Northern Cyprus is loved for its slow pace of life, value for money and delightful village-feel; it combines beautiful beaches and sights with a sunny climate all year round, making it an ideal get-away for every season.
History
Wherever you travel in North Cyprus, the history comes alive...
For nine thousand years; Cyprus has been a melting pot of great civilization; from the Neolithic settlements on the northern coast to the Egyptian, Persian, Roman, Venetian, Ottoman and British Empires. Its strategic location at the cross-roads of East and West has bestowed on the island with a rich and colourful history spanning centuries.
During the course of its vibrant past, the island has been visited by the Romans, Alexander the Great and Richard the Lion Heart, to name a few, each leaving its own unique footprint.
First Settlers: For a good sense of how it all began, the island’s museums are well worth a visit for their fascinating array of artefacts discovered in cave dwellings dating from 7000BC, when the first inhabitants of Cyprus are said to have settled.
From 3000-700 BC, Cyprus began to emerge as a trading centre, with copper mines drawing merchants from all across the Mediterranean. Attracted to the growing opportunities, settlers arrived from Anatolia and Phoenicians from Syria, bringing new Levantine architecture, ceramics and metal working to the island.
Melting Pot of civilization: The Persians first adopted Cyprus as a base for their wars with Greece in the 6th Century BC, lasting until 333 BC when Alexander the Great brought the Persian Empire to a sudden end. The Ptolemies of Egypt ruled for the next 250 years - a glorious period punctuated by Rome's invasion of the island in 48 BC. But, Roman rule only lasted a few years, as Julius Caesar bestowed the island to his lover, Cleopatra, the last of the Ptolemies as a gift of love. Only following her death was Emperor Augustus able to return Cyprus to the fold of the Roman Empire.
Between the 1st and 10th Centuries, multiple communities emerged on the island, with Muslim and Byzantine settlers coexisting in relative harmony - that is, until 965 AD, when the Byzantines took full control of the island after defeating the Muslim Caliphate’s Egyptian fleet.
Byzantine rule lasted until the 12th Century, when King Richard the Lion-Heart handed the island to Guy de Lusignan, a member of French Medieval Royalty, to finance his expeditions. The Lusignans, inhabited the island for 300 years, from the 12th Century until 1489, when the Venetians captured the island and bestowed upon it the impressive Girne Castle, as well as the celebrated architecture of Gazimağusa (Famagusta) and Lefkoşa (Nicosia), which are all well worth a visit.
Modern Cyprus
The Ottoman period in Cyprus began in 1571 and lasted for more than three centuries, during which time the two Cypriot communities, Turkish and Greek, began to emerge. It was during the later years of Ottoman rule, in an agreement dating back to 1869, that the British were granted the right to govern Cyprus under the Sultan - lasting until the end of the First World War. Then, in 1960 the Treaty of London and Zurich were signed to grant independence to Cyprus as a partnership state between the Turkish and Greek Communities of the island. The guarantors of the new state were Britain, Greece, and Turkey. However, in 1963 relations between the two communities separated by language, culture and religion, deteriorated and civil war broke out. The United Nations sent in troops in an attempt to restore peace, creating the Green Line, which effectively divided the two communities.
In 1974, Greece attempted a military coup in conjunction with the Greek Cypriot National Guard in a bid to achieve ENOSIS (Idea of union with Greece); in response to this bid - and following a consultation with the British government - Turkey intervened to protect the Turkish Cypriot community, in exercise of its guarantor powers.
Cyprus Today
The Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (TRNC) was formally established in 1983 and today the island remains divided. The TRNC is a fully democratic state and peace subsists across both sides of the island. On 23 April 2004, the borders between the North and South were opened and it is now also very easy to get around, making North Cyprus a truly excellent destination for those who dream of a holiday steeped in history.
As you explore the island, you will certainly enjoy the enduring echoes of the island's multicultural heritage; a country upon which countless civilisations have left their colourful and fascinating imprints, waiting for you to explore.
At present there are five border crossings, offering 24 hour unrestricted access for EU citizens to pass across.
The Five Regions
North Cyprus has five distinct regions offering unique experiences for everyone:
Güzelyurt and its citrus groves in the West;
The Venetian harbour town of Girne (Kyrenia) is backed by the dramatic wooded slopes of the Beşparmak, or Five Finger, Mountains in the North;
The spectacular finger shaped Karpaz Panhandle in the East, in the region of Iskele;
The "outdoor museum" of Gazimağusa ( Famagusta) on the eastern coastline and its surrounding sandy bays;
Lefkoşa ( Nicosia), is a fascinating city to explore and the only remaining divided city in the world - with the border crossing open for all EU citizens without restriction.
Geographical Highlights
The geography of North Cyprus is characterized by a unique blend of beaches, plains and mountains. The long northern coastline is backed by The Kyrenia or Beşparmak (Five Finger) mountain range, forming a startling backdrop with its wooded slopes and magnificent jagged limestone peaks, the highest of which is Mount Selvili at 3357 ft. The lower hills and lowlands are alive with lush greenery, rare species of birds and butterflies, and a natural diversity of flowers that is unmatched in the Mediterranean, with an estimated 19 indigenous plant species. Sandy beaches and rocky coves await discovery along the shore. Remember there are many beaches where protected turtles lay their eggs annually.
To the east of the island, the Five Finger mountain range loses height as it extends along the narrow peninsula known as Karpaz or “Panhandle”, a spectacular finger-shaped region of rolling hills and unspoilt sandy bays which points to Syria. To the south of the Five Finger range lie the plains of Mesaoria and the capital city Lefkoşa. Other major centres are Güzelyurt in the west, the resort town of Girne on the northern coast, and the second resort town of Gazimağusa in the east.
Language
The official language is Turkish, but English is also widely spoken as a second language.
Religion
The majority of the Turkish Cypriots are Muslim and although very few regularly attend mosque services or wear religious attire, most celebrate religious festivals.
Handicrafts
Lefkara embroidery is an old Cypriot tradition dating back to the Venetian period, where beautiful and intricate items such as bed covers, table cloths, doilies and head-scarves were weaved using drawn and counted thread embroidery on lace. It is said that on a visit to Cyprus, Leonardo da Vinci was so impressed by the Lefkara adaptation of Venetian embroidery that he took some of the embroidery bearing the “potamos” design back to Italy to drape on the altar in the Milan Cathedral. Today, this design is known as the “Leonardo da Vinci design”.
Carpet weaving is another age-old Cypriot tradition and is mostly found in the Gazimağusa region. Kilims (small floor rugs) with colourful designs and patterns make ideal souvenirs or gifts, whilst wicker basket weaving is another Cypriot art form that is popular with locals and tourists.
Climate
North Cyprus enjoys a very pleasant climate, with warm, dry summers and mild winters, and an average of 300 days of sunshine. In August, the hottest month, mean temperatures range from 21°C to 40°C and in the coldest months of January and February, the average temperature is around 10°C, with a winter average of 6 hours daily sunshine and only moderate rain, making it an ideal year-round destination.
Wildlife
North Cyprus is still relatively undiscovered so wildlife flourishes, with some 250 species of birds touching down on the island every year on the passage from East to West. There is also an abundance of lizards, wild donkeys and butterflies, including 19 indigenous species, that is, those which are unique to the region, such as the strangely-shaped festoon and Cleopatra butterflies adorned with the colours of sunshine. They are all part of a rich natural heritage on an island of contrasts that spans from the top of Mount Selvili’s 3000 feet to the gentle slopes of the coastal waters, where the famous loggerhead turtles come ashore to lay their eggs.
The warm climate in North Cyprus also means visitors can enjoy beautiful flowers all year-round, making it a veritable botanic haven. In the autumn and winter golden-yellow oleanders swathe the hills, whilst multi-coloured anemones and crocuses appear before Christmas. But it is in late winter and spring that the island blooms into a rhapsody of colour with the orchid family and cherry-red poppies taking centre stage.
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Northern Cyprus
