North
Cyprus Cities
Cyprus is a beautifall, unspoilt
island with lots to see and do. After
a long drawn out conflict between the
north and south, the Turkish Cypriots
proclaimed a seperate state, naming it
the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
(TRNC).
The capital of TRNC is Lefkosia or sum
know it as Nicosia. Lefkosia has a population
of about 35,000. Other major towns in
the North Cyrus consisit of:
 Nicosia
(Lefkosa)
Nicosis is the capital of the TRNC,
the city is divided intoTturkish and
Greek sectors by a boudary know as the
green line which runs in an east to west
direction. The first know settlements
in the area appeared in the early and
middle bronze age. It is know that the
city (at the time called Ledra) existed
in the 7th century B.C. The name Nicosia appeared
towards the end of the 12th century AD
when the city was owned and run by the
Knight Templar. When the British took
over the administration of the island
in 1889, Lefkosia kept its status as
the islands capital, The British Goverment
buildings of the central area of North
Lefkosa still stand as memorials to Lefkosa's
colonial past.
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Girne (Kyrenia)
In the North Coast of Cyprus is a fascinating
town called Kyrenia, it was founded by
the Myceans in 1600BC. Kyrenis is famous
for it horse shoe shaped harbour and
nearby castle.
The horse shoe shaped harbour is surounded
by several cafes,retaurants and bars,
so you can sit sipping turkish coffee
while admiring the many Fishing Boats,
Colourfull Yachts and Excursion Boats
that sit beutifully in our harbour.
Just east of the harbour is the Kyrenia
Castle, a magnificent piece of history.
It was first built by the Byzantine in
the 9th Century to ward of arab invadors
and is one of the most amazing sites
in the Mediteranian.
Other places worth visiting :
- Shipwreck Museam (in the castle)
- And St Hillarion Castle
There are many villlages surrounding
Kyrenia, which have many place to visit,
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Situated west of Kyrenia, Lapta reflects
it's past gloryt into it's role as one
of the jewles in the crown of North Cyprus's
tourism industry with it's abundance
of historcal sites,natural beauty, hotels,
restaurants, and beautifally restored
buildings.Lapta lies between Five Finger
Mountain range and the sea, it can be
descibed as a coastal and mountain village.
This area is highly popular with the
English, German and other nationalities.
They not only come to stay as a holiday
but many buy houses and setlle here.
Set deep in the mountainside is a picturesc
village called Karmi. This lovingly restored
village is a refuge of peace and genuine
charm. Karmi ofers visitors it's own
village pub, several local bistros, and
a nearby handicraft shop,this is ideal
to visitors seeking tranquility.
Esentepe is about 15 min drive from
Kyrenia- the most desirable tourist area
in Cyprus. Esentepe is a very old village
with a population of about 2400 people,
the residence rely mainly on agriculture,
especially olive cultyivation, to survive. In
the last year Esetepe has recieved a
great degree of atttention for it's beauty
and that placed itself on top of the
list of locations for foreign investment
in Cyprus.
Bellapais is situated four miles east
of kyrenia, the Bellapais Abbey is a
must to visit, as it over hangs citrus
forrests which stretch out to the sea
below, a un-missable view!!!. Bellapais
offers visitors many excellent cafes
and bistros, it's an ideal haven for
those seeking a calm and relaxing enviroment.
Buffavento is a few km from the east
of Kyrenia, just above the village of
Catalkoy. The buffavento Castle is one
of three castles on the Kyrenia range,
situated 950 mtrs above sea level. Little
remains of the church that used to be
here. Buffavento means ' Insibordinate
to the wind '. An amazing view of Troodos
Mountain and other beautifall scenery
can be seen from here.
Aniphonitis is a monastry that lays
in a small valley in the Five Fingers
Mountains, It has the best preserved
samples of art and mural paintings. One
of the well known figures of old Cyprus,
St Hilarion, spent several years of solitude
in this monastary.
Gazimagusta (Farmagusta)
Farmagusta used to be a quiet fishing
village but soon became a important and
wealthy village after refugees came first
from Salamis then by Christian refugees
after the invasion of the holy lands. In
1372 The Genoese invaded the island and
the City killing most of its wealth.
Many buildings were damaged in 1571 when
the Ottoman Turks invaded, the British
used the remains and built the Suez Canal
and the Quays of Port Said.
Farmagusta offers visitors fine beaches
which stretch across the coast of ancient
Salamis.
Places worth visiting are:
St Barnabas Monastry was built in 477AD
where they found the body of St Barnabas.
He was murdered and buried under a carab
tree. St Barnabas was born jewish but
when he returned to Salmis he propagated
Christianity and because of this he was
killed.
When he was buried, a copy of St Mathews
gospel was buried with him,which he always
carried around with him. 432 years after
he was buried Bishop Anticituis ordered
his grave to be opened, and they found
the Gospel still lying on his chest.
They handed over his body to Emperor
zeno, and in return the Church of Cyprus
was granted it's independance, and the
monastary was built. In 1756 it was rebuilt
by Archbishop Philotheos and thats how
it stands today.
Salmis Ruins was believed to be founded
by Teucer on his return from the trogan
war. In the 4th Century AD it was destroyed
by an earthquake, but was later re-built
and re-named Costania by the Emperor
Costantin. In 648 it was destroyed by
Arab invadors and since then it has not
been re-built. Salamis is an ancient
city which lies in an area partly forrested
and beside the longest and most beautifall
of Cyprus's sandy beaches.
Other places worth visiting are:
- St Nicholas Cathedral
- The ruins of Enkomi
- Kings Tombs
- And the Remains of Countless Mediaeval
Churches.
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Guzelyurt
Guzelyurt is famous for it's Citrus
Orange, lemon, Grapefruit and Strawberries
that survive in it's fertile red soil
that is the ritchest Cyprus. It offers
visitors an ideal picnic spot to spend
the day in the peace and quiet of natural
surroundings.
Places worth visiting:
Situated on the northern foot of the
Troodos Mountains about 74km away from
Lefkosia the capital, Lefke is one of
the most beautifall towns in Northern
Cyprus. There are many small villlages
that suround the town, such as Gemikonagi,
Camlikoy, Baglikoy and Yesilirmak. Lefke
is surrounded by green covered mountains
and has cool summers and cold winters,
this is due to it being close to the
high re,ange mountains.
Located in Guzelyurt, St Mamas is a
18th Century monastery. According to
the legend, St Mamas refused to pay his
taxes and the authorities sent troops
to fetch and punish him. But on the way
to the capital, mamas noticed a lion
about to fall upon a lamb.He took up
the lamb in his arms and rode into the
capital on the lions back. The governer
was so impressed by what he had seen
that he released St Mamas from his dues.
Since then St Mamas has been known as
the patron saint of tax avoiders.
Other places worth visiting:
Iskele
On return from Karpaz to Farmagusta
you pass the village of Iskele, it is
one of our districts consisting of the
beautifal and un-spoilt shores of the
Karpaz Peninsula in cyprus.
The main agricultural products of the
area are Artichokes, Carobs, and Olives.Fishing
and both irregational and dry farming
also contribute to the income of the
local population. In the centre of the
village there's the 15th Century church
of St Jacob.
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Karpas is th emost eastern part of the
island of Cyprus, where the land tapers
into a thin strip which stretches out
towards Turkey. The main source of income
here is tobacco,the area is rich in reservoirs
and thus tabacco thrives here. Anouther
source of income in the region is fishing.
Bogaz is a beautiful coastal village
on the southern edge of the Karpas penninsula,
with half a dozen fish restaurants around
the harbour.There are two large hotels
and some pleasant patches of sandy beach.
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