Lapta/Lapithos

The village of Lapta , west of Kyrenia is sometimes referred to as the "City of treasure". Lapta grew and thrived during the Byzantine era to such an extent that it became known as "Lambousa" a word meaning brilliant light. The city's wealth was known not only in Cyprus but also in the surrounding lands. Pirates were only too aware of what riches could be obtained from the city and in 653AD a band of pirates led by an Arab named Abu Awar captured the city. The attackers said they would allow the citizens to leave the city safely in return for their wealth. Wisely the citizens started hiding some of their wealth under floors and in walls of their homes. 300 years passed before the Arab invaders left Cyprus and under Byzantine rule the descendants of the displaced citizens were allowed to return to Lambousa, the hidden treasure was sadly never recovered as the city layout had altered considerably and old maps were rendered useless. This story passed down by word of mouth through the ages has attracted many treasure hunters to the ruins of Lambousa. Because of the frequency of the Arab raids, the inhabitants of Lambousa moved their settlement to the edge of the mountain. This developed over the years into the Lapta of today.

Some of the Lambousa treasure has been recovered. Firstly in the 19 th century by archaeologists, when silver vases, pots and spoons were found. Each item found was stamped with the Byzantine imperial stamp suggesting the items had been bought to Cyprus from the Byzantine capital Constantinople - know known of course as Istanbul These items are now on display in the British museum. Secondly in 1902 two stonemasons were extracting stones from a ruined house in Lambousa when they discovered an urn packed with gold jewellery, they then found hidden in a secret compartment within a wall, silver plates and platters. The stonemasons did not surrender their finds to the British who were governing the Island at the time but instead tried to smuggle the treasures to Paris . Luckily their devious plans were foiled and many treasures were returned to Cyprus and are now displayed in the Cyprus museum in Nicosia . Not all the treasures were returned though and some later turned up in museums in the USA .

The present day village of Lapta is popular with the English, Germans and other nationalities that have chosen to make Lapta their permanent home and can be described as both a mountain village and a coastal town. Lying on a narrow strip of land between the five-finger mountain range and the sea, Lapta is one of the most popular tourist resorts, with many fine hotels, restaurants and bars. Lapta also boasts historical sites such as the ruins of chamber tombs dating back to the Iron Age, and ruins of the ancient city of Lambousa where because of its importance buildings such as a theatre and gymnasium were constructed. Other remains include the fish pools, carved in Roman times the pools contained canals for the dirty water to flow out and the clean water to flow in.

The villages either side of Lapta are also worth a mention, Alsancak is a beautiful tranquil village nestled in the foothills of the mountains. From pine clad mountains to fertile plain Alsancak is home to some of the most popular holiday accommodation on the island. The Merit Crystal cove hotel is a big landmark on the horizon with over 200 rooms its facilities include conference room, casino, and private beach. Also near to Alsancak is Escape Beach , located 5 miles from Kyrenia the sandy beach is clean and well protected making it an ideal location for children. Like many of the beaches on the island a small fee is payable when using the beach and its facilities. Another popular family beach can be found at the Deniz Kizi, a variety of water sports are on offer here, including, windsurfing, parascending, water skiing and inflatable fun rafts for children. Jet skis are also available for hire. The village itself is centred around a large church now used as a mosque and the call to pray can be heard for miles.

Karsiyaka is the village after Lapta if you are travelling towards Guzelyurt. The land around Karsiyaka is very fertile and the land closest to the sea is covered with lemon, orange and carob trees. An artesian well in the mountains provides fresh crystal clear drinking water to the surrounding villages. Karsiyaka has a few natural beaches and there are plans to build a small Marina . At present there are just a few restaurants with fresh fish a speciality but as the area continues to become popular with tourists this is likely to change. A short distance past Karsiyaka finds an idyllic beach called Horseshoe Bay , aptly named there is a small restaurant and some very basic toilets. The setting is a place to spend a day by exploring rock pools, fishing or just laying on the beach. Karsiyaka is the perfect base for those wanting to be within a short drive to Kyrenia and its busy nightlife, but enjoy spending their days in the peace and tranquil surroundings of typical Cypriot village life.