Northern Cyprus City Guide

There are so many historical places of interest to visit in North Cyprus. This was bound to be so since the island is located in the centre of the ancient world which is known as the cradle of western civilization

Nicosia
Nicosia is the capital of Northern Cyprus and is full of fascinating historical places. The walls ring the old city of Nicosia, with a three and a half mile circuit; contain 11 bastions and 3 gates. Today the walls remain virtually intact and it is possible to walk part of the perimeter. Nicosia contains many interesting museums and mosques which you can visit.
Nicosia (Turkish: Lefkosa, Greek: Lefkosia) is the capital city of North Cyprus. Nicosia is the center 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 Ottomans 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 intervention, 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.
Places to see in Nicosia: Arap Ahmet Mosque, Bedesten, Dervis Pasa Mansion, Gambler's Inn, Grand Bath, Great Inn, Iplik Pazari Mosque, Haydarpasa Mosque (The St. Catherine Cathedral), Kyrenia Gate, Lapidary Museum, Mevlevi Tekke Museum, Nicosia City-Walls, Sarayonu Mosque, Selimiye Mosque (The St. Sophia Cathedral), Sultan Mahmut Library, Turunclu Mosque, Venetian Column & Ataturk Square, Yenicami Mosque.

Famagusta

The old city of Famagusta is encircled by the historical walls which date back to mediaeval times. The walls have stayed intact to this day and are well preserved. Two of the original gates of the Famagusta castle still stand: The Sea Gate and The Land Gate. Kantara Castle is magnificently placed astride the near east end of the Five-Finger Mountain.
Greek Ammochostos, Turkish 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 city lies south of the ancient city of Salamis (now Salamis ruins) and just north of the ancient ghost town of Varosha (Maras). 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, 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 defense 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 ends of colonial rule in 1960 led to the intensification of inter communal contention between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots which concluded in 1974 with Turkish Cypriot rule in North Cyprus.
The new town of Famagusta (also known as Maras or Varosha) lies just to the south of the walled old-city of Famagusta.
As a seaport, Famagusta is a center for the export of citrus fruits and other agricultural products and livestock; other major economic activities include cotton spinning, the distillation of brandy, and fishing.
Places to see in Famagusta: Arsenal (Martinengo Bastion), Canbulat Tomb & Museum, Cellarga Mass - Graves, Enkomi (Alasia), Famagusta City Walls, Greek St. George Church, Kertikli Bath, Land Gate (Ravelin), Lala Mustafa Pasa Mosque , Latin St. George Church, Namik Kemal Dungeon, Nestorian Church, Nikokreon Monument, Nitovikla Castle, Othello Castle, Nitovikla Church, Royal Tombs, Salamis, Sea Gate, Sinan Pasa Mosque: (St. Peter & St. Paul Church), St. Barnabas Monastery, St. Barnabas Icon & Archaelogy Museum, St. Francis Church, Twin Churches (Templar & Hospitaller Churces), Venetian Palace.

Kyrenia

Kyrenia is a fascinating town on the Northern coast of Cyprus, founded by the Myceans ca.1600 BC. Kyrenia is famous for its magnificent harbor and nearby castle. The Kyrenia castle is thought to have been constructed to protect the town against the Arab raids in the 7th century. The Shipwreck Museum, located within the castle, houses the oldest recovered shipwreck in history. There is also The Bellapais Monastery and St. Hilarion Castle, built to defend the island against the Arab raids. Kyrenia houses many interesting museums which you can visit including The Folk Arts Museum and The Icon Museum. Other places of historical interest in the Kyrenia area are:
The Anthipanitis Church, The Buffavento Castle and the Hz. Omer Tomb.
Greek Kirínia, Turkish Girne city, is situated along the north coast of Turkish Cyprus. It is a busy small town with a harbour appreciated for its natural beauty a perfect holiday destination. 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 travelers.

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 Bellapais Abbey in North Cyprus 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 defenses 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 artifacts 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.

Karpaz

The Karpaz Peninsula  is a place where time stands still. Miles and 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 twenty years ago, the traveler must visit the Karpas.
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 baronies under the Lusignans.
The Karpaz Peninsula has miles and miles of wonderful Karpaz beaches. It is quite normal to share the sea shore with donkeys as well as with 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 centers in the Karpaz. As well as numerous Byzantine churches, the most notably the Monastery of Apostolos Andreas, the area boasts some of the finest countryside in the country. The Karpaz peninsula has been called the nature reserve of Cyprus for birds, wild flowers, and sea fossils are to be found everywhere.
Karpaz peninsula is also almost totally free from heavy concentration of industry and people, and is one of the least polluted regions in the European periphery. Escaping the last ice age, the island of Cyprus has managed to retain a substantial amount of biological diversity with a significant amount of endemic species -plant species number about 1,600 (22 endemic); bird species about 350 (7 endemic); and there are 26 reptile and amphibian species for most of which the Karpaz is the natural home.
Being also on one of the main migration routes of birds between Eastern Europe and Africa, each year approximately 300 species amounting to millions of birds use this route in early spring and late summer.
Moreover, about 46 sandy beaches in the Karpaz comprise the main nestling ground for the endangered Chelonia Mydas and Caretta Caretta sea turtles in the Eastern Mediterranean. In 1992, about 1,500 rare female turtles laid eggs on the shores of North Cyprus.
The last colony of European Audouin seagulls nest on the small Klidhes isles at the tip of the Karpaz Peninsula in North Cyprus.

Lefke

In Lefke you can visit Soli and Vouni Palace. The Vouni Palace was constructed in the 5th century by the Persian sympathizer Doxandros, the king of the city of Marion, to keep the settlements supporting the Greeks (Soli) under control.
Nestling below the Troodos Mountains, 74 km away from Nicosia, Lefke (Lefka) is a small and friendly town in the north west of Cyprus.
Its inhabitants will tell you that its citrus fruits are the tastiest and the juiciest in the whole of the island. This is because of its rich soil, plentiful water and its reservoirs.
Its Turkish character reflects the domination of the area by the Ottoman Empire for more than three hundred years.
The town also houses one of North Cyprus' universities, European University of Lefke.
Lefke was once a prosperous mining town. It was once the center of mining in ancient times and a medieval barony. The town became predominantly Turkish after the Ottoman conquest and there are some interesting examples of Ottoman architecture to be seen here.
Places to see in Lefke: Soli, Vouni Palace

Guzelyurt

In Guzelyurt there is the Guzelyurt Museum. The museum houses a collection ranging from the prehistoric age of Cyprus to the Byzantine period. St. Mamas Monastery, also in Guzelyurt, dates back to the 18th century and contains art going back to the 16th century.
Guzelyurt, which means `beautiful country' in Turkish, is aptly named. Guzelyurt is a market town located in the west of North Cyprus. One of its attractive features is that it is the home of one of the many churches in the country dedicated to St. Mamas, popularly known as the patron saint of tax avoiders. The name was bestowed on him because he was a hermit living in very poor circumstances and when the authorities tried to tax him, he avoided them. Soldiers were sent out and captured him but on the way back to town, he saw a lion attacking a lamb, escaped the soldiers, saved the lamb, jumped on the lion's back and in that way came to town. His bravery earned him exemption from tax, hence his name - the patron saint of tax avoiders.
Güzelyurt is not a typical tourist destination, but is interesting to those who want see parts of Northern Cyprus not in the least affected by tourism. You can enjoy your holiday in the peace and quiet of its natural surroundings. Guzelyurt houses a history and archaeology museum. The museum houses a collection ranging from the prehistoric age of Cyprus to the Byzantine period. Primitive tools uncovered from different prehistoric settlements around Cyprus, and samples of pottery from the Bronze Age are exhibited at the museum. Furthermore there is a covered market and some rather beautiful Orthodox churches. Also within the Güzelyurt district is the picturesque town of Lefke (the site of Cyprus' now defunct copper mines), the Roman ruins at Soli, and the hilltop palace of Vouni.
The city of Guzelyurt is regional capital of the Güzelyurt district and is known as the fruit-bowl of North Cyprus. It is one of the richest agricultural areas in Cyprus, famous particularly for the Citrus (Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit) and strawberries from the area which thrive in its fertile red soil. A large proportion of the citrus fruits are exported, and the remaining are made into fruit juice and canned for export and local consumption. The town, located in the west, is surrounded by extensive citrus groves, which makes this area the greenest on the island. The reason for this is the abundance of water running down from the Troodos Mountains, which lie, to the south.
Places to see in Guzelyurt: Guzelyurt Museum, St. Mamas Monastery.

Iskele

On the roads on Nicosia – Karpaz and Famagusta – Karpaz main roads where Kantara Range meets forests and valleys you find the village Yeni Iskele. The Greek name of the village is Trikomo. The name Yeni Iskele is a reminder of the relocation of Turk Cypriots from the Turkish district Iskele in the city of Larnaca on the island’s south coast. The Turk Cypriots who lived there before had to go away after the war. They moved in 1975 to Trikomo, which was renamed to Yeni (new) Iskele. At the centre of the village there’s the 15th century church of St. Jacob (Avios Iakovos). There’s and odd coincidence in the fact that the village was the birthplace of the EOKA-colonel George Grivas. He was leading spokesman of Cyprus reunion with Greece. Grivas died six months before the war in 1974.
Iskele is an important tourist centre where green meets blue on a 25-km-long coastline. The people of Iskele are hospitable folks, very interested in culture and art-related social activities. The Bogaz region of Iskele, which is known as an entertainment centre, is full of hotels and fish restaurants. In the small harbour of Bogaz, the fishing boats and others offer our visitors cruises along the eastern coast of North Cyprus. In the municipal park of Iskele, locals and tourists stay up until the break of dawn singing live music, enjoying the sweet times past in North Cyprus.
Iskele region is also famous for its icon museums and ancient churches. The ‘Cyprus Endemic Plats information Centre’, the turtle nesting beaches under protection of Long Beach Tourism, the Iskele Fest (from 1 July to 10 July annually) are wonderful attractions of Iskele. One visit to Iskele and its Bogaz, and you will join those who lave fallen in love with our torn and region.
Places to see in Iskele: Aphendrika, Apostolos Andreas Monastery, Aya Trias Bazilica, Ayios Philon Church, Icon Museum of Iskele, Kantara Castle