Cyprus Basics Exam
Places you are asked about in the exam on the basics of political and social life in Cyprus. People take it for long-term resident status and for citizenship.
121 places
Ancient Salamis
One of the main city-kingdoms; on the exam, a monument in the occupied areas
Aphrodite’s Rock (Petra tou Romiou)
Aphrodite’s birthplace according to legend — a question from exam preparation
Bellapais Abbey
Lusignan-era Gothic; a wrong option in the UNESCO question
Buffavento Castle
One of the three castles of Pentadaktylos, and the highest of them
Cape Greco
A national park in the Famagusta district; the exam asks about its district
Choirokoitia Neolithic Settlement
One of the three UNESCO World Heritage sites in Cyprus
Church of Archangel Michael, Pedoulas
One of the ten painted churches of Troodos on the UNESCO list
Church of Saint Lazarus
A Byzantine church over the tomb of Lazarus, about 1,100 years old
Cyprus Archaeological Museum
The main collection of Cypriot antiquities, from the Neolithic to Roman times.
Galata
A Solea Valley village with a painted church on the UNESCO list
Hala Sultan Tekke
The main Muslim shrine of Cyprus and a place of pilgrimage
Kantara Castle
A peak and castle of Pentadaktylos: geography for the exam
Kato Paphos Archaeological Park
Roman mosaics and the first UNESCO site in Cyprus
Kolossi Castle
Commandaria, the traditional wine of Cyprus, takes its name from here
Kourion (ancient theater)
An ancient city-kingdom that is not on the UNESCO list
Kykkos Monastery
The most famous monastery in Cyprus, where Makarios III began as a novice
Kyrenia Harbor and Castle
The only district of Cyprus wholly outside the Republic’s control since 1974
Machairas Monastery
Afxentiou, EOKA’s second-in-command, was killed nearby
Monastery of Agios Ioannis Lampadistis
Part of the Painted Churches in the Troodos Region, a UNESCO World Heritage site
Monastery of Apostolos Andreas
One of the main pilgrimage sites of Cyprus, by the northeastern cape
Old Famagusta: the Walls and Othello’s Tower
Venetian walls, the siege of 1570–1571 and the events of 1974
Palaepaphos: Sanctuary of Aphrodite
One of the most famous sanctuaries of Aphrodite in the ancient world
Palaichori
Birthplace of Karaolis and Matsis, and a church on the UNESCO list
Panagia Asinou Church (Forviotissa)
One of the best-known painted churches of Troodos on the UNESCO list
Panagia tou Araka Church
One of the ten painted churches of Troodos on the UNESCO list
Panagia tou Moutoulla Church
One of the ten painted churches of Troodos on the UNESCO list
Saint Hilarion Castle
A Pentadaktylos peak with a castle; it comes up in an exam question
St. Nicholas of the Roof (Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis)
One of the ten painted churches of Troodos on the UNESCO list
Stavros tou Agiasmati Church
One of the ten painted churches of Troodos on the UNESCO list
Stavrovouni Monastery
One of the oldest monasteries in Cyprus, keeping a piece of the Cross
Timios Stavros Church, Pelendri
One of the ten painted churches of Troodos on the UNESCO list
Tombs of the Kings
Part of the UNESCO site “Paphos”; no kings were buried here
Venetian Walls and Eleftheria Square
The heart of the capital; the exam asks about Nicosia, Ledra and Chora
Agia Kyriaki Church and St. Paul’s Pillar
A church shared by several Christian communities, and the site of a legend about the Apostle Paul
Agios Georgios Peyia and Cape Drepano
One of 12 archaeological sites open to visitors; it stands on Cape Drepano.
Agros
Pitsilia’s roses and cured meats: products protected by the EU
Akanthou
One of nine municipalities outside the Republic’s control since 1974
Akrotiri Salt Lake
The largest inland body of water in Cyprus, and it lies on a British base
Ancient Amathus
An ancient city-kingdom in Limassol district; it comes up in exam questions
Ancient Kition
The ancient name of Larnaca and the birthplace of Zeno, founder of Stoicism
Archbishopric and Byzantine Museum
Seat of the head of the Church of Cyprus and the Byzantine Museum with the Kanakaria mosaic
Athienou
A free municipality by the ceasefire line, featured in exam questions
Avakas Gorge
A well-known Akamas gorge; the exam asks which district it’s in
Ayia Napa
A resort in the Ammochostos district; the exam asked about its district
Baths of Aphrodite
The myth of Aphrodite; the start of the Akamas national park trails
Caledonia Waterfall
An exam question: a trail and waterfall in the Troodos forest, Limassol District
Cape Arnaoutis
Considered the westernmost point of Cyprus
Cedar Valley
Thousands of endemic Cyprus cedars; protected, but not a national park
Central Bank of Cyprus
The country’s main bank; Cyprus has been in the eurozone since 2008
Chlorakas: Digenis landing site
Grivas landed here in secret before the EOKA struggle of 1955–1959
Cyprus Railway Museum (Evrychou)
The only museum in Cyprus of a railway that no longer exists
Cyprus University of Technology (TEPAK)
One of the three public universities of Cyprus; it came up on the 2026 exam
Cyprus Wine Museum (Erimi)
The museum of Cypriot wine in Limassol District; don’t confuse it with Omodos
Dasaki Achnas
A village of 1974 refugees on British base land
Deryneia: Famagusta Cultural Center and the view of Varosha
A view of Varosha, the events of August 1996, a crossing point to the north
Ercan Airport (Tymbou)
An illegal point of entry: this came up on the exam
Evangelos Florakis Naval Base, Mari
Widely seen as the worst disaster in Cyprus since 1974
Famagusta Gate in Nicosia
The largest gate of Venetian Nicosia and a common exam trap
Fikardou
A whole mountain village protected as a monument of rural architecture
Foini
A village of potters: the exam asks about traditional crafts
Geroskipou
Home of loukoumi, the first Cypriot product with an EU geographical indication
House of Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios
An 18th-century dragoman’s mansion, now the Ethnological Museum
House of Representatives
The country’s main lawmaking body and a frequent exam question
Imprisoned Graves
A place of remembrance of the 1955–1959 EOKA struggle and the executions of those years
Kakopetria
2026 exam question: Kakopetria and Galata are in the Solea Valley
Kalavasos-Tenta Neolithic Settlement
One of the oldest settlements in Cyprus; Neolithic, like Choirokoitia
Kamares Aqueduct
An Ottoman-era monument; the exam asked which district it is in
Kormakitis
A village of the Maronites, one of the three recognized religious groups of Cyprus
Kouris Dam
The largest reservoir in Cyprus, a frequent exam question
Kyparissovouno
The highest point of the Pentadaktylos range, a geography topic on the exam
Kyperounta
A Pitsilia village with a museum of the 1955–59 struggle
Lara Bay
One of the main sea turtle nesting sites in Cyprus
Larnaca Airport “Glafcos Clerides”
The country’s main air gateway and a legal point of entry
Larnaca Castle
It guarded Larnaca harbor; under the British it held a prison and executions
Larnaca Port, Marina and Finikoudes Seafront
A recognized sea point of entry and the main Kataklysmos festival
Larnaca Salt Lakes
The largest network of salt lakes in Cyprus and a winter home for flamingos
Latchi Harbor
One of four legal sea entry points into the Republic of Cyprus
Ledra Palace Hotel and Crossing
A symbol of divided Nicosia and of the first crossings opened in 2003
Ledra Street Crossing
A symbol of divided Nicosia and a crossing point between the communities
Lefkara
Lefkara lace has been on UNESCO’s intangible heritage list since 2009
Leventis Municipal Museum (Leventio)
A museum of the history of Nicosia, the only divided capital in Europe
Liberty Monument
A monument to those who fought British rule in 1955–1959
Limassol Castle (Cyprus Medieval Museum)
Home of the Cyprus Medieval Museum and the legend of Richard’s wedding
Limassol Municipal Garden
The main venue of the Limassol Wine Festival, which the exam asks about.
Limassol Port
The country’s main gateway by sea after 1974
Madari (Adelfi Forest)
A summit of eastern Troodos and protected Natura 2000 nature
Makedonitissa Tomb Memorial
A place of remembrance for those killed in the 1974 Turkish invasion
Maronite Cathedral of Our Lady of Graces
The main church of the Maronites, one of the three religious groups of Cyprus
Morphou, Monastery of Saint Mamas
Morphou was taken in the second phase of the invasion, in August 1974
Mount Olympus (Chionistra)
The highest peak in Cyprus, found in exam preparation questions
Mount Papoutsa
The exam asked which mountain range it belongs to
National Struggle Museum
Remembering the 1955–1959 struggle that led to independence
Old Nicosia Airport
A symbol of 1974: the capital’s airport is closed and stands in the buffer zone
Omeriye Mosque
A working Nicosia mosque in a former fourteenth-century church
Omodos
Wine village: zivania, lace, arkatena bread and a museum of the 1955–59 struggle
Oroklini Lake
A protected Natura 2000 wetland in the Larnaca district
Pachyammos
Those killed in the Battle of Tillyria in August 1964 are remembered here
Panagia, birthplace of Makarios III
Birthplace of Archbishop Makarios III, the first President of the Republic of Cyprus
Paphos Harbor and Castle
A recognized sea entry point and the medieval fortress of Paphos
Paphos International Airport
One of the two legal air gateways into the Republic of Cyprus
Paralimni Lake
A seasonal Natura 2000 lake in the Famagusta district: the “lakes” topic on the exam
Peristerona: Church and Mosque
A church next to a mosque: a symbol of the communities living side by side before 1974
Pierides Museum
The oldest private museum in Cyprus; the exam asked which city it is in
Platania Picnic Site
The largest picnic site of the Department of Forests; for the exam, Nicosia district
Platres
A well-known Troodos mountain resort; the exam has asked about it
Polis Chrysochous
An exam question: which district this town belongs to
Prastio Avdimou
Village of the halloumi festival, a cheese protected by the EU
Presidential Palace
The president’s residence: Cyprus is a presidential, not a parliamentary, republic
Prodromos
The highest and coldest village in Cyprus: a question on climate and geography.
Pyla
The only village in the buffer zone where both communities live
Rizokarpaso
Home to enclaved Greek Cypriots and their Greek schools
Sotira
Sotira kolokasi is a product with an EU protected designation of origin
St Nicholas of the Cats Monastery
By tradition one of the oldest monasteries in Cyprus; the exam asks where it is
Stavros tis Psokas (mouflon)
Here you can see the mouflon, a wild sheep found only in Cyprus.
Supreme Court
The top of the judicial branch of the Republic of Cyprus
Theatre and Carnival Museums (Panos Solomonides Center)
A museum from an exam question, and Limassol’s biggest festival
Throni of Panagia: Tomb of Makarios III
The tomb of Archbishop Makarios III, the first President of the Republic of Cyprus
Troodos Geopark (Amiantos)
UNESCO Geopark center: the Troodos Mountains are a former ocean floor
University of Cyprus (Aglantzia campus)
The state university of Cyprus; the exam asks which university is in which city
Varosha
A district closed since 1974, a symbol of the island’s division
Zygi
An exam answer: like Latchi, it holds a fish festival