Cyprus is an island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey. It offers beautiful beaches and extensive historical and archaeological sites.
There are three politically distinct areas in the island: the Republic of Cyprus (a member of the European Union) is a state with wide international recognition. However it only controls territory in the south. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is functionally a separate country, though it receives diplomatic recognition only from Turkey. The British military sovereign base areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, while legally separate from either republic, have open borders with the Republic of Cyprus.