KYRENIA

Kyrenia (Girne) is situated along the north coast of Turkish Cyprus. It is a busy small town with a  harbour appreciated for its natural beauty. Founded by the Achaeans, ancient Greek colonists, and  fortified by the Byzantines, Franks, and Venetians, the city was the administrative headquarters of the  Kyrenia district of the Republic of Cyprus until 1974.

 In its heyday it was lined with warehouses, stored with fruits of the countryside whilst they awaited  export. The buildings are now mostly all restaurants, all of which have tables and chairs lining the  water. The castle at the east end of the harbour is a very spectacular site and within its walls there is  a 12 century chapel showing reused late Roman capitals.

 Escape Beach Club and Club Acapulco are the top two beaches in Kyrenia. They both offer plenty of  entertainment. They both have a bar, restaurant and night club. These two beaches are perfect for younger travellers

You have an excellent opportunity to find pleasant places for walking in Northern Cyprus. The Besparmak Mountains are ideal walking areas. You can go to St. Hilarion Castle and park your car there. Head west to take in the amazing views of Kyrenia.

Turtle beach is situated on the new coast road East of Kyrenia driving towards Esentepe. The beach is protected during the summer months between the hours of 9pm and 5am. This is because turtles come to lay their eggs on the beach area under the watchful eye of conservationists. The beach by day is excellent and used a lot by the locals. At this location is a small building called the "Turtle Project." You can go there to learn about Turtles, see videos and book in to sleep on the beach at night and watch the turtles coming to shore to lay their eggs. They lay their eggs around June and August is the hatching time.

Just 10 minutes above Kyrenia is Bellapais Abbey. Set in this fabulous location, a visit to this 14th century Lusignan abbey is a must.

Enclosed to the north by the sea and to the south by the greenery of the Besparmak (Five Finger) Mountain range, it offers the most magnificent scenery on the island. It's charming and tiny harbour, full of yachts and fishing boats, is framed by the colossal hulk of its Crusader castle. With the backdrop of the jagged mountains behind and the calm sparkling sea in front, the harbour has an intoxicatingly serene atmosphere.

Overlooking the entrance to the harbour is Kyrenia Castle. Dating from the time of the Byzantines, its massive defences surround a complex mixture of building styles from centuries before and it is likely that there was a Roman fort here originally. Subsequently enlarged and strengthened by the Lusignans and then the Venetians, the castle is now home to many historical artefacts and is the current resting-place of the world's oldest shipwreck.

Kyrenia is an easy place to be any time of the day. There are lots of charming shops to explore in the harbour and in the cobbled narrow alleys surrounding it. There are markets and numerous local cafés to visit also.

As the sun sets, Kyrenia harbour again becomes the focus of activity as the locals take their evening stroll and the cafés and bistros that face the sea prepare for their nightly trade. Crisp white linen and small vases of local flowers are lovingly arranged on tabletops to welcome the evening's guests to wine and dine in the cooling breeze.

 

NICOSIA
Nicosia is the capital of North Cyprus. Nicosia is the centre of administrative district, and currently the only divided capital in the world, with the northern Turkish and southern Greek portions divided by a "Green line"; a demilitarized zone maintained by the United Nations.

 The name of the city dates back to approximately 2,250 years when it was known as Ledra or Ledrae.  This name was changed soon to Lefkotheon but was also referred to as Ledron. The name changed  once again in the Byzantine era to Lefkon which means "popular grove". The city served as a seat of  the kings of Cyprus from 1192, it remained the capital of Cyprus since the 17th century, except for a  brief period starting from 1489 when it was taken over by Venetians. Cyprus was taken over by Turks  in 1571 and Nicosia became Capital again. The city went through major development during the  Venetian's rule as they built huge, thick ramparts around the city. Nicosia (Lefkosia) was fortified with  imposing stone walls and massive gates. The walls are  three and half miles long and have  eleven towers and three gates. The famous Famagusta Gate still stands today, proudly protecting the  still-ancient  town within from the modern city outside.

 During the Ottoman era the city saw prosperity which is still visible by Gothic architecture of Selimiye Mosque, the Bedestan, the Arab Ahmat Mosque, and the Great Han Inn to name a few.

The modern divided capital is the result of Turkish invasion, which resulted because of rebellion against the government of Cyprus. The present day capital of the island has a population of around 150,000 and it is divided into Turkish and Greek sectors by a boundary known as the `green line' which runs in an east-west direction.

The central Eleftheria Square links old Nicosia with the elegant modern city that has grown up outside the walls, where hotels, offices restaurants and gardens blend happily with the fine old houses and colonial buildings of this cosmopolitan city.

There are many things to do in Nicosia. The Cyprus museum is very popular with visitors. There is a priceless and fascinating collection of Cypriot antiquities and art treasures from the Neolithic Age to the early Byzantine Period.

Come down and visit the Cyprus Handicraft Centre workshops, where traditional arts are practiced today much the same way they were in ages past. Relax and enjoy a superb Cypriot meal, accented by one of the island's famous wines

Later, the night life beckons near Famagusta Gate, giving face to the Cypriots' legendary spirit of celebration.

FAMAGUSTA

Gazi Magusa is a major port in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. It lies on the island's east  coast in a bay between Capes Greco and Eloea and is about 37 miles (55 km) east of Nicosia. The port  possesses the deepest harbour in Cyprus.

 Famagusta is a Frankish corruption of its Greek name, which means "buried in the sand," descriptive of  the silted mouth of the Pedieos. Famagusta town lies south of the ancient city of Salamis and just  north of the ancient ghost town of Varosha. Today Varosha is no more than an empty ghost town. It lies in a UN zone between the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Famagusta is one of the finest examples of mediaeval architecture in the eastern Mediterranean. The oldest traces of settlements lie in an area near the modern town of Famagusta, and then named "Enkomi", going back to 13th Century B.C., the Bronze Age. At the start of the Iron Age the town was built near the sea and was known by the name "Salamis". The name "Ammochostos" is first recorded during the Byzantine period. In 1571 Famagusta was conquered by the Ottoman's.

Some historians declare that Famagusta was founded by King Ptolemy Philadelphus of Egypt in 285 B.C. By the year 300 A.D. the town was one of the principal markets of the Eastern Mediterranean, the rendezvous of rich merchants and the headquarters of many Christian religious orders as revealed by numerous churches of various denominations. These are still to be seen in the town today.

This was the time of the Crusades and when the rich Lusignan family ruled Cyprus. Therefore, the period I 200 to I 489 in Cyprus history is called the Lusignan dynasty. Famagusta was protected by ramparts which encircle the town and the citadel castle guarding the harbour, the best in Cyprus. This citadel or Othello's tower is the first main focus of attention for visitors.

The period I 300 to I 400 is known as the golden age of Famagusta and was regarded as such by visiting merchants who brought back tales of fabulous wealth. After I 400, rival groups of Genoese and Venetian merchants settled there. The Genoese caused much conflict until finally the Venetians took command of all Cyprus. In 1489 they transferred the capital from Nicosia to Famagusta. The Venetians were in command for 82 years and it was from Famagusta that the whole island was governed.

The invention of gun-powder and the use of cannons called for the Venetians to remodel the entire defence for the use of artillery, the new type of warfare. The medieval square towers were replaced with round ones and cannon portholes were inserted all along the walls.

The Turkish armada arrived outside the town in 1570 and put it under siege for a year. In 1571 not only Famagusta, but all of Cyprus was under Turkish rule and remained so until 1878. The end of colonial rule in 1960 led to the intensification of intercommunal contention between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots which concluded in 1974 with Turkish Cypriot rule in North Cyprus.

KARPAZ

The Karpaz Peninsula or “panhandle” as the British called the north-east part of Cyprus is a land where time stands still. There are miles of sandy beaches with not a person in sight. Ancient towns, basilicas, ruins and tombs scatter the area waiting to be explored. To get a taste of Cyprus 20 years ago, the traveller must visit the Karpaz. There are rural traditional Cypriot villages where the land is agricultural and the majority of the villages live off the land. The Karpaz peninsula was densely populated in Roman times; it was one of the largest colonies under the Lusignans. The Karpaz Peninsula has miles and miles of wonderful beaches. It is quite normal to share the seashore with donkeys rather than other tourists. The area is rich in subterranean water reservoirs and thus crops such as tobacco are grown in abundance. Another main source of income in the region is fishing. Bogaz and Kumyali are the fishing centres in the Karpaz.