1521, but later revised with additional information and better-crafted charts between 1524 and 1525 for it to be presented as a gift to Suleiman the Magnificent.
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