Guinness World Records Set in the Republic of Cyprus and by Cypriots

In the Republic of Cyprus and among Cypriots, there are dozens of recorded Guinness World Records: from a 75 m sheftalia (Dromolaxia, 13 October 2024) to a 259.5 kg flaouna (Limassol, 11 April 2012) and a 6,962.6 m wedding veil (Larnaca, 14 August 2018). Some records were set by Cypriots outside the Republic of Cyprus (for example, "highest-altitude fitness class" in Nepal and "highest-altitude concert" in Argentina). Below is a list with brief details for each record, including dates and locations, current as of 2026.

• Summary table of records
• World’s largest sheftalia
• World’s largest flaouna
• World’s largest vasilopita
• Longest wedding veil
• Largest bra chain
• Oldest barber in the world
• Largest ambrotype photograph
• Longest alternating wrist-holding human chain
• Most pull-ups in one minute
• Largest football memorabilia collection
• Most glasses balanced on the head
• Heaviest nectarine
• Largest Hasapiko dance
• Most musicians simultaneously playing one piano
• Highest-altitude fitness class
• Most weighted jumps in one minute
• Longest wingsuit flight distance
• Longest time spent in an elevator
• Youngest airline chairman
• Highest-altitude concert
• Glossary
• Frequently Asked Questions

Summary Table of Records

World’s Largest Sheftalia

In October 2024, in Dromolaxia (Larnaca district, Republic of Cyprus) during a charity festival linked to the feast of Saint Lazarus, a Guinness World Record was set: a 75 m long sheftalia was prepared.

World’s Largest Flaouna

The largest flaouna weighed 259.5 kg and was created by Carrefour in Limassol on 11 April 2012. Its length was 2.45 m and width 1.24 m. Flaouna is a typical Cypriot cheese pastry, most often prepared for Easter.

World’s Largest Vasilopita

The record for the largest vasilopita was set in Paphos: the traditional cake weighed 1,900 kg, was cut on 1 January 2000, and according to Guinness World Records, served approximately 7,000 portions.

Longest Wedding Veil

The longest wedding veil, measuring 6,962.6 m, was made by Maria Paraskevi in Larnaca on 14 August 2018. Guinness World Records notes that breaking the record had been a childhood dream of the creator.

Largest Bra Chain

The record was set on 30 April 2006 at Paphos Harbour: 114,782 bras were linked into a single chain 111 km long. The initiative was dedicated to breast cancer awareness and promoting regular screenings.

Oldest Barber in the World

The record was set on 31 March 2006: Aristidis Dimitriu retired at the age of 95. Publications from that period noted he had been cutting clients’ hair since age 10 and devoted decades to his profession.

Largest Ambrotype Photograph

The largest ambrotype photograph, covering 2.4 m², was created by Dimitris Mina in Larnaca (Republic of Cyprus) on 13 June 2021.

Longest Alternating Wrist-Holding Human Chain

The longest alternating wrist-holding human chain consisted of 4,073 people. The achievement was reached in Nicosia on 25 June 2024 (participants and organizers are listed in the Guinness World Records entry).

Most Pull-Ups in One Minute

In Nicosia on 15 July 2024, the record was set: 48 neutral-grip pull-ups in one minute (men). As of 2026, the current world record in the “neutral grip, one minute” category is 56, set in Singapore on 19 December 2024.

Largest Football Memorabilia Collection

The largest collection of football memorabilia consists of 40,669 items. The achievement was recorded on 30 June 2017 in Mosfiloti (Republic of Cyprus) and is associated with Michel Platini’s museum.

Most Glasses on the Head

The most glasses balanced on the head in one stack is 28. The record was set in Paphos on 28 September 2024.

A separate Guinness World Records category for wine glasses on the head is also linked to Paphos: on 25 July 2025, 511 glasses were recorded. This surpassed an earlier achievement by the same record-holder (including 319 glasses in 2023).

Heaviest Nectarine

The heaviest nectarine, weighing 500 g, was grown by Eleni Evangelou Plutarch in Ayoi Vavacinia (Republic of Cyprus) on 30 June 2018.

Largest Hasapiko Dance

The largest Hasapiko dance, consisting of 749 dancers, was performed by the Municipality of Larnaca at Europe Square in Larnaca on 12 December 2010. Hasapiko is a traditional Greek dance; Guinness World Records notes the dance lasted 5 minutes to the song “Frankosyriani.”

Most Musicians Simultaneously Playing One Piano

Guinness World Record: 25 musicians simultaneously played a single piano in Nicosia on 5 July 2023 (organizers and participants are listed in the record entry).

Highest-altitude Fitness Session

The fitness class at the highest altitude — 6,476 m — took place on May 6, 2024, on the summit of Mera Peak (Himalayas, Nepal). Participants listed in the Guinness World Records include representatives of the Republic of Cyprus; the achievement itself was set outside the Republic of Cyprus.

Most Kettlebell Jumps in One Minute

The highest number of kettlebell jumps in 1 minute — 21 — was achieved on February 20, 2024, during the filming of Lo Show Dei Record*** in Milan (Italy). The Guinness World Records entry notes that the record-holder held an 80 kg anvil.

Longest Wingsuit Distance

On May 27, 2017, Anastasis Polycarpu flew 5.192 km in a wingsuit during the UK Wingsuit Performance Nationals 2017 stage in Netheravon (Wiltshire, United Kingdom). The distance is recognized by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), and the record is documented by Guinness World Records.

Longest Time Spent in an Elevator

Kivli Papadjon from Limassol, aged 76, was trapped in the elevator of her apartment building for 6 days — from December 28, 1987, to January 2, 1988. The Guinness World Records entry notes that she survived by rationing food from shopping bags.

Youngest Airline Chairman

Stelios Hadji-Ioannou (United Kingdom/Cyprus, born February 14, 1967) became the youngest chairman of the board of directors of an international scheduled airline at the age of 28 years and 268 days when Easyjet Airline Company Limited began operating commercial aircraft on November 9, 1995.

Highest-altitude Concert

The highest-altitude land-based concert — at 6,701 m — was recorded by Guinness World Records by Tatiana Stupak on Aconcagua (Argentina) on January 16, 2023. Descriptions related to the record indicate that the performer is associated with the Republic of Cyprus (including through musical activity on the island).

Glossary

• Guinness World Records — an international record registry with an official verification procedure and publication of record achievements.
• Sheftalia — a traditional dish of the Republic of Cyprus, usually a meat sausage/roll made from minced meat in a caul casing, grilled.
• Flouna — traditional cheese pastry from the Republic of Cyprus, most often prepared during Easter.
• Vasilopita — a traditional festive cake usually made for New Year; in different traditions, a coin is placed inside for “good luck.”
• Ambrotype — an early photographic process (19th century) in which the image is fixed on a glass plate.
• Hasapiko — a traditional Greek dance, often performed in a line or chain; in the record entry, it is described as the “butchers’ dance” of the Byzantine era.
• Wingsuit — a suit for flight in aerodynamic gliding during parachute jumps; disciplines may have FAI rules and/or separate Guinness World Records categories.
• FAI — Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, the international organization that records and verifies achievements in aviation and aero-sport disciplines.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Were all records in this list set within the Republic of Cyprus?
  No. Some records were set in the Republic of Cyprus (e.g., Larnaca, Paphos, Limassol, Nicosia), while others were achieved by Cypriots outside the Republic of Cyprus (e.g., Nepal, Italy, United Kingdom, Argentina).
• Is the pull-up record in Nicosia (48 in one minute) still current?
  The achievement in Nicosia is documented as a record attempt on July 15, 2024, but as of 2026, the current world record for “neutral grip in 1 minute” is higher and set in another country.
• Which “edible” records are associated with the Republic of Cyprus?
  In this list — sheftalia 75 m (Dromolaxia), flouna 259.5 kg (Limassol), vasilopita 1,900 kg (Paphos), and nectarine 500 g (Ayoi Vavatsinias).
• Where in the Republic of Cyprus was the “bra chain” record set?
  In Paphos harbor; the record entry lists 114,782 bras with a total length of 111 km, dated April 30, 2006.
• Are there records updated by the same person?
  Yes. In the section about glasses on the head, different categories are listed: in a stack — 28 (Paphos, 2024), and for wine glasses on the head — 511 (Paphos, 2025), updating an earlier achievement (including 319 in 2023).
• Can a new Guinness World Record be proposed from the Republic of Cyprus?
  Yes, Guinness World Records has an application procedure and evidence requirements; criteria and rules depend on the specific category.