Cultural Semester Ispra

28/05/2026

👉Did you know that Cyprus is home to the world’s oldest manufactured wine label still in production?

It’s called Commandaria, and this legendary sweet dessert wine has a history that is nothing short of royal.

While the wine has been made on the island for over 5,000 years, it got its official name in the 12th century during the Crusades.

King Richard the Lionheart loved it so much that he served it at his wedding in Limassol in 1191, famously declaring it "the wine of kings and the king of wines."

Today, just like Champagne in France, Commandaria has a protected geographical status. It can only be produced in a specific region of 14 villages on the foothills of the Troodos Mountains.

So, if you’re looking to sip on a literal piece of living history, Commandaria is your go-to!🍷🍷

17/05/2026

This weekend, to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia ( ), the Cu29 symbol at JRC Ispra is glowing in the colours of the rainbow! ✨

By lighting up the focal point of our Cypriot cultural semester, we want to share a message of warmth, acceptance, and respect for the LGBTIQ+ community across Europe. 🇨🇾🇪🇺 ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

06/05/2026

✈️ Next stop: Cyprus!

The Cypriot Semester 2026 at JRC Ispra, thanks to the collaboration with the Associazione Culturale Europea (ACE), is taking the celebration directly to the source!

From tomorrow until next Thursday, 12 explorers will be embarking on a curated journey through the island.

🌟 To our 12 participants: we wish you a week filled with discovery and the warm hospitality (philoxenia) for which Cyprus is famous. Enjoy the 33°C sunshine! ⛱️

Kalo taxidi! 🥂

19/04/2026

⚽ Goal!

In Cyprus, football is more than just a game—it’s a passion. Even though it’s a small island, there are over 400 football clubs! That means almost every village has its own team and its own local heroes.

As part of our Cypriot Cultural Semester, we are bringing that Mediterranean energy to Northern Italy. This Tuesday and Wednesday (21-22 April), we are teaming up with the JRC Calcetto Club for an exciting 5-a-side tournament. Get ready for fast goals and great fun!

🏆 Proudly sponsored by the best

We are honoured to have two of the biggest names in Cypriot football supporting our event:

APOEL FC: They are famous for being "giant-killers." Back in 2012, they shocked Europe by reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League. They proved that a small team with a big heart can beat anyone!

PAFOS FC: After a meteoric rise to the top of Cypriot football, the club has taken its 'fresh energy' to the Champions League, standing toe-to-toe with Europe’s most iconic names. A club built for the big moments and the brightest lights.

15/04/2026

Looking for a mid-week cultural escape? 🎬

Tomorrow night at 8:00 PM, the Cypriot Cultural Semester continues at the Clubhouse Auditorium with a screening of Tonia Mishiali’s acclaimed film, 'Pause'.

'Pause' is a bold, award-winning exploration of the "silent" lives many women lead. It is dark, surreal, and deeply moving—a true standout in modern Cypriot cinema.

The story follows Elpida, a woman trapped in the misery of a loveless marriage who finds refuge in a vivid fantasy world. As she navigates unquenchable desires and her own sense of self, the lines between fantasy and reality begin to blur.

Don't miss this powerful drama about finding one's voice in the midst of oppression.

Watch the trailer:

https://youtu.be/wzlyQG4dr9c?si=mbY0NOkZ4goRhHCP

Language: Greek, EN subtitles.
Free entry. See you there!

Elpida, a middle aged housewife trapped in the misery of an oppressive marriage, begins to lose touch with reality as she finds refuge in a fantasy world of ...

10/04/2026

🛠️ The Silicon valley of antiquity?

Back in 4,000 BC, while much of the world still relied on stone, the people of Cyprus were hard at work in the foothills of the Troodos Mountains. They weren’t just mining; they were fueling a global revolution!

Cyprus provided copper: the raw material that allowed civilisations to upgrade from fragile stone to the power of bronze.

To make export easier, they cast copper into "oxhide ingots." These heavy, four-handled slabs were the "standard currency" of the Mediterranean—designed to be carried by two men or strapped to a pack animal for long-distance trade. 🚢💨

🏛️ History you can still touch

Cyprus is a living Copper museum. You don’t just read about this history; you walk through it.

The Skouriotissa mine: Located 63km west of Nicosia, it is often cited as the oldest functioning mine in the world—a testament to thousands of years of human innovation.

The Cyprus Museum: Based in Nicosia, it houses stunning bronze artifacts that look as though they were cast yesterday.

Next time you hold a copper coin or think about your phone’s wiring, remember: it all started on a sunny island in the Mediterranean. ☀️✨

(Photo of Skouriotissa mine, source: Mines Service, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Republic of Cyprus)

19/03/2026

Cyprus is well-known as the legendary birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love ❤️. According to myth, she emerged from the sea foam at Petra tou Romiou in Paphos 🌊. The striking rock formations are also tied to a later legend: the Byzantine hero Digenis Akritas is said to have thrown them into the sea to defend the island against Saracen invasions between the 7th and 10th centuries 💪. The name "Petra tou Romiou," meaning "Rock of the Greek," is derived from this heroic tale.👋 (image ©️visitcyprus.com)

14/03/2026

The symbol of the Cypriot Cultural Semester embodies the connection between Cyprus’s rich heritage and modern innovation—a narrative that bridges ancient craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology.

Central to this theme is copper: Cu, element 29 on the periodic table. For thousands of years, copper has been integral to shaping the economy, culture, and identity of Cyprus.

The island’s rich deposits supplied the bronze that powered early civilisations, making Cyprus a hub of ancient technology and trade. The map on the Cyprus flag is a copper-orange colour, symbolising the large deposits of copper ore on the island.

The metal’s name itself originates from the Latin Cyprium aes, meaning ‘metal of Cyprus’, which was later shortened to cuprum, the root of the English word 'copper'.

Today, copper remains at the heart of progress. With its exceptional conductivity, corrosion resistance, and recyclability, it drives innovation in electronics, renewable energy, electric vehicles, and smart construction.

The symbol’s design subtly transforms the number 29 into 26, a reference to 2026 — symbolising a bridge between tradition and the present. It connects Cyprus’s legacy of metalworking with the European Union’s vision for science, technology, and sustainable growth.

The Cu symbol renews the “metal of Cyprus” as a sign of knowledge, progress, and sustainability — honouring the island’s past while expressing confidence in a brighter, more innovative future.

12/03/2026

🍷 Today at 5:00 PM | JRC Ispra Clubhouse
Don’t miss a special evening with Markos and Marleen Zambartas of Zambartas Wineries! Join us for their inspiring presentation, "A Winemaker’s Tale: Transition to Organic Viticulture & the Climate Impact."
Come to hear how one of the world's oldest wine regions is adapting for a sustainable future. See you there! 🍇

27/02/2026

The EU Science Hub - Joint Research Centre Ispra site Cypriot Cultural Semester “Copper” symbol—linked to Cyprus’ history and name—has dressed up in new colours! 🩷💙💜💚

On 28 February 2026, we join for to help make rare diseases more visible, and to highlight a field where coordinated European action is essential to deliver meaningful benefits for citizens.

This initiative also connects to the work on rare diseases at EU Science Hub - Joint Research Centre. On this , we continue our endeavour to make rare disease patient data from findable and interoperable through a single European Platform on Rare Disease Registration — — to support knowledge generation on .

https://eu-rd-platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/index_en