Search Results

Established in 2007, Turquoise Bay Community consists of 2-storey apartments with 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms. Lower apartments have gardens, while upper floors are penthouse style with roof terraces. 4 x 20 metre long swimming pools with shallow sections for children and a maximum depth of 1.8 metres, allow you to relax or exercise as you choose. Apartments For Sale Apartments For Sale Apartments For Sale Apartments For Sale The best value 3 bedroom properties for miles around! We currently have just 2 properties for sale on this sought after site. One is a ground floor garden aprtment and the other is a first floor penthouse with magnificent views of the Mediterranean (above). If you wish to register your interest, please use the Contact form on this website. History Established in 2007, Turquoise Bay consists of 2-storey apartments with 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms. Lower apartments have gardens, while upper floors are penthouse style with roof terraces. 4 x 20 metre long swimming pools with shallow sections for children and a maximum depth of 1.8 metres, allow you to relax or exercise as you choose. Water supply is mains or personal 5 tonne water tank topped up as required. The community is legally registered with a constitution and management agreement applicable to all owners. It has a Management Board, elected annually by owners. Inspectors, also elected annually, work with and monitor the activities of the Management Board to ensure transparency, accountability and democracy are followed at all times. Promoting and protecting the interests of owners is the mission of Turquoise Bay Community. Legal registration allows the judicial system to be utilised, if necessary, to ensure payments by all owners. Site Plan Location Getting Here By Air ✈ to Northern Cyprus: All flights arrive via Istanbul. See Pegasus Airlines or Turkish Airlines Br Air ✈ to Southern Cyprus: Larnaca is about 45 minutes away, Paphos about 3 hours. Driving 🚗from Ercan airport to Turquoise Bay Community with Google Maps: 39 min (41.4 km) via Beş Parmaklar Cd Ercan International Airport (ECN), Kırklar 99100 Continue to Meriç - 2 min (600 m) Continue on Ercan Havaalanı Yolu to Minareliköy - 8 min (9.7 km) Follow Sevgi Caddesi and Beş Parmaklar Cd to Çatalköy - 19 min (19.0 km) Sharp right - 11 min (11.9 km) Drive to your destination - 1 min (290 m) Turquoise Bay Community

North Cyprus Food Guide - Everything you need to know about local food culture. Including bars, restaurants, drinks, recipes and more. The most mouth-watering guide you'll ever see. Guides > Foodie> Ayran Coffee Hellimli Lahmacun Pekmez Recipes - Chicken Recipes - Pasta & Rice Recipes - Vegetarian Wineries Brandy Sour Costa Cuisine Hummus Meze Pilavuna Recipes - Desserts Recipes - Salads Seftali Kebab Zinavia Çakısdez Food Tours Kolokas Molohiya Prickly Pear Recipes - Meat Recipes - Seafood Sunday Lunch Ceviz Macun Hellim Kup Kebab Olives Raki Recipes - Mezze Recipes - Soups Vineyard Hotel Guides > Foodie > Ayran The perfect partner for your lahmacun has to be a refreshing glass of Aryan , one of the most popular drinks of the Turks since the discovery of Yogurt among the Turkish tribes in Central Asia. It's simply made by diluting yogurt with water and adding salt to taste. Drenched over crushed ice and garnished with a mint leaf, it’s the ideal drink to quench your thirst. It accompanies any meal or is drunk by itself. It's common in all regions of North Cyprus, the only variation being its thickness. Try fresh Ayran (taze yapilmis Ayran) for the best experience. Ingredients 250 gr (8 oz) thick sheep's milk yogurt 150 ml (1/4 pint) cold water A little salt Mint - dried or fresh Preparation Put all the ingredients, eexcept the mint, in a blender and blend for 1-2 minutes until smooth and lightly frothy. Alternatively, beat in a bowl with an egg whisker, until well amalgamated. Pour evenly to each glass and put some mint on every glass to serve. Top Guides > Foodie > Brandy Sour A mixture of brandy and cordial made from lemons of the Güzelyurt region, Brandy Sour is considered the national cocktail. It's made with Cypriot brandy which is milder than Cognac or Armagnac, lemons fresh or cordial, Angostura bitters, soda water and ice. Bitter lemons are used locally to produce a bitter-sweet lemon cordial – the same lemons used by British author Lawrence Durrell for the title of his famous novel "Bitter Lemons of Cypru s ", written next to Bellapais Abbey in the 1950’s. Although Brandy Sour is enjoyed worldwide, the Cypriot version is unique for the local brandy used. It was introduced in the 1930’s in an old hotel in the Troodos Mountains, as an alcoholic substitute for iced tea, as a way of disguising the preference for Western-style cocktails of their distinguished guest, King Farouk of Egypt . As well as enjoying it during your visit to the island, why not pick up a bottle of Cypriot brandy and try making it back home. Top Guides > Foodie > Çakisdez These unique green olives are manually cracked using special stones. Olives have long been recognised as a symbol of good living and people tend to live longer and healthier lives in regions where olive oil is a staple part of the diet. Harvest time usually begins in October, when the early green olive first fruits are gathered either by shaking the branches over sheets spread on the ground around the tree, or by individually picking the olives by hand. A popular delicacy, Çakısdez (chuck-ess-dez ), are picked, washed, cracked, soaked in brine then served with coriander seeds, garlic, olive oil and lemon, and complement any appetiser for lunch or dinner, although you'll most likely find them at open buffets for breakfast. Chakistes can be preserved in jars or plastic containers, so you can take some back home. Top Guides > Foodie > Ceviz Macun A famous Cypriot fruit preserve of small green walnuts , this spoon sweet is a local favourite. Fruit preserves, generally served in little plates or on miniature forks, are an inherent part of local culture, where they're offered to guests as an act of hospitality. Almost all fruits, nuts and even vegetables can be made into a preserve. Ceviz Macun is made with unripe walnuts when they're green and tender, usually at the end of Spring or early summer, when the inner shell is still soft. Making it is labour intensive, lasting a week from branch to table, but well worth the while. Walnuts are known to give the body energy and contribute to the sexual health of men, so eat them one at a time! Served as a dessert at most local dineries, they can also be found jarred in supermarkets, and make a healthy treat to take back home. Top Guides > Foodie > Coffee Culture Coffee in Northern Cyprus is a way of life as well as an experience. Turkish coffee or Kahve (ka-veh) brews ground coffee very finely. Arabica varieties are onsidered the best, but robusta or blends are also used. It's made by bringing the powdered coffee, with water and usually sugar, to the boil in a custom pot called cezve , or ibrik . As soon as it froths it's taken off the heat, but can be reheated to increase the froth. Sugar is added while brewing, so the amount of sugar must be specified before preparing. It may be served unsweetened (sade ), with little or moderate sugar (orta ), or sweet (şekerli ), but cream or milk are never added. Often served with chocolate or Turkish delight and a small glass of water to wash off any coffee residue in the mouth, Kahve traditionally comes in small porcelain cups called a fincan and is sipped slowly. Superstition says the grounds can be used for fortune-telling. The cup is turned over into the saucer and the patterns created are interpreted to have a glimpse into the future of the person who drank it. Kahve can also offer health benefits. Known to balance cholesterol levels, it can help prevent some heart diseases, assist the digestive system and be used in some massages and treatment of skin conditions . Kahve will be offered after a meal in most restaurants and can be found almost everywhere. For an authentic taste, find somewhere where it's made in a cooper pot, over a coal fire. Decorated coffee-cups, coffee-pots and coffee-trays are sought after souvenirs for visitors. Top Guides > Foodie > Costa Cuisine The stretch of coastline east from Girne to Tatlisu and beyond, has become known as the "Costa Cuisine " as it has so many fabulous eating places. Below are some of the stars which all food lovers will want to visit. Eagle's Nest @ Kücük Erenkoy Fabulous location directly overlooking the sea. Eat inside if it's breezy or winter, or eat outside on the veranda in the summer to enjoy a truly spectacular sunset which is almost, but not quite, as good as the food. Real care is taken with the food here. You can tell this is a place where food is loved. Everything is beautifully cooked and superbly presented by some of the most professional waiting staff you could hope to have. This is high quality fine dining by any standards but at really good prices. (Example: Chicken Liver Pâté + Grilled mushrooms for starters; Sea Bass + the classic Italian dish Gnocchi for mains; chocolate brownie + apple crumble and ice Hurma Restaurant between Acapulco and Elexus Resorts Brilliant restaurant. The meze was outrageously good, although better when shared with 4 (so much). Lovely views and great service. Tuncay'in Yeri Restaurant @ Esentepe You can't come to Northern Cyprus and not have a Meze in a restaurant run by locals, like this. Offerings will differ according to seasonal availability, but at least you'll know everything is fresh. Meze here can be hot or cold and is usually served in batches of 4 or 5, although you might just get served 14 or 15 all at once. You’ll find a great mix of meat and fish with vegetarians especially well catered for. As good a Meze as you can find. Reasonable prices and friendly, efficient service. Moonshire Bar & Restaurant @ Esentepe Location, location, location! Set on the hillside above the new marina and Sun Valley Beachside Resort, this gem of a place is a must visit for tourists and locals alike. While away a sunny afternoon with a wine or beer on one of the outside terraces, or enjoy a romantic meal for two while you watch the sun setting and all the time enjoy authentic family cooking at its best and a genuine friendliness which is a particular hallmark. The menu is international, reflecting its' growing popularity with customers from different countries. Prices represent great value - at the time of writing, a great meal will cost less than 20 Euro per head. Particularly popular with Scandinavians, Germans, Russians, Turks and British. Wide variety of events are always well attended so advance booking is recommended. Ample car parking available. Cengiz's Restaurant & Bar @ Esentepe Returned to Cengiz's for my wife's birthday and what a great decision that was. Cengiz absolutely goes out of his way to give the best experience he can to his customers eg picked up and dropped off so we could both have a drink; organised a cake and sources and bought in special champagne at my request. The salmon starter was very generous in size and really tasty as was the chicken liver pâté. Mexican Steak was exactly as spicy as I requested and the beef stroganoff was delicious. Added to that, the general vibe of this place is really special (a covered courtyard adorned with passion fruit). A star venue of the North Cyprus "Costa Cuisine". Definitely recommended. Spice Garden Restaurant @ Bahceli Great place to watch sport (show 4 events simultaneously) and probably the best Indian food for miles around. Friendly staff and friendly patrons make this a really enjoyable place to visit. Top Guides > Foodie > Food Tours Discover the culture & people of Northern Cyprus through traditional foods and wine, by taking a journey to some of the island’s hidden food haunts and award winning wineries. Sample authentic snacks, dishes and drinks while exploring mountain villages. Normally in small groups of up to 7 people, tours specialise in food & wine of Cyprus and offer a personal, bespoke experience you won’t forget. Private tours for larger groups are also available on request. What participants say… “We were taken to see a variety of brilliant foodie spots in quaint villages around the Troodos mountains. I’m sure we'd have paid a huge amount more if we'd hired a taxi driver for the day to take us from place to place and that would have been without lunch, entrance fees and tastings included. The planned itinerary and having someone to answer all your foodie questions was a huge plus and the info we were given at the end was really useful.” “We’ve started using private tour guides and small group experiences for our last few trips, as we’ve realised the big buses are not for us. We’re really glad we chose a tour instead of saving a few euros to join a big bus full of people. We were with just 3 others and had a great day, driving through the mountains tasting wine. We were introduced to all the native grape varieties and were able to buy top quality wine at phenomenal prices.” “We'd walked past one of the places out of the many we were taken to on this tour and actually thought about going inside. Even if we'd made a visit to this particular place by ourselves, there’s absolutely no way we would have ordered what our guide chose for us – totally worth it, just for the new tastes and dishes we tried. Absolutely brilliant tour!” “We were taken to a great variety of restaurants on our tour, places that we'd never have found by ourselves. By the end of the night we’d seen so many great places and eaten so many delicious things we were stuffed… Make sure you arrive hungry! Worth EVERY penny” Itineraries Some itineraries list an hour-by-hour schedule and a set of specific stops or locations. Others visit locals and because these local villagers are busy with every day life, can’t guarantee which stops will be included. Tours have themes and a kind-of checklist of what will be included, but the specifics of where you go and what you’ll see often changes. For example, if it’s the season for harvesting olives, then that might be included as one of the promised stops. If one of the locals is baking halloumi bread, this’ll get in as well, so you can meet a real local and experience a true Cypriot kitchen. If its September, that’s the time to walk through the vineyards to see the grape varieties. What You'll Do Tours are normally a full day experience , exploring local villages and wineries, with an authentic meze lunch, delicous food and exquisite wine tastings. Your local guide will pick you up and drive you around. You’ll also get to visit traditional product workshops, taste Cypriot delicacies such as halloumi cheese, honey, olive oil, village breads, traditional sweets, and of course wine. You’ll get to learn about the ingredients, the making process and the traditions linked to the products before trying them. Part of the experience is visiting villages, where you’ll have time to explore the sites and take in stunning landscapes. Along the way you’ll usually stop at a local tavern to feast on a selection of Cypriot dishes with a full meze lunch. This is sure to be an authentic experience that will leave you wanting more from a foodie day like no other! Top Guides > Foodie > Hellim Hellim is a traditional food that has been produced locally for centuries and is well known worldwide for its unique taste. Also referred to as Halloumi , it's a semi-hard, unripened brined cheese made from a mixture of goat’s and sheep’s milk, and sometimes cow’s milk as well. Alongside a distinctive layered texture, it has a high melting point making it easy to fry or grill. This property makes it a popular meat substitute and is moderately high in fat and a good source of protein. Locals enjoy Hellim fresh, grilled, barbequed, with salads, sandwiches, meals and even alongside fruit. Another favourite is grated, sprinkled with dried mint on tubular pasta types like Bucatini, or cooked in a chicken broth. Local cooking culture also revolves around a lot of bread and pastry, and local favourites like Hellimli and Pilavuna also make good use of Hellim within their traditional ingredients. Top Guides > Foodie > Hellimli Hellimli is a traditional Cypriot savoury pastry made with Hellim cheese . Consisting of flour, water, salt, butter and olive oil, chopped onions, mint, and diced Hellim cheese. Kneading chunks of the Hellim cheese, onions and mint into a bread dough, the dough is then sprinkled with sesame and nigella seeds, before being baked in a traditional clay oven. The crust of the bread develops a golden colour, ready to be served. You'll come across many bakeries in Northern Cyprus and won’t be disappointed with the choice at hand which make perfect snacks. Top Guides > Foodie > Hummus A Levantine food dip or spread made from cooked, mashed chickpeas, blended with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and garlic. Today, it's popular throughout the Middle East, North Africa, and in Middle Eastern cuisine around the globe. Ingredients 1/2 kg chickpeas (soaked overnight) 1 cup tahini (beaten) * 5-6 garlic cloves, crushed 1/4 cup lemon juice Tahini1/2 cup olive oil salt, paprika finely chopped parsley * Note: Tahini is a paste made from ground, hulled sesame seeds used in North African, Greek, Turkish, and Middle Eastern cuisine. Tahini is served as a dip on its own, or as a major component of hummus, baba ghanoush, and halva. Preparation Drain chickpeas, spread on a tea towel and roll a bottle over them to remove the husks. Boil the chickpeas until soft. Dry and mash. Beat the tahini and combine with the chickpeas. Add the crushed garlic, lemon juice, olive oil and salt. If the paste is very thick, add liquid from the chickpeas. Sprinkle with paprika and chopped parsley and pour a little olive oil over the purée. Top Guides > Foodie > Kolokas Colocasia esculenta is a perennial, tropical plant primarily grown as a root vegetable for its edible, starchy corm. The vegetables cultivated in Northern Cyprus are much larger than in other countries. Generally, Kolokas is eaten like a potato , as it tastes quite similar when cooked but with a nutty flavour. Be careful handling Kolokas, as the skin and roots are poisonous before they've been cooked and cannot under any circumstances be eaten raw . Often used as a substitute for potato, it's boiled in a tomato sauce or cooked with meat, beans and chickpeas. Overseas it's common to roast, bake, mash or chip them, as many different countries around the world use Kolokas in different ways. Drain chickpeas, spread on a tea towel and roll a bottle over them to remove the husks. Boil the chickpeas until soft. Dry and mash. Beat the tahini and combine with the chickpeas. Add the crushed garlic, lemon juice, olive oil and salt. If the paste is very thick, add liquid from the chickpeas. Sprinkle with paprika and chopped parsley and pour a little olive oil over the purée. Top Guides > Foodie > Kup Kebab Also known as Kleftiko , this is a traditional Turkish recipe where lamb is marinated in olive oil, garlic, onions and herbs and slowly cooked in greaseproof paper or foil, keeping all the juices and flavours together. Also referred to by locals as ‘Hirsiz Kebabı’ (Kebab of Thieves), traditionally, lambs or goats in the mountains were stolen then cooked in underground ovens sealed with mud, to disguise the smell and smoke and to avoid detection. The success of this famous dish depends on slow roasting, until the meat fairly falls off the bone. It's usually made with a leg of lamb which becomes very tender once cooked. Though the leaner leg looks impressive and is a cut better suited to faster cooking and served pink, the tougher, fattier shoulder, benefits from slow cooking, becoming wonderfully juicy and rich. Prolonged cooking in a traditional clay oven offers a tender dish that can't be achieved with conventional cooking. Almost always served with Cypriot roast potatoes, some prefer to cook the vegetables together with the meat, for the true flavour and aroma experience. Seasoned with oregano and bay leaves, a little acidity from a squeezed lemon helps to cut through the richness of the meat and potatoes, so you can keep going back for more. Kup Kebab is usually cooked on Sunday’s accompanied by a glass of Turkish Raki and a nap in the shade of a gnarly fig tree afterwards. Top Guides > Foodie > Lahmacun Ingredients A pack of pitas 1 lb ground beef 1 lb white onion 1 or 2 tomatoes Salt, black pepper to taste If you can't find tomatoes, replace it with 2 table spoons of tomato puree. Preparation Peel, wash, place onions with tomatoes in food processor and ground. Add salt, black pepper and meat, ground 30 seconds more. With the help of a spoon, spread this mixture over pitas. Put them in oven and bake at 400F about 20-30 minutes. Check to see whether meat is cooked. Serve hot. Top Guides > Foodie > Meze You really can't come to Northern Cyprus and not have a Meze. It's the mainstay of traditional cuisine in North Cyprus and basically means appetisers or starters, and there's usually so much of it you won't need a main course. Meze are served in various forms all over the Middle East and certainly the Turkish Cypriot variety have influences recognisable if you've eaten meze in another country, although there are some unique to here. Depending on the time of year, offerings will differ according to seasonal availability, but at least you'll know everything is fresh. Meze can be hot or cold and is usually served in batches of 4 or 5, although you might just get served 14 or 15 all at once. You’ll find a great mix of meat and fish with vegetarians especially well catered for. Some of the more popular and common mezes you might expect to be served: Cacik Pronounced Jajuk, this is a palate cleansing and refreshing dish in summer time. Combining fresh plain yoghurt made from sheep’s milk, finely chopped cucumber, mint and a dash of lemon. Often served along main courses as it’s an excellent accompaniment for meat. Calamar Calamari, usually served with lemon juice and some salt. Chakistes Very popular and definitely a staple of a meze selection. Crushed green olives, served dressed in olive oil, a little crushed garlic, coriander and lemon juice. Often on breakfast menus as well. Dolma/Sarma Stuffed varieties which often feature vine leaves, peppers, courgette flowers or pumpkin flowers which are used as wraps and stuffed with a mix of rice, tomatoes, sultanas, meat, herbs and spices. Very more-ish. Also known as ‘Yalancı Dolma’ (Stuffed Liar) because during the World War 2 no one could afford to stuff things with meat, thus being classed as cheating. Fasülye Beans. Loads of different types of beans served include black eyed beans, green beans, butter beans. Great served hot or cold with yoghurt and bread. Simple but tasty and healthy. Hellim Sheep’s or goats cheese served sliced and grilled or fried . Has a unique taste and when grilled is crispy and chewy with some people finding it tastes a bit like bacon. Hummus Great with bread as a dip on its own, or served with a full meze. Blended chickpeas and tahini paste with various spices to give it quite a sharp flavour. Köfte Meatballs that come in various forms, but usually minced meat, onion and herbs mixed together and either fried, baked or grilled. Bulgur köfte for example, is bulgur wheat used as the outer coating for the meatball and deep fried to make a crisp coating. Köfte Meatballs that come in various forms, but usually minced meat, onion and herbs mixed together and either fried, baked or grilled. Bulgur köfte for example, is bulgur wheat used as the outer coating for the meatball and deep fried to make a crisp coating. Molehiya Served as a main course or as part of a meze, Molehiya is a green leaf vegetable unique to Cyprus. The leaves are dried in the sun and then boiled, usually along with pieces of chicken, to make a kind of stew. Quite a bitter taste, but along with a few herbs and spices, it makes for a healthy dish. Mucver Pronounced Mujver, this is a batter mix of courgette flowers, milk and eggs whipped together and small spoonfuls of it then dropped into a hot pan of oil and cooked until crispy on the outside. This is just a selection for you to get the general idea of how delicious a Turkish Cypriot meze meal can be. Others include cracked almonds on ice, salted fish, fresh beetroot, ox tongue, brain, dried meats and other vegetable dishes . There are plenty of traditional Turkish Cypriot restaurants so why not try some. Meze is an important part of social gatherings such as family get-togethers, weddings, parties and other functions, so it's the most popular way of eating for locals. Eat as much or as a little as you like, take your time over it, and don't think you need to finsh the whole lot. Top Guides > Foodie > Molohiya The leaves of Corchorus Olitorius , commonly known as Jew’s Mallow, Nalta jute, or Tossa jute. Molohiya is indigenous to Cyprus and was originally found growing on the banks of the River Nile in Egypt, living proof of Egyptian influence on Cyprus. Locals pick and dry the local plant throughout the summer months. Carrying many health benefits, it's cooked with freshly chopped tomato, onions, garlic, lemon juice, lamb or chicken, but can also be served vegetarian. It's a gorgeous traditional dish usually cooked and served at home, but you'll find a few local restaurants serving it during the day in Nicosia’s old walled city. Top Guides > Foodie > Olives In Northern Cyprus, as in other Mediterranean countries, the olive tree can be seen everywhere, in the wild and under cultivation. Usually favouring well drained sunny hillsides, olive trees also thrive in backyards and flat plain lands. Olives are an integral part of Cypriot culture and have been cultivated on the island since ancient times. Olive trees live for a long time and have been known to go for over 2,500 years . The oldest Monumental Olive Trees in the village of Kalkanli are an attraction for thousands of visitors each year. The nurture and care of olive trees is of course a matter of some skill. Legend has it that those who eat the fruit of this tree receive its resilience and endurance. Not surprisingly, Cypriots are considered to be long-lived and local life expectancy exceeds European average and other developed countries. Olive products are renowned for their health, vitality and longevity benefits, and olive trees have even had a tremendous impact on global affairs. Green Olives Olive picking season in Cyprus starts early September and continues through to the New Year. The first olives picked are the small green ones. These are washed, cracked and then soaked in brine, and served as a popular delicacy, Chakistes, found in all homes and Cypriot tavernas. If these olives are left on the trees longer, they turn black, and are then used for making olive oil. Olive Oil In ancient times, Cypriots used a heavy stone press with a long wooden handle to produce olive oil. A donkey pushed the handle to rotate the millstone, crushing the fresh olives. Since then the process has changed dramatically and become completely automated, but the essntials remain unaltered: no heating and no chemicals result in the production of high-quality olive oil. Symbol of Peace In North Cyprus the phrase, “to offer someone an olive branch” can be commonly heard, meaning a proposal to make peace with someone. Found in most cultures of the Mediterranean, the olive branch first symbolised representing peace in Ancient Egypt, followed many centuries later in ancient Greek mythology. Even on the “Great Seal of the United States”, the supporter of the shield is a bald eagle grasping an olive branch in its’ right talon, symbolising a preference for peace. A petition adopted by the American Continental Congress in July 1775, was called the “Olive Branch Petition” in the hope of avoiding a full-blown war with Great Britain. Olive Leaf Burning A Turkish Cypriot custom known as ‘Tutsu ’, is the burning of olive leaves. A symbolic act for warding off the evil eye and to protect from harm, a family member gathers leaves into a custom metal pot and then burns them, waving the resulting smoke around people for their protection and well being. Cosmetology Olive oil is widely used not only in the kitchen but also in medicine and cosmetology. Cosmetics made with olive oil are very popular in Northern Cyprus. Soaps, moisturisers, shampoos, shower gels, facial masks and much more are available in and around most towns. Olive oil soaps provide a very clean and smooth silky feel with minimal lather, a moisturising effect that lasts longer time than inorganic cosmetics and is perfect for dry and sensitive skin. As olive oil soap contain effective antioxidant properties, usage stimulates new cell generation, slows down wrinkle development and gives skin a youthful look. Leaf Extract The powerful antioxidants of olive leaf extract are also proven to protect against a variety of viral and bacterial infections. Olive leaf extract capsules claim to improve the regulation of blood pressure, and olive leaf tea helps the digestive system. Gifts Olive oil was a very important part of daily life in the Mediterranean in Roman times It was used for food, as fuel for lamps, and as a basic ingredient in things like medicinal ointment, bath oils, skin oils, soaps, perfumes and cosmetics. Even before Roman times, Cyprus was known for its olive oil, as indicated by the Greek philosopher Strabo when he said that “in fertility Cyprus is not inferior to any one of the islands, for it produces both good wine and good oil”. Olive, olive oils and associated products are popular gifts to take home. Top Guides > Foodie > Pekmez The Besparmak Mountains are swarming with carob trees and the sweet thick syrup extracted from the pods are exceptionally tasty. Pods are gound into powder, then boiled in water which reduces them to dark harnup pekmez (carob molasses). Carob syrup can be found in most health food stores globally, but the local version of pekmez can only be found in local supermarkets. Pekmez is used in soups and stews, spread on bread, poured over ice cream, mixed with yoghurt or trickled over pastry and fruit. Restaurants sell desserts made of pekmez, such as gullurikya. In villages such as Tatlisu and Ozankoy which hold annual Carob Festivals , a sweet fermented drink is also brewed with pekmez and drank ice cold. Locals believe that a teaspoon a day of pekmez keep colds and flu away. The fruit of this tree contain vitamins A, B, B2, B3 and D, as well as zinc, useful for both children and adults suffering from anaemia. Harnup Pekmez is also believed to show positive effects in treating impotence and infertility. Top Guides > Foodie > Pilavuna Local culture embraces communal baking and often revolves around bread or pastry and Pilavuna is a cheese-filled pastry unique to Northern Cyprus. Made with a yeast pastry, comparable to bread dough, which is rolled very thinly, the pastry is similar to shortcrust in texture. They're filled with a combination of Hellim and nor, a fresh mild whey cheese produced in Cyprus, the cheeses then mixed with dried mint and sometimes sweet sultanas. Depending where they're made, recipes vary from salty to semi-sweet or sweet and often eaten with breakfast or as a snack with tea in the afternoon. Sometimes also referred to as “flaounes ”, locals serve Pilavna as a celebratory food for the breaking of the Lenten fast, being prepared on Good Friday for consumption on Easter Sunday by Orthodox Christians. Pilavuna’s were featured as a technical challenge in T he Great British Bake Off television series. Top Guides > Foodie > Prickly Pear (Cactus) Prickly Pears, known locally as Babutsa , is a cactus fruit that can be seen everywhere in Northern Cyprus. It's unpretentious, requiring no special care or water. You can eat it raw, whole, or with the bones which are inside it. In this form it's good for digestion and helps cleanse the body. It's high in antioxidants, contains vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. and has a smell similar to watermelon. It can also be used to make marmalade; be added to desserts and liqueurs; baked or stewed. T he only drawback of course, is that it's covered in thorns! If you decide to clean these off yourself the first thing you'll need is patience and the second thing you'll need is gloves. Start by cutting off the edges of the fruit from the top and bottom, then cut from top to bottom, remove the skin and voila! Juicy cactus figs. But that's not all this wonderful barbed pear is good for. Ancient builders used it to built castles and fortresses would you believe. They cooked the cactus leaves to a jelly-like state, mixed this with soil and used it as cement because the composition was so strong. The famous Bellapais Abbey was built this way. You don't see any cement there and it's still standing centuries later. It also gets used for home security. How many burglars would want to climb over a prickly cactus fence like the one pictured? Top Guides > Foodie > Raki Locals call Raki, the anise-flavoured drink “Lion’s Milk” . It's not known where or when the drink was invented, but its' history is less than wine or beer. It's made from different fruits in different regions, but grapes, figs and plums are the main ones. The best way to drink raki is with flat cylindrical glasses and cold – straight (sek), with water, soda or mineral water. Usually 40% – 50% alcohol, it changes colour and becomes a milky white when water is added. A glass of pure water helps clean the palette so you can better enjoy the distinct taste. Served at every restaurant, but traditionally associated with tavernas (meyhanes ), it's usually served with meze’s, meat or fresh fish. Local custom is to clink glasses with the bottom of the glass as using the top indicates you think you're superior. Another tradition is to knock the table lightly with the bottom of your glass before you take a sip, indicating there's someone you're thinking of who you wish was there. After a Raki, a local tip is to try a Turkish tea (çay) which will sober and calm you for the next round. The raki table is referred to as çilingir (“locksmith”), alluding to the way the secrets of the heart are unlocked and spoken around this table. Cheers! Shay-re-fe-nee-ze! Top Guides > Foodie > Recipes - Chicken Tavuklu Börek (Chicken pies) The cornerstone of Turkish cuisine - intricate little parcels, filled with delight. Turkish women pride themselves on the small size of these exquisite mezze, even if it requires hours of devotion to make them. Börek are always present at every celebration and the event would not have enough glitter without their enticing, bulgy presence. There are a multitude of different fillings, according to the season and the occasion. The pastry used to wrap them also varies, from the paper-thin fillo pastry found in the cities to permutations of homemade puff pastry, or a simple, homemade substitute for fillo. Fillo pastry freezes well and it will keep frozen for up to 3 months. Let it defrost for a couple of hours at room temperature before it's to be used. When bought fresh, it'll keep in the refrigerator for up to a week. Once it's unwrapped, work swiftly, as it soon dries out and becomes brittle. If not familiar with fillo, cover the bulk of it with a slightly damp tea towel while using it and take your time. Preparation time: 1 hour + 20 minutes baking at Gas Mark 4 / 180°C/350°F. Makes 25. Ingredients For filling 375 g (12 oz) cooked chicken breast fillets 25 g (1 oz) butter 25 g (1 oz) plain flour 150 ml (1/4 pint) hot milk 4 tablespoons hot chicken stock 50 g (2 oz) parmesan, or Gruyère cheese, grated 1 egg, beaten lightly A pinch each of ground nutmeg and salt To make up the Börek 8-10 sheets of fillo pastry (or milföy hamuru in Turkish) 75 g (3 oz) butter, melted oil for greasing Preparation : Preheat the oven. If you're using cooked chicken, just cut it into peanut-sized pieces. If you're using chicken fillets, first simmer them in hot water for 6-8 minutes and then take them out and chop them roughly to the same size. Melt the butter, add the flour and stir over a low heat until well mixed into a roux. withdraw the pan from the heat and add the hot milk and chicken stock gradually, stirring; return the pan to a gentle heat and whisk the sauce until it boils and thickens enough, which should take 5-6 minutes. Add the cheese and the seasonings and mix well. Away from the heat, add the beaten egg slowly, stirring, and then the chicken pieces. It should be fairly thick in order to be used successfully in the börek. Next, cut the whole stack of fillo pastry into four long strips, about 8 cm (3 inches) wide. Brush each sheet with melted butter, place a teaspoon of filling in one corner and fold them over making little triangles. Place these on an oiled baking sheet, with the loose end of the pastry underneath, brush the tops with melted butter and bake for 20 minutes or until golden crisp and light golden. Alternatively, you could use puff pastry, which is available freshly made or frozen. Defrost if needed and cut walnut-sized pieces off the pastry. Roll them out thinly in small circles of about 10 cm (4 inches) diameter, place a teaspoon of filling in the centre, fold the pastry over and press the edges together, making a semi-circular shape. Brush the tops with beaten egg, and bake as before for about 20 minutes or until light golden. Cherkes Tavugu (Circassian chicken) Preparation time: 30 minutes + 1 hour. Serves 6 as a main course, or 8 as a starter Ingredients 1.5-1.75 kg (3 and ½ -4 lb) chicken -jointed 2 carrots -peeled and quartered 1 onion -chopped 250 gr (8 oz) shelled walnuts or walnut pieces -ground finely 175 gr (6 oz) white breadcrumbs 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 40 gr (1 and ½ oz) butter 2 tablespoons olive oil Salt Preparation : Cover the chicken joints with water; add some salt, bring to boil and skim. Add the vegetables, cover and cook for 50-60 minutes, until the chicken is tender. Take out the joints, reserve the stock, and when the joints are cool, skin and bone them, shredding the meat into large mouthful morsels. Cover the meat to prevent it from drying and set it aside. Boil the stock until it's reduced to about 300 ml (½ pint) and discard the carrots. Mix the walnuts, breadcrumbs and half the cayenne in a small bowl. If you are planning to serve the dish hot, stop at this stage and prepare the rest shortly before it is to be served. Otherwise just continue. Add enough hot chicken stock to form a smooth paste and mix well. Melt the butter in a frying pan and sauté the chicken pieces in it until they start to brown. Withdraw from the heat, add 4 tablespoons of the walnut sauce and a little more salt and mix well. Pile the chicken on to a platter and use the remaining sauce to cover the whole surface smoothly. Mix the olive oil with the remaining cayenne and decorate the surface by dribbling the oil in decorative patterns. Kolokas (Colocasia with chicken) Serves 4-6 Ingredients 1 kg chicken -jointed 1 kg kolokas (colocasia) 4 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 medium onion -skinned and finely chopped 4 sticks of celery -cut into thick slices 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 litre chicken stock Seasoning Preparation : Put the cooking oil and the olive oil into a large saucepan and place the pan on high heat. Fry the chicken joints until golden brown on both sides. Remove the joints and keep them on one side. Add the chopped onion and fry until soft and golden brown. Meanwhile with a sharp knife peel the kolokas, without washing. Then, by holding it from the thick stalk part, starting from the top, break pieces with a sharp knife from the kolokas. Add the sliced celery and the kolokas pieces together with the chicken joints into the pan. Season well with salt and freshly ground balck pepper. Dissolve the tomato paste in the hot chicken stock and pour it over the meat and the vegetables. Bring it to the boil, then cover and cook for about 30 minutes on low heat, stirring occasionally. Top Guides > Foodie > Recipes - Desserts Aşure (Noah's Pudding) Ingredients 1 ½ glasses ground wheat 2/5 glass rice 30 glasses water 3 glasses milk 3 glasses granulated sugar 50 gr. dried beans 50 gr. dried broad beans 50 gr. chick peas 100 gr. walnuts 100 gr. dried apricots 150 gr. sultanas 100 gr. figs 25 gr. pine nuts 25 gr. currants 100 gr. almonds 1/3 glass rose water Preparation : Soak wheat and rice overnight in cold water. Pour out that water and add 30 glasses fresh water, cook over heat a little less than moderate for 6-7 hours until the wheat is tender. Pour through a strainer, press with a wooden spoon in order to strain. Stir this wheat essenced water thoroughly and measure it. There should be about 12 glasses, add to this wheat essenced water, sugar and milk, place on heat and stir until the sugar melts. Boil either once or twice until the mixture becomes the consistency of quite a thick soup. Soak the beans; dried broad beans and chick peas overnight in cold water. Boil them the next day and add to the mixture along with the cleaned and washed sultanas; currants; dried apricots cut into small pieces; white pine nuts; boiled almonds after removing their skins; chopped walnuts; and rose water. Bring to the boil. Remove from heat and pour immediately into various bowls. After completely cooling, decorate with almonds, walnuts and pomegranates. Serves 4. Baklava (Syrup Filo Pastry) Baklava is one of the oldest known Turkish flaky pastry desserts. Its popularity goes back to the time of Sultan Mehmet (15th century) of the Ottoman Empire. Ingredients 500 grams of filo pastry 300 grams of unsalted butter (melted) 2 cups chopped walnuts or pistachio nuts For the Syrup 500 grams of sugar ½ litre of water Juice of ½ lemon Preparation : Preheat the owen to 180°C/350°F and grease a 25 x 30 cm baking dish. Brush dish with melted butter. Place one sheet of filo pastry in bottom of dish and brush with melted butter. Place another sheet of pastry and brush the top with melted butter. Continue this until you use half of the filo pastry. Sprinkle with chopped nuts. Place the remaining layers of filo pastry, brushing each one with melted butter. Brush the top with melted butter and cut into diamond shapes. Bake until golden. To make the syrup, place the above ingredients in a saucepan and boil on medium heat stirring constantly. Let simmer for 15 minutes. Pour hot syrup over cooled baklava. Allow to cool and absorb syrup before serving. Ceviz Macunu (Green Walnuts in Syrup) Ingredients Ceviz Macunu (Green Walnuts in Syrup)100 green walnuts - peeled 800 gr (4 cups) sugar 100 almonds -peeled 6-7 cloves Juice of 2 and a half lemons Preparation : With a small sharp knife, cut the tough bony parts on both ends of each walnut. Put them into a bucket full of water for 7 days, changing the water daily. On the eighth day put them in water with a handful of lime stone dissolved in. Drain and wash them well. Into a large saucepan put enough water to cover them. Place the pan on high heat and bring the water up to the boil. Then add the walnuts and cook for 10 minutes. Drain them well. Place the pan again with fresh water, place it on heat, bring up to the boil and cook for 15-20 minutes. Drain and with a skewer make 2-3 holes on each walnut. Cook them again in freshly boiled water for 20-25 minutes and drain. Let them cool down in cold water with the juice of two lemons added. Drain and stuff each walnut from the cut ends with an almond and place them into an empty saucepan. Pour the sugar over the fruits and wait until they release their own water. Cook the walnuts on low heat until the syrup thickens. Add the juice of ½ lemon and allow them to cool. Place them in sterilised dry jars with lid. It can be stored, in cool place, for up to one year. Gatmer (Sweet filo pastry with walnuts) Ingredients 5 Sheets of filo pastry (about 250 gr) 150 gr walnuts, roughly chopped 225 gr butter For the Syrup 350 gr sugar 500 ml water 1 tablespoon citrus blossom water Few drops of lemon juice Preparation : Oven temerature - 240°C, gas mark 9. To make the syrup in a medium size saucepan dissolve the sugar in a water and add in the lemon juice and the citrus blossom water. Place the pan on high heat and bring slowly to boil. Then reduce the heat and simmer for a few minutes until it turns into a shiny syrup. Let it cool down on one side. Grease a round baking tray. On each leaf of filo brush some melted butter. In the middle of the square pastry put some of the coarsely chopped walnuts. First, fold the two opposite sides, then roll it loosely. Place them into the baking tray in rounds, starting from the middle. Pour the rest of the melted butter over them and bake for 15-20 minutes or until slightly golden. Pour the cold syrup over the hot pastry and allow it to soak well. Decorate it with chopped pistachio nuts and serve cold. Serves 4. Irmik Kurabiyesi (Cypriot Nut-stuffed Semolina pastries) Ingredients 1/4 lb Sweet butter 1 1/4 c Fine semolina Orange flower water 1/4 ts Salt 3 tb Warm water (more if needed) 1 c Chopped unsalted pistachios 4 1/2 tb Granulated sugar 1 tb Ground cinnamon Confectioners' sugar Preparation : Oven temerature - 180°C/350°F. In a small, heavy saucepan, bring the butter to bubbling over medium heat and stir in the fine semolina. Transfer to a small bowl, cover, and let stand overnight at room temperature. The next day, uncover and add 2 teaspoons orange flower water, the salt, and gradually the warm water, working with your fingers to make a firm dough. Knead for 5 minutes, then cover and let rest 1 hour. Meanwhile, combine the pistachios, sugar, and ground cinnamon in a small bowl. Break off pieces of dough slightly larger in size than a walnut. Work in your fingers to form a ball. Press the centre with your thumb to make a large well and fill with 1 teaspoon of the nut mixture, then cover over with dough and shape into an oval. Set on a cookie sheet and continue until all pastries are shaped. Bake in a moderate oven (350°F) for 30 to 35 minutes or until the yellow colour has become a light (not a deep) chestnut. Remove to racks and cool for 10 minutes, then dip quickly into orange flower water and roll in confectioners' sugar. Cool before storing. Note: You may substitute blanched almonds for the pistachios and peanut oil for the butter. Serves 30 cookies. Lokma (Honeyed crisp doughnuts) These golden, light bubbles that are bathed with thick honey (or syrup if preferred) as they emerge from the crackling cauldron of hot oil and served immediately, dusted with aromatic cinnamon, are glittering prize of a shopping trip or a visit to the market. Made from humble ingredients of flour, yeast and water -basically, a leavened bread dough- they impress with their sumptuously pleasurable results. They are also made for Bayrams and other religious festivals and offered on large platters to visitors. Ingredients 250 gr (8 oz) plain flour ¼ teaspoon salt 6 gr easy blend dried yeast or 15 gr (½ oz) fresh yeast 270 ml (9 fl oz) warm water ½ teaspoon sugar -if fresh yeast is used 300 ml (½ pint) vegetable oil -or more if necessary 6-7 teaspoons good quality aromatic clear honey 1 teaspoon cinnamon Preparation : Time - 2 and a half hours. Sift the flour and salt in a bowl and mix the dried yeast in; add the warm water slowly while beating either with an electric mixer or a balloon whisk until all the water has been added and the mixture is smooth and lightly frothy, all in all about 2-3 minutes. Cover with a tea towel and let it rest in a warm place for one hour, until it has doubled its size and looks frothy. If using fresh yeast, dissolve the yeast in about 60 ml (2 fl oz) of warm water (about 40°C/100°F), add the sugar to activate it and let it stand in a warm place for about 15 minutes, until it starts to froth. (If the water is too hot it will kill the yeast.) Empty the dissolved yeast into the middle of the sifted flour, beating continuously. Add the remaining warm water slowly, while beating at the same time, until the mixture becomes smooth, soft and elastic. Cover with a tea towel and leave in a warm place for about 2 and a half hours until it rises and almost doubles in size. Have the oil very hot but not smoking, using a saucepan or deep-fryer, and drop teaspoon of the mixture in it, 6-8 at a time. Dip the teaspoon into a cup of cold water between each addition to prevent stickiness. The lokma puff up and rise to the surface within seconds. Turn them over and as they become pale golden all over -it only takes a minute- lift them out with a slotted spoon and drain them on absorbent paper. You will have around 30 lokmas. Serve 5-6 on each plate, dribble a teaspoon of honey all over, sprinkle on some cinnamon and serve immediately. Serves 4-6. Muhallebi (Cypriot Rice Powder Pudding) This is a much loved Turkish-Cypriot dessert prepared by families all year round. Ingredients 1 pint (568 ml) semi-skimmed milk 4 tablespoon rice powder [1 rounded tablespoon rice powder per 1 water glassful of milk] ¾ to 1 water-glassful sugar [or enough sugar to taste] 2-4 granules of mastic (mezdeki) grounded with 1 teaspoon of sugar 2-3 bitter orange leaves or orange blossoms Water optional or if available Pistachios and almonds (if desired) Preparation : In a basin or a large bowl, mix rice powder into a paste with a little milk taken from 1 pint (568 ml). Heat remaining milk to almost boiling point and pour onto the rice paste, stirring well. Return the mix to the saucepan and add orange leaves and bring to boil over gentle heat while stirring continuously. Once the mixture starts bubbling, reduce the heat and continue stirring for another 5-10 minutes more. Add sugar and keep stirring until it dissolves completely. If the mixture becomes too thick dilute with a little milk or water. Just before turning the heat off add powdered mastic, orange blossoms (or bitter-orange leaves) and stir well. Remove the leaves (if used instead of blossoms) and pour the creamy mixture into small bowls (or a one large shallow dish approximately 1-1 and ½” deep. Decorate the pudding top with pistachios and almonds if desired. Serves 5. Helpful Hints: Add sugar after the rice powder mixture has been stirred, boiled and thickened for at least 10 minutes. Add mastic right at the end. At the end, you may wish to place the saucepan in cold water and beat the mixture for a few minutes before pouring into small dishes. Shammali (Yoghurt, Almond and Semolina Cake) Ingredients 1 glass cooking oil half glass sugar 3 eggs 2 glasses semolina (fine or coarse) 1 glass self raising flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 glass milk (you might need less or a little more) about 2 tablespoons roasted split almonds optional: 1 teaspoon almond essence For the syrup 3 glasses water 2 and a half glasses sugar 2 tablespoons lemon juice Preparation : Make the syrup first: bring the ingredients to the boil, simmer gently for about 20 minutes, leave to cool. Thoroughly whisk all the ingredients for the bake (less the flaked almonds) to a thick batter like consistency (like a sponge cake mixture) - add the milk gradually, stopping when the raw cake mixture is smooth enough. Place mixture in greased tin and sprinkle the almonds on the top. Bake in medium oven (200°C) for about 60 min. until the top is golden brown and the cake shrinks slightly from the sides of the tin. Pour cold syrup over hot cake, leave to cool and cut in squares for serving. Serves 6. Sütlaç (Rice Pudding) This is a delicious, light dessert enjoyed in the warmer weathers or after a rich meal of meat dishes or fried fish. Ingredients 1 litre milk 250 grams sugar 100 grams rice 1 tablespoon of rice flour 3 - 4 teaspoons of vanilla sugar Preparation : First, wash the rice in cold water. Then boil rice in water, enough to cover rice with. When rice expands, take off heat, drain rice and mix in milk. Place rice and milk on heat when mixture begins to boil add sugar and stir slightly. Simmer until rice is cooked (approximately 10 minutes). Make a paste of the rice flour with a little amount of water and stir into milk mixture and continue stirring. Allow to simmer for a little while longer. Take off heat and add vanilla sugar. Pour Sütlaç into individual bowls and let cool. Sprinkle with cinnamon serve cold. Serves 4. Turunç Macunu (Bitter Oranges in Syrup) Ingredients 20 bitter oranges 1.5 kg sugar 675 ml cold water 2 table spoons lemon juice ½ tablespoon vanilla sugar Preparation : Turunç Macunu (Bitter Oranges in Syrup)Slightly grate bitter oranges to remove the red colour which covers their skins. Without cutting the flesh itself, cut the peel off the oranges divided to four. Remove the white pith from the inside of the skin and roll them. Tie with a strong string so that they remain rolled while cooking. Then place in a glassbowl of cold water and leave for 3-4 days. Change the water daily. On the fourth day, place them into a large pan of boiling water. Cook for 20 minutes until they are soft. Drain them well. Into a separate saucepan pour 3 cups of water and 1.5 kg sugar. Place the pan on heat and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. When it starts to boil, add in the rolled skins and cook for 40 minutes until the syrup thickens. Shortly before removing the pan from the heat add lemon juice and the vanilla sugar. Let it cool and then transfer into dry jars with lid. Store in cool place for up to one year. Turkish Delight (Lokum) The best Turkish Delight is made by the Turkish masters of its art; but a delicious approximation can be made at home. Its secrets are uninterrupted stirring and careful aging. Time - Total first-day time: 3 hours. Aging: 2+ days Ingredients 4 cups sugar 1½ cups water 1 tbsp. lemon juice 1 cup cornstarch 1 tsp. cream of tartar 3 cups water 2 tbsp. rose or orange flower water, orange juice or lemon juice, or vanilla extract 1-2 tsp. vanilla or other extract or essence Several drops food coloring ½ cup almonds, skinless pistachios or walnuts, chopped and lightly toasted (optional) ½ cup powdered sugar ½ cup cornstarch Preparation : Combine sugar, 1½ cup water and lemon juice in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil vigorously for 5 to 10 minutes, until the syrup reaches 240°F on a food thermometer, or forms a soft ball when a bit is dropped into cold water. Turn off the heat. Using a blender, food processor, or whisk, combine the cornstarch and cream of tartar, then gradually add 3 cups of water, stirring vigorously to fully combine the ingredients and prevent lumping. Transfer this mixture to a large saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. If any lumps form, scoop them out of the pan; don't try to break them up to make them smooth. It won't work. Once the cornstarch mixture has come to a boil, pour in the hot syrup in a thin, steady stream, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat and simmer the mixture for 1 to 2 hours, stirring constantly, until the mixture has turned a pale gold. Turn off the heat. Stir in flavouring to taste, and food colouring, if desired. Blend in the nuts, if desired. Using a flavourless oil, lightly oil a 9" square baking pan, then line the pan with lightly oiled baker's parchment. Pour the Lokum into the pan, then tilt it to distribute the mixture evenly. Wait until the Lokum has cooled completely before covering the pan with plastic wrap. Do not allow the plastic to touch the surface of the Lokum, or it will stick mercilessly. Let the Lokum rest for at least two days before cutting into 1" wide strips with an oiled kitchen knife (not serrated). Clean and oil the knife after every cut. If the Lokum is too gummy to cut, let it age longer. Lay out the strips on a lightly oiled tray and let them rest for another day or two before cutting into small squares. Combine one-half cup each of cornstarch and powdered sugar in a tightly covered container. Put 2 or 3 squares of Lokum into the container, cover and shake to coat them with the mixture. Store in an airtight container, separating the layers with parchment, waxed paper or doilies. Top Guides > Foodie > Recipes - Meat Sish Kebab Ingredients : 500 grams of diced lamb Juice of 1/2 lemon 2 tomatoes 6 long green peppers 1 onion salt, pepper Preparation : Grate onion and remove its liquid. Place diced lamb in a bowl and add onion and lemon juices. Cover and rest for a few hours. Cut peppers and tomaotes into large pieces. Place meat and alternate layers of peppers and tomatoes on skewers. Cook on hot plate or barbeque, turning frequently. Serve with a fresh garden salad. Köfte (Turkish meatballs) These appetising, walnut-shaped morsels are always part of the Turkish mezze. They are best served hot, but are also quite good at room temperature and also ideal for a picnic. In Turkey or Northern Cyprus minced lamb is used, but beef or a mixture of both will do. Preparation time - 20 minutes. Serves: 4-6. Ingredients 2 medium-size slices of crustless stale bread, soaked briefly in water 500 g (1 lb) minced lamb or beef 1 medium-size onion, grated thickly 2 tablespoons fresh chopped mint, or 1 tablespoon dried mint 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley 1 clove of garlic, crushed 1 egg - salt and black pepper For frying 75 g (3 oz) plain flour 150 ml (1/4 pint) vegetable oil Preparation : Squeeze out excess water from the soaked bread, leaving it quite dry. Combine all the ingredients for the Köfte in a bowl and mix well. Make walnut-shaped balls and keep them covered until they are to be eaten. Then roll them lightly in flour and fry in hot oil for 2-3 minutes until golden all over. They can be shallow -or deep- fried. Lahmacun (Turkish pizza) Ingredients A pack of pitas 1 lb ground beef 1 lb white onion 1 or 2 tomatoes Salt, black pepper to taste If you can't find tomatoes, you can replace it with 2 table spoons of tomatoe puree. Preparation : Peel, wash, place onions with tomatoes in a food processor and ground. Add salt, black pepper and meat, ground 30 seconds more. With the help of a spoon spread this mixture over pitas. Put them in oven and bake at 400°F about 20-30 minutes. Check to see whether meat is cooked. Serve hot. Bumbar (Cypriot sausages) Stuffed intestines with rice; serves 4-6 Ingredients 3 thin intestines (with no hole) 700 gr minced beef 1 large onion -grated 160 gr rice -washed and drained 750 ml (3/4 litre) water 2-3 tablespoons salt 3 tablespoons parsley -finely chopped 2 large ripe tomatoes -peeled and chopped 1 tablespoon tomato paste 100 ml cooking oil Vinegar Lemon juice How to clean the instestines. Wash all the three pieces under cold water. To clean the inside, take one piece and hold one of the ends with one hand, then with the other hand start turning inside out. Fill the intestine with water, so that it runs out like a long sausage. The fatty outside is now in. Do all the three pieces in the same way. Wash them again with cold water than rub in some flour, so that all the thick mucuous is rubbled out of them. then wash again. Lastly, clean with lemon juice and vinegar. For the filling: Grate one large onion, chop the tomatoes and parsley. Wash and drain the rice. Add all into the minced beef, together with tomato paste, 2 tablespoons salt, and 3/4 litre of water. Mix all the ingredients well. Preparation : Turn all the intestine inside out in the same way. Then with a special funnel which has a large mouth (made for this purpose) fill the intestine with the prepared filling and tie the ends with a thick string. Put all the stuffed intestines into a large cooking pot. Fill with cold water just to cover all. Add 2 teaspoons of salt. Bring to boil and simmer 30-45 minutes. In the middle of the cooking time, make holes on each intestine with a skewer, so that all the air escapes. When cooked, take them out of the water and drain. Keep 3/4 litre of the hot cooking water separately. The rest can be used in making soups or in cooking. Then fry the bumbars (intestines) until brown all over, without damaging them. After frying, take them out and serve warm. Top Guides > Foodie > Recipes - Mezze Chakistes Crushed green olives in marinate. One of the favourite Turkish Cypriot appetizers. To make chakistes, pick some green olives early in winter, best in October. Try to select the large ones. Ingredients Large green olives Water Salt Extra virgin olive oil 1 egg Garlic cloves -crushed Lemon juice Coriander -crushed Preparation . Wash olives well and dry in the sun then split them with a flat stone or a hammer. Place them into a bucket and cover them with salted water to preserve them. Leave for six days, changing the water every day. To make sure the water has got the correct quantity of salt, put a fresh egg in it. If the egg floats, with part of it coming out of water, then it's just fine. Add the juice of three lemons and pour half a cup of olive oil on the surface. They're ready to eat after one month. Serving . Get enough quantity out of the jar and wash under cold water to remove salt. Mix some olive oil with lemon juice, crushed coriander and some crushed garlic. Pour the mixture over the green olives and serve. Cacik Yogurt, cucumber & mint dip. Preparation time: 10 minutes + chilling. Serves: 4. `Cacik' in Turkey, or `Tzatziki' in Greece, is one of the best known appetisers in either cuisine. Extremely refreshing and fragrant because of the aroma of the mint, it's served with kebabs; fried slices of courgettes and aubergines; roast chicken, lamb or with meze. Deliciously thick, creamy yogurt, made from sheep's milk accounts for the wonderful texture and flavour of the dish. Ingredients 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon wine vinegar 1 clove of garlic, crushed 175 g (6 oz) natural yogurt 5 cm (2-inch) piece of cucumber, diced finely or grated coarsely 3-4 fresh mint leaves, chopped finely, or 1/2 teaspoon dried mint salt Preparation Lightly beat the oil, vinegar and garlic with a fork in a bowl; add the yogurt and beat until smooth and well amalgamated. Add the cucumber, salt and the chopped mint and mix well. Serve chilled. Halloumi (Hellim) cheese Hellim cheese, or Halloumi, as it's also known, is the most unique of the Cypriot delicacies. It is full fat soft cheese made of whole goat's milk, salt and a hint of mint. You can buy packaged halloumi at a local Middle Eastern grocery. Serving suggestions: Dice into small cubes for salads or serve with biscuits, cucumber or melon. It also makes a superb side dish, as well as fried or grilled topping. Grilled Halloumi Ingredients : 1 halloumi (hellim) cheese -cut into thick slices. Preparation : Sliced halloumis can be cooked under a hot oven, grill or on charcoal until it starts to melt and gets slightly brown. Or it can alternatively be fried in hot oil or butter. Serve with a slice of lemon. Halloumi & Tomato Sauce This rich tomato sauce with cubes of fried Cypriot cheese goes great with penne or other short pasta with a good chewy bite. It's slightly sweet, flavored with cinnamon and mint, and just a little spicy. Ingredients : 2 x 1/2lb packages Halloumi Olive oil, for deep frying 2 - 3 Tbsp. olive oil 2 Bay leaves 3 inches Cinnamon stick, broken into 2 or 3 pieces 2 tsp. Cumin seeds 2 large Onions, sliced 3 cloves Garlic, minced 2 Serrano cillies, minced 1/2 lb. Mushrooms, sliced 1 quart Tomatoes, coarsely chopped 1 1/2 tsp. Ground cumin seed 1 Tbsp. Oregano, dry 1 Tbsp. Mint leaves, dry 1 small can Tomato paste 1 Cup Water 1/2 - 1 tsp. Sugar Salt, to taste Black pepper, to taste Preparation : Cut halloumi into 1/2 inch cubes. Deep fry in olive oil until golden and lightly browned on edges, much as one treats Paneer. Do this in batches, so that the cubes can be kept from clumping together. Drain on paper towels and put aside. This can be done ahead of time; just refrigerate halloumi in paper towels inside a container until ready to use. Heat 2 or 3 Tbsp. of olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add bay leaves, cinnamon, and cumin seeds; fry 30 seconds. Add onions and stir-fry with the spices. After two or three minutes add garlic and chile, and continue stir-frying a few more minutes. Add mushrooms; fry a few minutes, until they change color. Add tomatoes, stir in ground cumin, oregano, and mint. Simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add tomato paste, stir well to dissolve paste. Gently stir in fried halloumi cubes and simmer 15 more minutes, stirring occasionally and adding the water as needed for the desired consistency. Add sugar, salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Hummus HummusTurkish Humus is sharply appetising; it can be served with fresh bread or pitta bread to be dipped in, or as a sauce with fried fish or kebabs. It will enliven the table when served along with a vegetable casserole or as part of a meze. Humus can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Don't use canned chick-peas to make Humus as they're not successful. Preparation time: Soaking overnight + 1 hour cooking + 15 minutes. Serves 4-6. Ingredients 175 g (6 oz.) chick-peas, picked clean and soaked overnight 2 cloves of garlic, chopped 2 tablespoons tahini paste (optional, but add more oil if not used) Juice of 1 and a half lemons 1 and a half teaspoons ground cumin 4 tablespoons vegetable oil 300 ml (1/2 pint) chick-pea cooking liquid Salt and black pepper 1 or 2 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil A little cayenne pepper or paprika Preparation : Rinse the chick-peas. Cover with plenty of water in a large pan, bring to the boil and skim until clear. Cover and cook until soft: in a pressure cooker they will take 15-20 minutes; otherwise a little over 1 hour, according to their age. Strain the chick-peas, reserving the cooking liquid. divide all the ingredients in two and place the first batch in a food processor or liquidiser; blend until grainy and of a runny consistency. If too dry, add more liquid and then adjust the seasoning and blend it in briefly. Make the second batch in the same fashion. Pour on to a flat platter, and sprinkle the oil and the cayenne pepper or paprika decoratively on top before serving. Tahin Salatasi (Tahini dip) Extremely appetising and refreshing, this can be served with hot pitta or bread to be dipped in. It's a very Cypriot dish which is also offered along with kebabs, or with mezze. Preparation time: 10 minutes. Serves: 4. Ingredients 5 tablespoons Tahini paste 150 ml (1/4 pint) warm water 1-2 cloves of garlic 6 tablespoons lemon juice 4 tablespoons vegetable oil Salt to taste 1 tablespoon chopped parsley A few black olives Preparation : Combine in a blender the tahini, water, garlic and salt and blend. Slowly add the lemon and oil, alternating them, while the blades are in motion, until the mixture looks creamy in colour and texture. Adjust the seasoning and serve in a bowl with the parsley and olives sprinkled on top. Top Guides > Foodie > Recipes - Pasta & Rice Firin Makarnasi (Baked Macaroni) Ingredients 900 gr macaroni 100 gr butter 200 gr onion -finely chopped 650 gr minced beef 900 gr riped tomatoes -peeled and finely chopped 2 tablespoons tomato paste ½ tablespoon cinnamon 1 tablespoon sugar Pinch of nutmeg (optional) Seasoning 100 gr halloumi cheese For the sauce 50 gr butter 50 gr flour 600 ml milk 3 eggs -well beaten Seasoning Oven temperature: 200C, gas mark 6 Preparation : In a frying pan heat 50 gr of the butter and fry the onions for about 5 minutes until they are soft, add the minced meat, all the spices, salt and pepper and fry gently for 10 minutes stirring all the time. Then add the skinned and finely chopped (or grated) tomatoes, together with the tomato paste and sugar. Cook gently for a further 10-15 minutes. To make the sauce melt the butter in a medium saucepan and add the flour. Cook the roux gently for 2-3 minutes. Take the pan off the heat and add the milk a little at a time, beating all the time. Replace on the heat and bring to the boil, stirring constantly. Add 1 tablespoon of the hot sauce into the well beaten eggs and pour the beaten eggs into the sauce. Cook the sauce 4-5 minutes, stirring all the time without boiling. Cook the macaroni in plenty of boiling salted water, until soft but firm. Drain well. Heat the rest of the butter and pour over the macaroni. Into a well greased baking tray, put half of the cooked macaroni, sprinkle with cheese, then spread the minced meat sauce on top, into which 2 tablespoons white sauce is added and well mixed. Top it up with the rest of the macaroni, sprinkle more cheese over and cover with the white sauce. Put the rest of the cheese on the top and bake in a moderately hot oven until brown and crusty on the top. Serves 8-10. Bulgur Pilavi (Cracked wheat pilaf) The delectable taste of this Cypriot dish is quite surprising and far from bland although its ingredients may seem humble at first. It can be served with bumbar, fried fish, squid or a meat casserole. Serve fresh yogurt with it. Serves 4-6. Time: 30 minutes Ingredients 125 ml (4 fl oz) olive or groundnut oil 1 medium-size onion -sliced very finely 25 gr (1 oz) vermicelli 250 gr (8 oz) bulghur (cracked wheat) -picked clean 300 ml (½ pint) chicken (or vegetable) stock Salt and pepper Preparation : Heat the oil and saute the onion until it glistens; add the vermicelli, breaking it with your hands. Continue to saute together for 4-5 minutes until it all looks pale golden. Place the bulghur in a fine sieve, wash it briefly under running water and add it to the saucepan. Add the chicken stock and season, but do not add salt if your stock was made from a stock cube; mix well. Cover the pan and simmer very gently for 6-7 minutes at most, until the mixture is dry. Cover with tea towel, place the lid tightly on top and let it stand for 10 minutes before serving. (On uncovering the saucepan you will find its aroma is quite overpowering.) The bulgur pilavi will keep quite hot and fresh, if covered like this, for about one hour and it keeps its texture if reheated with 2-3 tablespoons of water the next day. Nohutlu Pilav (Rice Pilaff with Chick Peas) Ingredients 150 gr chick peas -soaked overnight 200 gr rice -washed and drained 60 gr butter 1/2 litre (500 ml) chicken broth Preparation : Wash and drain the rice. Put the chick peas into a large saucepan and cover them with water, add some salt, bring to the boil, then cover and simmer 1-2 hours until they are soft enough. After draining them, melt the butter in a medium size saucepan, and then add the rice and fry for a minute. Add in the cooked chick peas and mix. Pour in the hot broth, bring to the boil then cover and simmer for 20 minutes, until all the water is absorbed and the grains are soft. Serve hot. Serves 4-6. Top Guides > Foodie > Recipes - Salads Çoban Salatasi (Peasant-style salad) This is one of the most popular salads in North Cyprus. Light, refreshing and easy to make, it makes a perfect lunch under an olive tree by the sea. Ingredients 375 gr (12 oz) large tomatoes -washed and dried ½ onion -sliced finely ½ green pepper -sliced thinly 10 cm (4-inch) piece of cucumber -peeled and sliced 6-8 black or green olives 125 gr (4 oz) halloumi cheese -diced A pinch of dried oregano 5 tablespoons good quality olive oil Salt Preparation : Quarter the tomatoes; slice them in thin segments if too large. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and toss them gently. Serve fresh bread with it, to dip the juices in typical Cypriot fashion. Serves 4. Fasulye Piyaz (Haricot bean salad) This is one of the most common of the Turkish dishes, often served as a main dish, accompanied by mezze like Hummus, or as a side dish accompanying a main meal, in order to add variety. Preparation and cooking time: Soaking overnight + 55 minutes. Serves 4. Ingredients 175 g (6 oz) haricot or cannellini beans, picked clean For the dressing 5 tablespoons olive oil ½ a lemon 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley Salt and black pepper For garnish Black olives Hard-boiled eggs, peeled, and quartered lengthways Preparation : Soak the beans overnight. Rinse them and cover with plenty of water in a pan; bring to the boil, skim and add some salt. (This will make them firm, which is desirable for this dish). Boil them for 10 minutes, cover and cook until soft, which will take 40-50 minutes according to their age and quality. If they are not to be eaten immediately, very slightly undercook them and let them stay in their liquid. They will go on cooking anyway. Drain them just before they are to be served and place in a bowl with 2-3 tablespoons of their liquid. Beat the dressing ingredients lightly, add to the beans and toss gently. Empty on to a flat platter and garnish with olives and eggs. Börülce Salatasi (Black-eyed bean salad) This Cypriot dish is excellent as a substantial salad or as a main course, but be lavish with some aromatic olive oil and fresh lemon juice for authenticity. These are touches of glorification in this otherwise humble dish, which can be served hot or at room temperature. Black-eyed beans do not need soaking and cook quickly. Ingredients 250 gr (8 oz) black-eyed beans -picked clean and washed 2 tablespoons lemon juice 375 gr (12 oz) courgettes (zucchini) Salt For the dressing At least 3 tablespoons olive oil per person 1 lemon -quartered Salt and black pepper Preparation : In a medium saucepan, cover the beans with water, boil for three minutes and drain, discarding the water. Cover with fresh water, add the 2 tablespoons lemon juice (to prevent their discolouring during cooking) and salt. Cover and simmer for 25 minutes. Cut the courgettes in 5 cm (2-inch) pieces and then quarter them lengthways. Add them to the pan and cook for 5-7 more minutes. Do not strain. Serve in individual soup plates, allowing 2-3 pieces of courgette per person with some of the cooking liquid as well; pour plenty of olive oil on top, season and offer the lemon quarters to be squeezed according to individual preferences although the more lemon juice the better! Serves 4-6. Börülce Salatasi (Black-eyed bean salad) This Cypriot dish is excellent as a substantial salad or as a main course, but be lavish with some aromatic olive oil and fresh lemon juice for authenticity. These are touches of glorification in this otherwise humble dish, which can be served hot or at room temperature. Black-eyed beans do not need soaking and cook quickly. Ingredients 250 gr (8 oz) black-eyed beans -picked clean and washed 2 tablespoons lemon juice 375 gr (12 oz) courgettes (zucchini) Salt For the dressing At least 3 tablespoons olive oil per person 1 lemon -quartered Salt and black pepper Preparation : In a medium saucepan, cover the beans with water, boil for three minutes and drain, discarding the water. Cover with fresh water, add the 2 tablespoons lemon juice (to prevent their discolouring during cooking) and salt. Cover and simmer for 25 minutes. Cut the courgettes in 5 cm (2-inch) pieces and then quarter them lengthways. Add them to the pan and cook for 5-7 more minutes. Do not strain. Serve in individual soup plates, allowing 2-3 pieces of courgette per person with some of the cooking liquid as well; pour plenty of olive oil on top, season and offer the lemon quarters to be squeezed according to individual preferences although the more lemon juice the better! Serves 4-6. Top Guides > Foodie > Recipes - Seafood Raki Soslu Levrek (Fried Fish in Raki Sauce) Ingredients 1 kg fish of choice 250 ml oil flour salt lemon parsley Preparation : Clean and wash fish. Salt fish and rest for 10 minutes. Flour fish and fry in hot oil until golden brown. Remove and place on absorbent paper. Arrange fish on a serving platter. Place lemon wedges around fish and decorate with parsley. Ahtapot Salatasi (Octopus Salad) Ingredients One 300 gr octopus -cleaned, washed and cut into large pieces 1 and ½ litre water 1 tablespoon salt 100-150 gr onion -finely chopped 250 gr ripe tomatoes -peeled and cut into small pieces 2 tablespoons chopped parsley 2 spring onions -finely chopped 90 gr green cocktail olives -cut through the middle 2 tablespoons capers 4 tablespoons lemon juice ½ tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons olive oil Seasoning Preparation : Put the water and the salt into a large saucepan and place the pan on high heat. Bring up to boil and add the cut octopus. Cook for 40-50 minutes or until the octopus is soft. Drain well. Into a large salad bowl put the drained octopus, chopped tomatoes, chopped onion, chopped parsley and the green olives and mix well. To make the sauce, mix the olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a separate bowl. Pour the sauce over the salad and mix well. Serve with fresh bread and butter. Sipya (Cuttlefish cooked with its ink) Ingredients 1 kg cuttlefish -eyes, beaks and guts removed; several ink sacks reserved for cooking 2 medium onions -finely chopped 3-4 garlic cloves -crushed 60 ml (4 tablespoons) olive oil ¼ litre dry white wine 2 large ripe tomatoes -coarsely chopped 1 tablespoon brandy ½ tablespoon starch Pinch of cayenne pepper Seasoning Preparation : Put the olive oil into a large saucepan and place the pan on high heat. When the oil is hot, fry the chopped onions until soft. Add the crushed garlic and fry few more minutes. Then add the cuttlefish and cook them 20-25 minutes on low heat. Add the wine, chopped tomatoes and pinch of cayenne pepper, cover and cook 30 more minutes. Dissolve the starch with little water in a small bowl, add the ink sacks and pour all into the saucepan together with the brandy. Season well, cover the saucepan with the lid and cook for 45 minutes or until they are very tender. Serve hot. Top Guides > Foodie > Recipes - Soups Tarhana (Crushed wheat soup) Tarhana is made locally by the villagers. It's a mixture of crushed wheat and yogurt, first cooked then in small biscuit forms dried in the sun for four to five days. These dried pieces are then placed in airtight bags to be used in cold winter days. It's also sold in the grocery shops. Serves 4-6. Ingredients 1 litre chicken / vegetable broth 200 gr diced Cypriot halloumi cheese 400 gr tarhana 30 gr butter Juice of half a lemon Seasoning Preparation : Soak the tarhana in cold water for about an hour. Drain well then put in a pan together with the chicken broth. Simmer gently for an hour, stirring occasionally. While the soup is cooking, put the butter in a medium size frying pan and place the pan on heat. Once the butter is hot, fry the diced halloumi pieces until golden brown on both sides. Just before serving add the fried halloumi, lemon juice and the seasoning. Mix well and serve hot. Yayla Çorbasi (Soup of the Pastures) Ingrdients Yayla Çorbasi (Soup of the Pastures) 4 cups of chicken/vegetable stock 2 tablespoons rice -washed and drained 1 cup natural full-fat yogurt 1 dessertspoon flour 1 teaspoon butter 1 teaspoon dried mint leaves Preparation : Bring the salted stock and rice to the boil, then simmer until it is cooked. Remove from the heat. In a bowl, stir the flour into the yogurt and mix until smooth. Slowly whisk one cup of hot stock into the yogurt one spoonful at a time to prevent curdling. Add the yogurt mixture to the stock and rice. Stir and reheat gently until the soup has just thickened. Add salt to taste. Top the soup with a knob of butter. Sprinkle with dried mint leaves and serve. Serves 4. Top Guides > Foodie > Recipes - Vegetarian Yalanci Dolma (Stuffed Vine Leaves) Ingredients 25 vine leaves one and a half cups of onions, finely chopped one cup of spring onions, finely chopped 1 cup of olive oil 1 cup of rice Salt and pepper Juice of 2 lemons Half a cup of dill, finely chopped quarter cup of fresh mint, finely chopped Prepraration : Blanch the vine leaves, drain and allow to cool. Mix all the ingredients except the lemons and wrap in the vine leaves, forming them into roll shapes. Place some of the vine leaves on the bottom of the pan, then place the rolls in outward radiating circles, evenly spaced and close to one another. Gently place a plate that's not too heavy on top of the vine leaves so that they don't break open during cooking Add the lemon juice and enough water to cover the rolls. Boil gently until the water had been absorbed and rice cooked. Allow to cool then arrange on a plate, garnished with slices of lemon. Serves 4-5. Çiçek Dolmasi (Stuffed Marrow Flowers) Ingredients 1 bunch marrow flowers with stems and pistils removed. 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 75-100 ml water For the stuffing 150 gr rice -washed and drained 1 small onion -finely chopped 2 medium tomatoes -peeled and finely chopped 1 tablespoon olive oil Seasoning 10-15 leaves of fresh mint -washed and roughly chopped Prepraration : ; Wash and dry them the flowers by gently pressing onto a towel. Mix the stuffing ingredients together except the cooking oil and stuff the flowers carefully by using a small teaspoon. When doing this take care not to tear the flowers, and also fill only 3/4 so that when cooking the rice has enough space to expand. After stuffing, fold the flower petals in without breaking them. Into a small saucepan, put one tablespoon of cooking oil and place the pan on low heat. Place each flower into the saucepan by standing them next to each other. Pour 100 ml of water into the pan and bring gently to boil. Cover the saucepan and cook gently on low heat another 20 minutes until all the water has absorbed and the rice is cooked. Serve hot or cold. Serves 4. Domates Dolmasi (Stuffed Tomatoes) Ingredients 650 gr minced beef 8 large tomatoes -cut around stems and open the seeds and wash them well 2 medium onions -finely chopped 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 750 gr ripe tomatoes -skinned and chopped or tinned tomatoes with their juice 2 eggs 3 garlic cloves 1 tablespoon dried rosemary 1/8 litre dry white wine 2 tablespoons freshly chopped basil seasoning Prepraration : Stuffed Tomatoes and Green PeppersHeat the oil in a frying pan and fry the chopped onions until soft. Put the minced meat into a large salad bowl. Add the fried onions with the oil, crushed garlic, two eggs, rosemary, salt and freshly ground black pepper and mix well. Stuff the tomatoes with the meat filling and put the lids on. Arrange them side by side with the caps upwards. Pour in the white wine and add the chopped tomatoes with their juice. Cover and cook 30-40 minutes. Add the freshly chopped basil and serve hot. Serves 4. Imam Bayildi (The Imam Fainted) There are many stories about the origin of the name of this dish. Here is one of them... A long time ago a Turkish Imam (Muslim cleric), known for his love of good food, surprised his friends by announcing his engagement to the young daughter of a wealthy olive-oil merchant. The friends did not know about her ability to cook. But they presumed part of her dowry would include olive-oil. They were right. For her father gave the groom twelve jars, each one large enough to hold a person, of the precious oil. After her marriage the bride proved to be an excellent cook and each day prepared a special dish for her epicurean husband. One of them, eggplant cooked in olive-oil, became his favorite. And he ordered that his wife prepare it each night for dinner. This she did for twelve consecutive days. On the thirteenth, however, the dish was missing from the meal. Queried about its absence, the bride replied, "Dear husband, I do not have any more olive-oil. You will have to purchase some more for me." The lmam was so shocked that he fainted. And since that day, according to the story, his favorite dish has been known as "Imam Bayildi" (the Imam Fainted). Ingredients 2 medium aubergines (eggplants) 2 medium onions, chopped Olive oil 2 garlic cloves, crushed 3 medium tomatoes, peeled and chopped 3 tablespoons chopped parsley Salt and pepper to taste 2 teaspoons sugar 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice Prepraration : Sauté the onions in a little oil. Add the garlic, tomatoes, parsley, salt, and pep per. Cook until mushy. Cut the stem ends from each aubergine. Make 3 lengthwise slits, almost from end to end. With and hold each slit apart and spoon the onion mixture into each cavity. Arrange aubergines in a baking dish. Sprinkle with sugar, lemon juice, and 1/2 cup oil. Bake, covered, in preheated moderate oven (350°F) for 40 minutes, or until tender. Serve hot. or as they do in Türkiye, cold with yogurt. Serves 4-6 One modification: Instead of making three slits in the aubergine, etc., hollow the aubergines out, but leave a firm outer edge . Take the insides of the aubergines, chop them up, toss them into the pan with the other sautéed ingredients. Sauté the new mixture. Then stuff the aubergines with that mixture. If you want to microwave, I found that 15 to 20 minutes on medium works well . Actually, I microwave for 15 minutes then I baste the eggplants with the liquid at the bottom of the dish. I then cook for the remaining 5 minutes at high. You can tell by looking when the outer edge is done. We slice it for serving. Menemen (Scrambled eggs with vegetables) Ingredients 8 eggs -well beaten 2 green peppers -seeded and cut into thin rings 3 small or medium tomatoes -skinned and chopped Salt and freshly ground black pepper 30 gr (2 tablespoons) butter Prepraration : Melt the butter in a large pan. Add the pepper rings and cook them a few minutes. Then add the chopped tomatoes and cook until the juice is reduced to half. Mix in the well beaten eggs and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cook the eggs stirring constantly. Serves 4. Serve at once. Molohiya Ingredients 1 kg chicken, jointed or 1 kg lamb breast, cut into pieces 160 g molohiya -soaked overnight in cold water 150 g (2 medium) onions -skinned and chopped 4 garlic cloves -thickly sliced 1 tablespoon tomato paste 2 large ripe tomatoes -skinned and chopped 3 tablespoon vegetable oil 3 tablespoon olive oil Juice of a lemon Seasoning 900 ml chicken stock Prepraration : Heat the oil in a large saucepan and fry the chicken pieces for about 15 minutes until golden brown on both sides. Remove the chicken joints and keep them on one side. Add the chopped onion and the sliced garlic and fry until soft. Return the chicken joints to the pan. Add the chopped tomatoes, tomato paste and the hot chicken stock. Season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper, add pinch of sugar and stir gently for a minute. After washing few times with cold water, drain the Molohiya well and add it to the pan. After adding juice of a lemon, stir well and bring to boil. Then cover the pan with the lid and simmer 1-2 hours, until the vegetables are well cooked. Serves 4. Top Guides > Foodie > Recipes - Seftali Kebab Seftali (shef-ta-lee)is a type of crépinette, a sausage without skin, that uses caul fat, or omentum, the membrane that surrounds the stomach of a lamb, to wrap the ingredients together. The filling is made from lamb shoulder or leg, mixed with finely chopped onion and parsley, seasoned with salt and pepper. Rolled into small balls, the filling is wrapped in the caul fat then placed on skewers and grilled or charcoaled until golden brown. By the time it's cooked and served, the outer layer of fat is melted away and reduced to a thin golden-brown layer. It's often served in pitta bread with salad, and sometimes topped with Cacik, a Turkish appetiser or sauce made from yogurt, cucumber, olive oil and mint. For those curious about the name, there are two theories as to how it came about. The Turkish word şeftali, means peach , a reference to its texture or pinky complexion when cooked. Another popular urban explanation is that a local street vendor called Ali invented the recipe, foreigners who tasted this delight quickly dubbed him “Şef Ali” (Chef Ali) and his sausage became known as Şef Ali Kebab, later shortened to “Şeftali Kebab”. One of the most popular kebab dishes, Seftali should definitely be on your must-taste list of traditional Cypriot dishes. Top Guides > Foodie > Recipes - Sunday Lunch Fancy a Sunday Roast? A Sunday Roast is a traditional British meal usually served on Sunday, although it can be served any day. The centrepiece of the meal is roasted meat along with roast potatoes, yorkshire pudding, stuffing, gravy, and condiments such as apple sauce for pork, mint sauce for lamb, or redcurrant jelly for turkey. A wide range of vegetables can be served as part of a roast dinner, such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, or peas, which can be boiled, steamed, or roasted alongside the meat and potatoes. Mashed potatoes are also a frequent accompaniment. The Sunday Roast is ranked 2nd in a list of things people love about Britain. It’s often compared to a slightly less grand version of a Christmas dinner . The tradition of a Sunday roast lunch or dinner has been a major influence on food cultures in the English-speaking world including Northern Cyprus. Here, Sunday roast normally comprises roast beef, lamb or chicken, roast potatoes, mashed potatoes, yorkshire pudding, cauliflower-broccoli cheese, creamed spinach, green beans, carrots, peas, fresh corn, beetroot, or sweet potato. There’s literally dozens and dozens of places you can get Sunday Roast in Northern Cyprus – too many to mention. And they taste great! Origin The Sunday Roast originated in the UK as a meal to be eaten after church on Sunday. All types of meat and dairy produce are allowed to be eaten on Sundays, unlike Fridays where many Roman Catholics and Anglicans traditionally don’t eat meats, so eat fish instead. It’s traditional for Anglicans and English Catholics to fast before Sunday church service, so the Sunday Roast breaks the fast afterwards. These religious rules created several traditional dishes in the United Kingdom. For example, only eating fish on Friday resulted in a British tradition of 'fish Fridays' which is still common in fish and chip shops and restaurants today, particularly during Lent. To mark the end of not being able to eat meat, the Sunday roast was created as a mark of celebration. History There are 2 historical views on the origins of the Sunday Roast. In the late 1700s, during the industrial revolution in the United Kingdom, families would place a cut of meat into the oven as they got ready for church. They would add vegetables such as potatoes, turnips and parsnips before going to church on Sunday morning. When they returned from church, the dinner was all but ready. The juices from the meat and vegetables were used to make stock or gravy to pour on top of the dinner. Another opinion holds that the Sunday roast dates back to medieval times, when village serfs served the squire for six days a week. Then, on Sunday, after morning church service, they would assemble in a field to practise battle techniques, and were rewarded with spit roasted oxen. Typical elements Meat Roast lamb, roast potatoes, carrots, green beans and yorkshire pudding. Roast beef, roast potatoes, various vegetables and yorkshire pudding. Typical meats - chicken, lamb, pork, or roast beef, although seasonally duck, goose, gammon, turkey, or other game birds may be used. Typical elements Meat Roast lamb, roast potatoes, carrots, green beans and yorkshire pudding. Roast beef, roast potatoes, various vegetables and yorkshire pudding. Typical meats - chicken, lamb, pork, or roast beef, although seasonally duck, goose, gammon, turkey, or other game birds may be used. Vegetables Sunday roasts can be served with a range of boiled, steamed or roasted vegetables. The vegetables served vary seasonally and regionally, but will usually include roast potatoes, roasted in meat dripping or vegetable oil, and gravy made from juices released by the roasting meat, perhaps supplemented by one or more stock cubes, gravy browning/thickening, roux or corn flour. The potatoes can be cooked around the meat itself, absorbing the juices and fat, but many cooks prefer to cook the potatoes and the Yorkshire pudding in a hotter oven than that used for the joint, and so remove the meat beforehand to rest and settle in a warm place. Other vegetable dishes served with roast dinner can include mashed swede or turnips, roast parsnips, boiled or steamed cabbage, broccoli, green beans, boiled carrots and peas. It’s not uncommon for leftover composite vegetable dishes such as cauliflower cheese and stewed red cabbage, to be served alongside the more usual assortment of plainly-cooked seasonal vegetables. Accompaniments Beef: Yorkshire pudding, suet pudding, English mustard, horseradish sauce. roast potatoes, vegetables Pork: crackling, sage-and-onion stuffing, apple sauce or English mustard. Lamb: mint sauce or jelly or redcurrant jelly. Chicken: pigs in blankets, sausages or sausage meat, stuffing, bread sauce, apple sauce, cranberry sauce or redcurrant jelly. Leftovers Leftover food from the Sunday roast has traditionally formed the basis of meals served on other days of the week. For example, meats might be used for sandwiches. Roast beef can be chopped up with leftover roasted potatoes and additional onion, then fried in a pan with oil and seasonings crispy to make roast beef hash. Lamb can be used as filling for a shepherd's pie, and vegetables can form the basis for bubble and squeak or in Scotland, traditional stovies. Top Guides > Foodie > Vineyard Hotel Top Guides > Foodie > Wineries Vines have been grown and grapes pressed in Cyprus since the Bronze Age. The first commercial wine project in Northern Cyprus was established in 2000 in Geçitköy, west of Lapta, with the aid of an international wine consultant. A variety of wines are today produced by wineries from grapes grown in the vineyards at Geçitköy, Güzelyurt as well as in Ilgaz, set high on the hills of the Five Finger Mountains. Local farmers also produce wines. Bud breaks occur in early spring with harvest around the beginning of August. Grape vines including Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Chardonnay and Semillon, the reds including Merlot, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Grenache and the whites Chardonnay, Semillon and Chenin Blanc. Visitors are provided with a complete insight and experience of the Cypriot wine culture, from planting to the final production and can choose from a wide selection of tours, wine education courses, lectures and more to enhance the whole wine culture experience. Wine tasting events are held throughout the year. Vineyard & Wine Tasting Tour A full day, including tour of a vineyard, wine tasting and lunch in avillage up in the mountains. You‘ll see amazing views, hidden places and experience a tour of the islands newest winery followed by lunch and, of course, a glass of wine. Artisan vintners will provide you with a complete insight and experience of wines grown in the mountain vineyard. You’ll have the opportunity to discover 6 (yeh!) unique and distinguished wines, as well as a tour of the complete wine making process. INCLUDES Pick up and drop off at hotel Mini mountain jeep tour Tour of vineyard Wine tasting of 6 unique wines Lunch in a local restaurant in the beautiful village of Ilgaz AVAILABLE Every Day DURATION 0930-1530 Top Guides > Foodie > Recipes - Zinavia A pomace brandy produced from distillation of grape pomace plus local dry wines, Zinavia is colourless with a light aroma of raisins. With an alcohol content of 40 – 95% , it's no surprise Northern Cyprus's national drink is known as ‘firewater ’. Dating to Venetian times in the 14th century it's still made in the same tradition today. Grape pomace (pulp, peel, stalks and seeds) is mixed with high-quality dry wines made from indigenous grape, distilled in a 'kazan ' copper pot and mellowed. Using different processes to produce distinct qualities and intensities, a very slow process usually lasting eight hours, turns tons of pomace into a highly potent clear liquid. Locals drink Zinavia as an aperitif , serve it ice cold in summer, gulp it on cold mornings or enjoy a small measure with meals. Traditionally, it was also used to treat and sterilise wounds, soothe muscular aches, numb toothaches and clean and disinfect. Villagers still make it at home and it can be seriously strong, so you can buy it from a supermarket or head to the villages for that extra kick. Zivania has varieties with up to 95% alcohol presence, so beware. Turkish Cypriots say, “the best Zinavia is the one that burns well when you set it on fire”. You may want to seek advice on alcohol levels before trying Zinavia - or afterwards if you drink too much! Top

WhatsoninTRNC - The simplest easiest guide to everything in North Cyprus including events, sightseeing, things to do, experiences, foodie and real estate. TRNC - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Things to do and activities available in Northern Cyprus Things To Do > 39 Steps Casinos Eating Out Golf Luxury Hotels Rock Climbing Beaches Clubs Fishing Hiking Markets Water Sports Boat Trips Cycling Trails Fruit Picking Horse Riding Painting Classes Zipline Bowling Diving Go Karting Jeep Safari Quad Bike Things To Do > 39 Steps to a memorable experience Step Image Top Things To Do > Beaches Alagadi Beach, Kyrenia Alagadi Beach in Kyrenia consists of gorgeous wild flowers and soft clean sand. Nature photographers are guaranteed great shots of the white flowers growing there which are a protected species, so be careful. as there are big fines for picking them. If you want to see marine turtles this is definitely the place.The beach provides nesting for sea turtles, which is why it’s closed to visitors at night. But if you look up the Alagadi Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Centre , you may be able to join one of the groups that get to observe nesting. Golden Beach, Dipkarpaz Located on the Karpass Peninsula is beautiful Golden Beach at Dipkarpaz. The town is an eco-tourism centre, known for its historic architecture and the wild donkeys that still live there. Nearby, Apostolos Andreas Monastery. is a popular pilgrimage destination as well as a haven for art and history lovers. Golden Beach provides opportunities to sunbathe and recharge but lacks shade, so pack plenty of sun-tan lotion. The water is crystal-clear, the sand a beautiful golden brown and restaurants nearby offer simple but delicious meals. Glapsides Beach, Famagusta A perfect choice for families. The sea is warm and very clear, with shallow water for kids to play in. It offers comfort and safety, and the gorgeous views complete the experience. You can enjoy local cafes or hire parasols and sunbeds or, if you prefer something livelier, Famagusta offers a wide range of bars, restaurants, organised nature tours, museums, and casinos. Between the relaxing beach and vibrant city nightlife, Glapsides is a popular choice for couples and honeymooners. Escape Beach, Kyrenia Perfect if you love water sports and want to enjoy jet skiing, pedal boating, canoeing, volleyball, banana boats or scuba diving. The beach is very clean with lots of amenities, including showers available in restaurants, and the water is shallow with tiny waves. It’s very popular but somehow rarely overcrowded, with lawns next to the beach for comfortable lounging, and plenty of shade. Don’t miss out on the local clubbing scene either, as this is one of the hottest locations on the island, with a memorable vibe. Silver Beach, Famagusta Crystal-clear water makes this beach a favourite for snorkelling. It’s wide, with plenty of space to spread out and enjoy the sand and fresh air, allowing you to explore the sea daffodils and other marine life uninterrupted. For adults, the water is only thigh-high for a long way in, so parents can relax and let their little ones get acquainted with the sea at their own pace. Sunbeds are available and there are restaurants nearby. Acapulco Beach, Kyrenia Connected to a hotel and spa complex, non-guests pay for sunbeds, changing rooms and showers. Acapulco Beach is noted for extremely clean sand, water sports, tennis and golf. The nightlife is excellent as well. An interesting option is the Neolithic settlement of Vrysi on the eastern part of the beach, where you can visit the excavation site. Agios Filon Beach, Dipkarpaz Another gorgeous beach for marine turtles, with scenic rocks you can climb if you’re in the mood for adventure. The beach is also close to one of the finest historical sites Northern Cyprus has to offer. Agion Filon (also known as Ayios Philon), is home to both a 5th-century and a 12th-century church. The newer church was built partly over the remains of the older one. You can see beautiful tiled floors, a hallmark of Byzantine architecture, as well as apses and parts of the roof. Palm Beach, Famagusta A really unusual seaside location. Popular among locals, it has fine golden sand and the water is warm and clean. There’s a hotel there but just beyond the edges of the beach, you’ll find a string of dilapidated hotels, and further south, barbed-wire military fence. This is Varosha, the ghost town of North Cyprus. It’s not open to the public but you can see many abandoned buildings around the fenced-off area. In the 1970s, Varosha was an international tourist spot, attracting celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, Brigitte Bardot, and Richard Burton but in the political turmoil that split Cyprus, it was abandoned. A strange monument to the past, there are plans to reopen it. Top Things To Do > Boat Trips Vela Yachting Daily boat trip from Kyrenia to enjoy spectacular scenery, brilliant service and freedom to explore the coastline. There’s no better way to experience the taste of elegance and style than on board a well-arranged luxury yacht such as the Vela. They do day or sunset trips where you’ll feel the privilege of a limited number of guests and enjoy exquisite Mediterranean buffet of lunch and fruits. Day Trip with lunch and fruits 10:30 to 16:30. Sunset trip with dinner and fruits 18:30 to 22:30. Cyprus Active A boat trip is a fun and enjoyable day out for all ages. The Kyrenia Harbour boat trip involves swimming, snorkelling, sunbathing and a Cypriot meze lunch along the picturesque Northern Coast. Musa If you’re looking for a relaxing day out around Girne, book a boat trip with Musa. He’s had a trip advisor Certificate of Excellence for 5 years and is in their Hall of Fame. He’s also mentioned in the Lonely Planet tour book. You can book as a boat trip, dedicated fishing charter, or private trip with an opportunity to swim in the warm crystal waters along the coast. The boat drops anchor in areas usually busy with a variety of fish to swim among. Scuba Cyprus Boat Trips Scuba Cyprus is a family run business, that offers quality services at affordable prices. The scuba Cyprus gullet situated in Kyrenia harbour is a traditional Cyprus built boat with twin engines. The boat is available on daily boat trips or for tailor made private hire trips. Blue Bird Boat Tours Blue Bird Boat Tours offer a range of boat trips from the harbour in Kyrenia and travel along the coast, serving lunch along the way. A relaxing peaceful trip, Captain Bayram and his crew let you enjoy a wonderful trip out with our Traditional Turkish gullet. Lunch or dinner cooked by the Paptain, his famous fish and chicken and a range of homemade fresh mezes, finished off with fresh fruit. Blue Bird caters for daily tours, sunset trips, short trips, private trips or special occasions. Happy Sea Yacht Tours Family operated company. See their Facebook page. Sailor and Civil Engineer University and sailing courses Turkish German English Professional tour guide Sabrina Boat Tours Day and sunset trips for quiet times or parties. Good food Nice crew Nice boat Jumping off the boat into the sea What more can you ask for? See their Facebook page. Go North Cyprus Take to the water to explore the coastline in a traditional wooden boat. Relax with a gentle swim, a delicious Mediterranean lunch and a snooze in the sun or get the adrenaline pumping with water sports. Relaxing cruise on traditional wooden boat Swim in clear sea direct from the boat Delicious grilled lunch with meze included Snorkel and meet the local marine life Optional sports including parasailing Professional, fun, English speaking guide Go North Cyprus will collect you from your hotel in Kyrenia, Nicosia or Famagusta. At the harbour, board your traditional wooden boat moored alongside fishing boats and pleasure craft. Watch the captain ease out into the sparkling sea beyond heading west in the direction of Escape Beach (most of the time) or east towards Acapulco Beach, depending on weather conditions. Your Captain knows all the best places to swim, so he’ll drop anchor at the very best. Enjoy a swim in the sea direct from the boat, or bring your own mask and snorkel. Freshly-cooked lunch is onboard, with a choice of grilled fish or chicken served with traditional meze selection. After lunch, snooze and sunbathe or sign up for jet skis, banana boating, or paragliding. There’s often time for an extra dip before you head back to Kyrenia. Get your camera out for some great selfies on board and lots of photos of Kyrenia and its landmarks from out at sea. The team will take you back to your hotel in Nicosia, Famagusta or Kyrenia. Departure time is between 09:00 am and 10:00 am. Duration is 8 hours. Top Things To Do > Bowling Great during the day or evening, bowling is something thr whole family can enjoy and is excellent value. As well as the bowling lanes, downstairs in The Kings Centre in Kyrenia is an arcade equipped with small kids rides as well as arcade games, pool tables, etc. You purchase a card topped up with as little or as much as you like to credit the machines and you can win tokens on many rides and games that can be exchanged for goodies. Lots of fun for all ages, individuals and groups. Food also available, reasonably priced food and drinks. Burgers, Pizzas, kids menu.... No need to book, can just turn up and have fun or you can book for groups and parties. Definitely an ideal place on any given day no matter what time of year. Highly recommend. Top Things To Do > Casinos The casino scene in Northern Cyprus has really taken off in recent years attracting tourists and serious players alike. By day you can drive through spectacular mountain scenery then gamble the night away if you want. Casinos here have become a serious alternative for high rollers. People who went to Las Vegas, Macau or Monte Carlo now prefer our relaxing Mediterranean location and it's little surprise. Island wide casinos offer all the games punters are looking for including poker, blackjack, roulette, craps, punto banco, baccarat and all their variations. North Cyprus is a destination of the World Poker Tour (WPT) drawing thousands of Texas and Omaha aces and there are several guaranteed prize tournaments held throughout the year. Even if you don't like gambling, the Hotel and Casino resorts offer a host of other amenities. Deluxe accommodation, spa and wellbeing centres, fine dining, beach clubs, spectacular stage shows, piano or jazz bars, pubs, cocktail roof bars and discos are all normal. Casino resorts like to go big and they draw international artists suchas Turkish pop megastar Tarkan , Swedish Iranian singer and judge of Persia’s Got Talent, Arash , world renowned flamenco and salsa group Gipsy Kings , even American socialite and DJ Paris Hilton . Hotel & Casino resorts combine luxury, elegance, indulgence and excitement but they're all walk in - you don't have to be staying at the associated resort to go in and play . If you are a high roller expect ultimate comfort and pleasure suchas private jets, king suites, Gurkha Royal Courtesan cigars to mention just a few. North Cyprus boasts more than 20 casinos. Most of them are located in Kyrenia, with some also in Famagusta and Nicosia and most ask men to wear a suit and tie and ladies to wear formal dress for the gaming rooms. Smart casual is usually accepted for the slots area but Jeans or sport shoes are not normally allowed. * One final request. Please gamble responsibly within the limits of your own budget,and take regular breaks if playing for extended periods of time. The Colony Lords Palace Elexus Merit Crystal Cove Rocks Hotel Linak Deluxe Cratos Premium Merit Crystal Cove Merit Royal Kaya Palazzo COncorde Merit Park Kaya Artemis Acapulco Top Things To Do > Clubs You’ll probably be pleased to know there’s plenty of nightlife in Northern Cyprus to keep you occupied. Northern Cyprus is as peaceful and tranquil as you want it to be, but once in a while it’s nice to know you’re not far from entertainment like dancing, singing or just listening to some good music within a disco atmosphere. Concept parties, stage performers, live PA’s, light shows, fireworks’ displays, and sublime cocktails can be expected in a ‘normal’ night. All venues have security, and anti-social behaviour is not tolerated. Northern Cyprus prefers calm and cool, and ladies on their own have nothing to be nervous about their surroundings. Dress codes are important, smart casual is always a must for men, and most venues don't allow groups of guys only. “If you prefer style and lavish head to the North, if you prefer chavish go to Ayia Napa!” If you’re after a cosier atmosphere, roof bars and beach bars offer a calmer and stylish ambiance with DJs, live music, jazz or latin popular in smaller concept venues. BTW, clubs and discos are most definitely clubs and discos in Northern Cyprus. Night clubs are something different where ladies of the night earn a living. Just so you know! Open Air Clubs Often located in or next to hotels or beach clubs. One of the most popular is Escape Beach Club in Alsancak, and is well known for fantastic international DJ nights and having a fun party twist. Escape has a well-stocked bar and heaps of room to dance around, allowing you to have a memorable night out!. Escape is open really only for the main summer months but it’s definitely one of the best clubs on the island, North or South. Other clubs around the same area of Alsancak and Lapta are Sunset Beach and Camelot . In Famagusta, you have Lions Gardens , which is a huge complex offering more than just a club venue. It carries on throughout the year with international DJ sets, and it finds a wide variety of excuses to hold various parties! Some of the bigger hotels such as the Salamis Conti and Bilfer Palm Beach, also have their own disco facilities. To get in to any clubs in Northern Cyprus, you have to be aged 18 or over and should carry some ID with you if you think you look younger. Lads do have to pay to get into some of the clubs, whereas girls often get in for free. Taxis are always around, and the clubs should look after you by calling one if you require, but bear in mind that there are also water taxi services to take people back to Kyrenia. Club Nightpark in the heart of Kyrenia and next to the main car park area, is one of the best clubbing hotspots at weekends. Again they have DJ slots and play heaps of up-to-date club music. They even carry on in the winter-tim,e with DJs travelling from all over to put on some excellent party nights. Others are stalwarts for DJ sets and club music nights, such as Club Acapulco which is located within the Acapulco Resort itself, and even some of the hotels have some good nightspots like the Zeta Club at the Jasmine Court Hotel. Slightly further east, you also have the Mansion Club which has been opened by the Malpas Hotel, with a beachfront location and chilled out décor and decent DJs. In Famagusta, you have Lions Gardens , which is a huge complex offering more than just a club venue. It carries on throughout the year with international DJ sets, and it finds a wide variety of excuses to hold various parties! Some of the bigger hotels such as the Salamis Conti and Bilfer Palm Beach, also have their own disco facilities. To get in to any clubs in Northern Cyprus, you have to be aged 18 or over and should carry some ID with you if you think you look younger. Lads do have to pay to get into some of the clubs, whereas girls often get in for free. Taxis are always around, and the clubs should look after you by calling one if you require, but bear in mind that there are also water taxi services to take people back to Kyrenia. Top Things To Do > Cycling Trails With perfect weather conditions, varied and challenging terrain, and beautiful scenery, Northern Cyprus is a firm favourite for leisurely and competitive cycling, all year round. Enthusiasts love the island’s rugged character, which can go from rocky to clay, and steep to flat, within the space of 10km. Whether venturing out on your own or following one of the myriad of routes, the roads ahead unfold across scenic urban, rural, mountainous and coastal terrain, with plenty to discover along the way. You'll find all manner of sights including streams, forests, quaint villages, the natural, the cultural and the historical, and it's easy to end up somewhere delightfully unexpected. Biking Holidays Biking holidays are becoming more and more popular and many travel agents offer these. A typical itinerary would be something like this: DAY 1 - Start in Famagusta DAY 2 - Famagusta by bike DAY 3 - Famagusta - Salamis - Bogaz DAY 4 - Cross Karpaz peninsula to Karpaz Gate Marina DAY 5 - North coast then inland to Dipkarpaz DAY 6 - Through Karpaz National Park - Cape Andreas DAY 7 - Cycle then drive to Kyrenia via Kantara DAY 8 - Trip ends Kyrenia This tour would cycle 177km over 5days (an average of 35km per day), but you could extend that by a further 70km if you wish. Bike is typically a 21 gear mountain bike with front suspension, water bottle holder and facility to fit your own pedals or saddle if you wish . Spare parts and maintenance would be taken care of. All you'd need to bring is your own head gear. Biking Trails Extensive biking trails span from the west to to Karpaz. Along these trails, you'll find agricultural fields, pine forests and carob and olive orchards in the Akdeniz Protected Area. The trails in these areas are mostly flat and smooth dirt roads among the fields, and sandy and rocky trails along the coastline. The Kyrenia Mountain Range offers a wide variety of trails at different levels of difficulty. There are two fairly flat roads which provide alternatives for the more difficult dirt roads with many ups and downs. The trails are mostly through Pine forests, along the North and South facing slopes with views over the Mediterranean Sea and Mesaoria Plain . The mountain range extends into the Karpaz Peninsula and the trails become less steep here and reach the famous Apostolos Andreas Monastery near the tip of the Island. The network is comprised of 580 km of trails covering the Northern part of the island. Boards with maps and information about the area are installed at most of the trail heads, and all trails are marked with white and green signs to make them easier to follow. The trails are all connected to each other and intertwine, allowing you to choose the best path for you and completely personalise your biking experience. Top Trails Alevkaya Bellapais-Buffavento Restaurant Buffavento Castle Catalkoy to Besparmak Karmi to St Hilarion Karsiyaka to Lapta Kyrenia Muntains to Alevkaya Lapta Coastal Walkway Top Things To Do > Diving Northern Cyprus has one of the longest diving seasons in the Med, with crystal clear waters giving visibility up to 30m and the most exciting reef formations. The warm water around North Cyprus attracts marine life from the Red Sea, via the Suez Canal, and gets washed in by the gentle currents. You’ll find an unbelievable variety of fish such as Stingrays, Grouper, Scorpion, Amberjacks and Wrasse. Coral and sponges grow in abundance and among the rocks lurk eel and octopus. It’s also a major breeding ground of Green and Loggerhead Turtle, so this is one of the few places where divers can swim with turtles. There’s more than 20 unique diving sites east and west of Kyrenia as well as diving safaris to other places along the coast or to the south of the island. You can try scuba diving for the first time; take a basic PADI course; or go for one of the speciality courses available. Private groups and families are catered for and dry suits ensure dives won’t be spoiled if the water temperature falls below comfortable. Equipment available to rent or buy: Regulators, BCD's, Masks, Fins, Snorkels, Dry/wet suits, Boots, Gloves. Services available by qualified technicians : Servicing, Repairs, Hydrostatic Tank Testing, Air Fills. PADI , The world's largest diver training organisation has authorised centres in Northern Cyprus offering: Try Dive and Bubble Makers - First underwater experience for children 8+. Discover Scuba Diving - 1st step diver education. Min age: 10 Open Water Diver Course - Entry-level. Trains to be qualified to dive anywhere to a maximum depth of 18 meters. Advanced Open Water Dive r - Extension of the Open water Course. Qualifies diving to a maximum of 30 meters. Emergency First Response (EFR) - CPR & First Aid. Recognised by UK HSE and can be used in the work place. EFR Instructor - Qualifies you to teach CPR and first aid. Rescue Diver Course - Teaches to organise and assist in a diving emergency and how to administer oxygen. Divemaster Course - Leadership training and professional membership of PADI. Assistant Instructor Course - Preparation for Open Water Scuba Instructor training. Instructor - Qualifies you to teach and certify PADI Scuba programmes, enrol on speciality courses or start a new business. IDC Staff Instructor - Prepares you to shape the next generation of PADI Professionals. Some of the Speciality Courses available in Northern Cyprus: Boat Diving Underwater Navigation Deep Diving Underwater Naturalist Fish ID Wreck Diving Equipment Specialist Night Diving Digital Underwater Photography Nitrox Emergency Oxygen Provider Underwater Naturalist Underwater Navigation Example of a dive site - Zenobia Around 2:30am on 7 June 1980, the Zenobia capsized and sank in Larnaca Bay, 1500 meters from the shore, at a depth of roughly 42m/138ft, taking her estimated £200 million worth of cargo with her. There were no casualties in the disaster. The wreck is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 recreational dive sites worldwide. As a dive site, Zenobia provides a wide range of challenges, from a fairly simple dive to 16m depth along the starboard side of the ship, to a more advanced dive inside the upper car deck and accommodation block, right up to extremely adventurous dives within the lower car deck or the engine room, which are only suitable for very experienced divers. Day trips to the Zenobia dive site can be organised from Northern Cyprus. Departing around 6.20am and arriving back about 3:30pm, the trip includes two dives and a BBQ lunch. Other Dive Sites Ancient Wreck – the ship sank in this area more than two thousand years old. The wreck was discovered in 1965 and restored by underwater archeologists. The remains of the 15m long vessel lie at a depth of 24m. Diving here is for the history, rather than for marine life. Location: Kyrenia Type of dive: boat dive Sea bed: sand Requirements: BSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced Open Water Bambi – this is a shallow (14m) and easy dive, ideal for beginners. It's a more or less flat area and can be a good location for night dives. Divers can admire a beautiful 150m long reef, large boulders, colourful fish and other marine organisms. Even turtles can be seen in this area. Location: Kyrenia Type of dive: shore dive Sea bed: sand Requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open Water Fred – this site offers beautiful coral formations, but the real attractions here are the friendly fish such as groupers, breams and triggerfish, waiting for food that divers bring (boiled eggs, bread). The depth ranges from 13m to 29m. Location: Girne Type of dive: shore/boat dive Sea bed: rock Requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open Water Karpaz Wreck – the wreck lies at a maximum depth of 16m. Divers can also admire picturesque scenery with colourful sponges and abundant marine life. There is a wide cave at a depth of 28m in this area. Location: Karpaz Peninsula Type of dive: boat dive Sea bed: sand Requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open Water Paradise – this is a deep and excellent dive. With a depth ranging from 24m to 43m it's a diving paradise. Reef, walls, holes, canyons and abundant marine life. Location: Sunset Beach (Kyrenia) Type of dive: boat dive Sea bed: rock Requirements: BSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced Open Water Pinocchio – the scenery here is very picturesque, with boulders and rock formations, colourful sea slugs and abundant fish species. The average depth is 20m. Location: Sunset Beach (Kyrenia) Type of dive: boat dive Sea bed: rock Requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open Water Diver Zephyros – the main attractions are large reef systems, unique rock formations and old anchors. Maximum depth is 32m but there is also much to see at 20m. This dive site is good both for beginners and advanced divers. Location: Sunset Beach (Kyrenia) Type of dive: boat dive Sea bed: rock Requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open Water Zephyros – the main attractions are large reef systems, unique rock formations and old anchors. Maximum depth is 32m but there is also much to see at 20m. This dive site is good both for beginners and advanced divers. Location: Sunset Beach (Kyrenia) Type of dive: boat dive Sea bed: rock Requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open Water Zeyko – Main attraction is a beautiful reef and some magnificent rock formations (walls, holes). Colourful sponges, corals and fish species make this dive a good choice. The depth ranges from 12m to 40m. Location: Kyrenia harbour Type of dive: boat dive Sea bed: rock Requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open Water Northern Cyprus Diving Centres Amphora Dive Centre North Cyprus British Scuba Centre Scuba Cyprus Dive Hub Blue Dolphin Top Things To Do > Eating Out Top Things To Do > Fishing Offshore fishing is available at either Sunrise or Sunset and you should allow up to 5 hours for the trip. All fishing tackle, safety equipment and refreshments are usually supplied, and catches include Albacore Tuna, Bluefin Tuna, Skipjack Tuna, Bonito, Mediterranean Spearfish and Dorado. Private trips can be arranged and fishing is year round with catch depending on season. Friend Ship North Cyprus Ex 737 pilot Captain Bekir Kasapoglu operates this 29’ boat, powered by twin 115 HP Mercury engines. Accommodates up to 8 and features a toilet, kitchen, fridge, multi-media system, & tons of seating. GPS and Fish Finder help locate targets & the live well keeps bait fresh. Beginners, pros, or families are all welcome. The warm Mediterranean waters are home to plenty of delicious Tuna including Skipjack, Dogtooth, and Bluefin. You’ll also have your shot at Grouper, Barracuda, and Mahi Mahi. Capt. Bekir brings all the gear you need, as well are lures and fishing licenses. Snacks and drinks are provided so you can fully relax and enjoy your time. At the end of the trip, he’s happy to clean and fillet any catch you choose to keep. For a truly unique experience, choose a trip that includes a visit to Capt. Bekir’s restaurant, where you’ll prepare and enjoy your fresh catch in an authentic environment. Friend Ship North Cyprus really is a trip to remember! North Cyprus Fishing A 33’ Dawson flybridge operated by Australian Captain Dennis Davut , whose spent decades fishing there and in Cyprus. Accommodates 8; has twin 300 HP Cummins with a top speed of 30 knots; GPS; fish finder; A/C; cabin with kitchen; plenty of seating; private toilet; beds; quality Penn and Shimano fishing gear; fighting chair; tuna tubes to keep your bait fresh; and outriggers to extend your reach. On half day excursions, expect Jacks, Common Pandora, Barracuda and Yellowtail. Full day excursions expect Swordfish, Tuna, Dusky Grouper, Mahi Mahi, and Spearfish. Children 8+ welcome. Life jackets provided for everyone. Most Popular Features: Live Bait, You Keep Catch, Drinks, Toilet, Child Friendly, Air Conditioning, Ice Box, Rods, Reels & Tackle, Fighting Chair, Food (Lunch & Snacks). Targeted species: Amberjack, Barracuda (Great), Common Pandora, Dolphin (Mahi Mahi). Fishing techniques: Light Tackle, Heavy Tackle, Bottom Fishing, Trolling, Jigging, Popping, Deep Sea. Trip includes: Rods, Reels, Tackle, Penn & Shimano, Live Bait, Lures, Snacks, Drinks, First Mate, Lunch. Cyprus Offshore Fishing Captain Barbaros Özkaptan operates from Kyrenia Hrbour with a 44’ Wellcraft boat with a top speed of up to 30 knots, thanks to twin Volvo engines, she can take up to 8 anglers. Professional navigational and safety gear on board; tuna tubes; outriggers; downriggers; fighting chair; A/C; toilet; shower; kitchen; beds; wheelchair accessible; multimedia system and a TV. Note that smoking on board is not allowed. Head north for Tuna, Swordfish, Grouper, Marlin, and whatever else crosses your path, and get ready for some jigging, trolling, deep dropping, and more. Charter covers all fishing gear including spearfishing equipment, as well as licenses, food, drinks, and catch cleaning. Just bring your lucky rod if you have one and an adventurous spirit! Most Popular Features: Fishing License, Live Bait, Catch Cleaning & Filleting, Drinks, Toilet, A/C, Ice Box, Rods, Reels & Tackle, Fighting Chair, Food (Lunch & Snacks). Captain Barbaros Özkaptan is a passionate fisherman with over 15 years fishing experience, including international offshore fishing tournaments. He specialises in putting his customers on top of the hottest bite that local waters can offer, and loves sharing his knowledge with his guests. Targeted species: Amberjack, Great Barracuda, Dolphin (Mahi Mahi), Dusky Grouper. Types of fishing: Offshore Fishing Fishing techniques: Trolling, Spinning, Jigging, Popping, Drift Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing Trip includes: Rods, Reels & Tackle, Live Bait, Lures, Catch Cleaning & Filleting, Snacks, Drinks, First Mate, Fishing License, Lunch, Fly Fishing Equipment Fishing With Ladyboss Captain Ozgur Gokasan , with his decades of experience, will make sure you have an incredible time fishing with him. You’ll spend the day on a 34’ custom built Turkish wooden boat that accommodates 6, has a 185 HP Perkins engine, and with her fishfinder, you’ll have your lines wet before you know it. Capt. Ozgur knows where the fish are and will get you trolling for Mahi Mahi, Bonito, and Tuna. This is a great opportunity for the whole family to get involved with fishing. Kids over 12 will love this rare opportunity to fish offshore. Fishing With Ladyboss fully supports sustainable fishing, so once you’ve caught more than you could possibly eat, they’ll ask you to catch and release the rest of your haul. Let the crew know which restaurant you’ll be taking your fish to. Sandwiches, snacks, and soft drinks are provided. If you fancy a stronger drink, you’re welcome to BYO. You’ll use Penn rods and reels, with Rapala lures. No live bait is used. Most Popular Features: License, You Keep Catch, Catch Cleaning & Filleting, Drinks, Toilet, Child Friendly, Ice Box, Food (Snacks). Ozgur Gokasan has been fishing his whole life and running charters for 20 years. He’s fished all over the world, from Turkey to South Africa to Florida. He loves targeting Tuba as it’s exciting to catch. Targeted species: Bonito, Dolphin (Mahi Mahi), Albacore Tuna, Skipjack Tuna. Fishing techniques: Trolling Trip includes: Catch cleaning & filleting, Snacks, Drinks, First Mate, Fishing License. Kn Fishing Stores Trips KN Fishing Stores are retailers of fishing tackle equipment in Larnaca and Nicosia. Captain Constantinos combines selling fishing tackle with knowledge of fishing to provide a team of passionate fishermen. The 18’ Aquamar boat is located at Larnaca Marina. accommodates 4 and is powered by twin 90 HP Suzuki engines with a maximum speed of 25 knots. Along with necessary navigational and safety equipment, the boat also features a live bait tank, ice box, tuna tubes, and downriggers. You’ll explore nearshore and offshore fishing spots, targeting a variety of fish species, such as Mahi Mahi, Barracuda, Snapper, Grouper, Amberjack, and Tuna. You can keep the catch after the trip, so pick a restaurant where you want to take the catch and have it prepared. Taking a trip with a crew that runs a tackle shop has its perks. They’ll provide tip-top equipment, so you’ll know you’re using the best quality gear. You only need to purchase your fishing license and prepare some snacks and drinks for the day. Enjoy this unusual day at Cyprus and catch some tasty fish on the way! SEAze The Day – Larnaca Captains Panayiotis, Andreas, and Nicolas are brothers who share the same passion for life on the ocean. They’re locals with years of experience in fishing and diving, know every corner of this island, the best fishing spots it has to offer and launch from 5 different marinas. From Larnaca Bay you can expect deeper, sandy waters with multiple reefs and target giant Amberjack, Grouper, Dentex, Pargus, and more. There’s a limit of 3 kilos of fish that you can keep, so make sure the ones you take taste great. The captain will clean and fillet your catch for you. Once you get back to the marina, he’ll recommend a great local restaurant where you can have your fish prepared in a traditional way. “Arkalos,” is an 18’ inflatable DiveRib boat. She can accommodate up to 4 guests and can take you to the fishing spots very quickly and comfortably. This high-speed boat can reach a maximum speed of 40 knots and reach offshore spots within 30 minutes. Snorkelling equipment is also available free of charge. If you’re interested in using it, just make sure to mention it in advance, so everything can be prepared in time. Fishing adventures with SEAze The Day are available year-round. Top Things To Do > Fruit Picking Top Things To Do > Go Karting For anyone used to European go-karting tracks full of scruffy piles of tyres and less than glamorous facilities, North Cyprus go-karting tracks will come as a very pleasant surprise. Go-karting is for young and old, ages 7 to 70, and gives you the thrills of motor-racing without the need for Formula 1 major sponsorship deals. The single engine karts zip around at speeds of up to 90kmp, and being close to the ground, hug the corners far more effectively than a normal car. It’s as much about skill as speed, as any F1 fan will tell you, so youngsters can enjoy trying their go-karting driving skills in a safe and well-monitored environment. So, when the beaches have warmed you to perfection, and you feel the need for speed, here’s where to go karting: Zet Karting There can be few go-karting tracks that are set in a botanical garden, but the Zet Karting track is one such facility. The Zet Karting circuit was built to meet international standards as laid down by the go-karting governing bodies, the CIK and FIA. Safety barriers are erected for maximum protection for drivers as well as spectators with fire extinguisher placed at strategic places for safety precautions and a fully equipped First Aid room in line with International Safety regulations. This family-run go-karting centre is suitable for both first-time drivers and experienced go-karters, thanks to its excellent design and range of facilities. It’s no surprise to discover that the family who built the centre really love their karting; their father raced saloon cars in Britain before the family moved to North Cyprus. It soon became apparent that the family’s love of karting was outgrowing the streets and bus garages where they raced, so they clubbed together to set up the island’s proper karting circuit. The Zet Karting circuit is 1200 metres long and 7 metres wide, and you can race in one of five different track modes; from 300 metres to 1200 metres. You can even race at night thanks to a very efficient floodlighting system. There are two kinds of karts available; the 120cc single engine karts for those aged 7 to 14, which can reach speeds of 40kmp, and the 270cc single engine karts for adults, which can reach speeds of 90kmp. The kids will love zipping around the 300-metre circuit, specially designed with them in mind. The central control tower keeps a computer record of very lap time and speed, so you can analyse your performance after each race, and plan how to race better next time. The centre also has a bar and cafeteria, and in a typically North Cyprus touch, a barbeque serving local dishes as well as international ones. The fully airconditioned Bar is open for special occasions, such as Theme Nights and Birthday parties.You can also take professional karting lessons here and even race Remote Controlled cars if you prefer not to be in the driving seat. Cemsa Karting Located in North Nicosia. and 5 minutes away from the city centre, the 1650m outdoor circuit is designed to CIK/FIA standards and open 7 days a week. They also offer a wide range of services to companies and institutions, from small organizations to large tournaments. With the timing system, you can compare your scores at the end of the race with those of your friends and improve yourself. If you want, you can continue this sport with professional go-karts accompanied by trainers, participate in championships and develop your own career. Don't forget that even master Formula 1 drivers are trained in Karting. Maxmile Power Go Karting If you're thinking about where to go except pool and sea, call out your friends and meet at Max Mile Go Karting in Famagusta. Wear your flat cap and choose your go kart one by one then get ready to a cut throat competition! Max Mile Power Go Karting invite you to Famagusta to have a great, fun karting competition! In the last thirty years, karting has evolved from a simple weekend pastime, to a nationally organized competitive form of motor sport. Yet a great deal of the original appeal of karting remains today. Karts are still the most inexpensive way to enjoy the thrills and excitement of motor racing. Whether you're looking for family fun or downright serious competition, the versatility of karting provides it all. Karting is fun, competitive and challenging. The first look at a kart is usually deceptive. It's hard to take anything so small seriously, yet closer scrutiny reveals that whilst a kart is simple in construction, it is quite sophisticated in design and theory. Top Things To Do > Golf Korineum Golf and Beach Resort The first golf hotel in North Cyprus, set in beautiful countryside, surrounded by umbrella pines and olive trees, between the impressive Five Finger Mountains and the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean, Korineum is the perfect vacation resort for golf, spa and dining experiences in Northern Cyprus. If you’re looking for a golf break away from the hustle and bustle of city life, then it’s a perfect location. High standards of accommodation, beautifully decorated and furnished rooms, an attractive outdoor pool and sumptuous spa facilities. These impressive amenities are everything you would expect from a top-class resort complex. Golfers will be delighted at the immaculately kept course and excellent practice facilities. Spreading over 6,232 meters this par 72 gem is designed for golfers of all ages and standards. Enjoy mountain and sea views from every hole, making for a breath-taking experience. The paspallum playing surface is maintained in excellent condition all year round, and with strategically placed bunkers and water hazards players face a true challenge. Five tees at each hole gives players of all abilities the opportunity to enjoy their round. Buggies are available, allowing play to be more relaxing but also giving players a chance to absorb the stunning natural beauty of the surrounding area. The beautifully manicured lawns and impeccably kept golf course are not the only marvels of the Resort. With a private beach and a deluxe Boutique Hotel, the experience offered is one of Celebrated Relaxation. The dramatic beauty of the Resort is sure to take your breath away with its stately grandeur. The landscape is carved from a natural forest of Umbrella Pines, Carob and Olive trees and will ease you into the steady beat of island life. If you’re picturing blue skies, acres of green, a delightful drink and a good book, then you’re envisaging Korineum. Top Things To Do > Hiking Self-Guided Hiking Tour This is a must-do day trip if you're in the Kyrenia area and have some extra time! The hike is not long (4.5 miles), but it’s all above 2,000 feet so, while it’s challenging, it’s also one of the best day trips which can be tailor made to suit your requirements. What's Included Bottled water Air-conditioned vehicle Hiking shoes or hiking boots Walking poles Your guide will meet you at your hotel in Kyrenia the evening before your hike, to finalise details and ensure all your questions are answered. Pick up can also be arranged from Nicosia, Larnaca, Bafra and Limassol hotels, The hike begins above the village, passing through a young pine underwood. Gorgeous views over the shore and the Mesaoria plain will please your eye until the walk ends in the small village of Kantara, where you can enjoy a break and some cold refreshments at the Kantara Restaurant. The walk then continues as an undulating track to the Crusader Castle of Kantara. The enormous castle rises 650m above sea level at the beginning of the Karpaz peninsula. On a clear day, you can spot Cape Zafer, Türkiye, in the distance. 7-day Hiking Trip Kyrenia to Kyrenia Adventure is calling you for a seven-day hiking trip that’ll have you experiencing this incredible region like many never do. Discover beaches, forests and villages on foot around the Kyrenia Mountains, a breath-taking range along the northern coast that’s still mostly a cherished local secret. Travel Style: Active - made for outdoor types. Service Level: Standard - Comfortable tourist-class accommodations with character; mix of public and private transport. Physical Rating: 3 - Average. Trip Type: Small Group - Maximum 16, Average 12. Age requirement: 12+. Under18s must be accompanied by an adult. Itinerary Day 1 In the evening, meet your fellow travellers and choose whether to head out for dinner with the group. Day 2 Discover Kyrenia on today's walks through the Old Town, Kyrenia Castle and the nearby town of Lapta. Visit Kyrenia's ancient harbourfront and stroll the seaside. Meals included: Breakfast Day 3 Travel east to the village of Esentepe, where few tourists visit and the local way of life moves at its own pace. With scenic trails through forested areas, enjoy a guided walk that ends at Antiphonitis Church, built as a monastery in the 12th century. Meals included: Breakfast Day 4 Visit Incircli Cave, the largest in Cyprus, rich with folklore and intricate rock formations. Continue to Kantara Castle, the first of two Crusader castle ruins to explore. Take a scenic walk down to the beach and enjoy free time for a swim. Meals included: Breakfast Day 5 Climb up to the ruins of St Hilarion Castle, a majestic maze of stone walls with a very famous lookout point. It's said that Walt Disney took inspiration for one of his fairy-tale castles here. Continue to Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus. Wander the Old Town and see the striking Selimiye Mosque and Arab Ahmet quarter. Visit a bakery and observe how traditional foods, such as lahmacun (dough topped with minced meat) and olive breads are made. Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch Day 6 Visit the ruins of Soli, one of the ten ancient kingdoms of Cyprus. Walk the steps of its Roman amphitheatre and admire its beautiful floor mosaics, dating back to the 6th century. Continue to the village of Lefke by hiking through a fertile valley filled with citrus trees. Meals included: Breakfast Day 7 Depart at any time. Meals included: Breakfast Top Things To Do > Horse Riding There are many beautiful ways to see Northern Cyprus, but what better way than to do it on horseback ? Seasoned rider or novice, you can take a trek with various organisations in a relaxed and safe environment. Horse riding and pony trekking in Northern Cyprus has been a popular pastime for hundreds of years, with families keeping horses as part of the family for travelling and pulling agricultural machinery. Today, horses are kept for trekking, showing and competition. Several riding clubs have flourished, and you can now find regular competitions across Northern Cyprus. Facilities are modern, up to date, and animals are well loved and cared for. Most riding clubs offer riding lessons within the club grounds, catering for beginners to advanced level, in spacious paddocks with jumping arenas. They’ll provide all the necessary head gear and advise you on how to go about getting into the saddle comfortably and safely. One of the nicest ways to travel on horseback in North Cyprus is by going on a hack, which can take you on really beautiful routes in the mountains. Here, you’ll take in views across the island, as well as ride past historical churches and other monuments. Hacks can be group or private, and guides will know the best and safest ways to navigate routes, as well as the less well-trodden tracks and paths. Depending on where you'd like to ride, there’s several clubs. More central and heading towards Lefkosa, is Besok Riding Club . They also have an animal farm for kids to enjoy. A little further along in Balıkesır is Yusuf Efendi Ciftliği , a long-established riding centre whose family has kept horses for 3 generations. In Famagusta area, you’ll find the Royal Riding Club , not far from the sea. This is a very active riding club comprising all ages, which regularly holds its own competitions as well as competing in wider events. Last, is the wonderful Ranch , located west of Kyrenia, in Karsiyaka. Promoted also as a Petting Farm, the place buzzes with activity, from ducklings to donkeys. A very popular place for local residents and holidaymakers. Top Things To Do > Jeep Safari A fun and exciting jeep adventure, exploring the Kyrenia Mountain range of North Cyprus. Discover an abandoned tank, deserted monasteries and some of the most spectacular views North Cyprus has to offer and make sure you bring your camera! We can’t promise you lions, tigers and bears, but we can promise you a great day out. A fun and safe off-road 4x4 adventure takes you on a scenic tour of the Kyrenia mountain range. Experienced and knowledgeable drivers will take you on an adventurous, yet safe, trip into the hidden heart of Northern Cyprus. Jeep Safari is a friendly, informative, cultural and fun experience, suitable for all the family, with amazing views and hidden places. A truly adventurous and exciting experience not to be missed! INCLUDES Pick up and drop off at hotel Off road 4X4 Jeep Safari adventure Refreshing breezes and a cooler temperature in the mountains Visits to a deserted village, a memorial tank, forgotten churches and abandoned monasteries Breathtaking views Spectacular scenery Nature & wildlife Cypriot lunch at a rural beach restaurant AVAILABLE Tuesday to Sunday DURATION 0930 to 1530 Check when booking if swimming costumes are needed, as during the hotter months it includes a beach stop. During peak season, June - September, book early to avoid disappointment. Top Things To Do > Luxury Hotels Top Things To Do > Markets Northern Cyprus's farmer markets are unique in their long history, and they also have a rather strange work schedule. Many years ago, local farmers had a tradition of taking their products to the surrounding cities for sale, and this tradition still exists today. The market begins on Wednesday in Girne, then moves to Famagusta on Thursday, Iskele on Friday, and Lefkosha on Saturday and Sunday. The market opens at 10:00 a.m. and closes at 16:00-18:00 p.m. There, you'll find a wide variety of fruits and vegetables grown by local farmers, as well as spices, nuts, and candies. Pay close attention to the sellers of fresh local fish and seafood. You'll also find authentic Turkish coffee in a variety of grinds and varieties. Also, you can find clothing, bedding, and even carpets at a very attractive price. A great tip, beginning from 16:00, vegetable and fruit sellers offer huge discounts on their fruits and vegetables. However, starting from 16:00, all other goods are likely to be packed or transported to another city. Lambousa Market The Chateau Lambousa Saturday Market is a must to visit whether you're visiting North Cyprus for a short time or you spend your life here. It offers a cheerful atmosphere where locals trade with one another. You are sure to find someting you might like among the range of goods available at this market. Antiques, clothes, books, plants, jewelry and many more. The market is open from dawn till noon every Saturday. Early birds get the worm! go there early before all the good ones are taken. The market is situated behind the Chateau Lambousa hotel in Lapta, Kyrenia. Top Things To Do > Painting Classes Explore the world of Art Island Studio provides an environment for children and adults to explore the world of art. It’s led the way inbuilding quality art lessons for art lovers or first timers. Classes are to learn, socialise, have fun, relax or be as creative as you can be. Previous classes include acrylic painting, life modelling, still life painting and drawing, marbling paper, watercolour techniques, and drawing with soft pastels and charcoal. Newer classes are oil painting and glass painting, with many more to come. If you’d like to join a class, all you need to do is to show up. Island Studio provides all necessary materials to accommodate you in the art class. It also provides painting parties with a minimum of 4 persons to a maximum of 8 people. Painting parties are usually held on Fridays from 6:30 to 8:30. Art classes are held on Saturdays from 10:00 to 12:00. Private lessons are avaiable upon request. Island Studio is located in Ozankoy, Kyrenia. Also check out Art Gallery Cyprus . Top Things To Do > Quad Bikes Cyprus is a very popular destination and thousands visit every year to relax on the beach and get some sunshine. Quad bike safaris are a great way to spice up your holiday by getting some excitement in a controlled and safe environment. This activity is suitable for all ages and is a great way to explore beyond the beach as they take you into the interior of this beautiful island. 2-Hour Village Tour About the trek: First is a demonstration of how to operate and safely ride your quad bike, then you’ll be given all relevant safety equipment. You’ll start on flat tarmac, progress to dirt tracks, then be led off through the traditional villages of Voroklini, Kellia, Troulli and Pyla which is located on the buffer zone. On tour, you‘ll experience the untamed countryside in a way you’ve never seen before, covering over 50km of terrain through mountain trails, farm treks and country roads, with stunning views and scenery. Trained staff will guide you on a 2+ hour awe-inspiring trip with 2 stops for resting. Continue through the hidden beauty and magnificent picturesque Cyprus which can only be achieved by a self-driven quad bike. Tours can also be tailored to ensure groups of all ages an experience of their own adventure! Half-Day Village Tour About the trek: Turn your stay in Cyprus into an adventure that you’ll not soon forget. See some of the most incredible scenery seen by very few. The Half-Day Village Tour takes you through beautiful villages, areas with mountain and sea views. During uour ride you’ll have 3 stops for resting and lunch in a traditional Cypriot tavern. Join the hundreds of satisfied first timers and repeater customers who chose Quad Bike tours with confidence. Fun and excitement is guaranteed for singles, couples and families. This half-day tour includes safety briefing. Top Things To Do > Rock Climbing Garga Suyu Rock climbing is a sport in which participants climb up or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. Named after the nearby spring ‘Garga Suyu ’, the massive rock outcrop on the Kyrenia to Buffavento main road, is the birthplace of rock climbing in North Cyprus. The climbing area has 15 climbing routes which lead up the rugged cliff, parallel to an impressive cave on the rock face. With a 5-minute easy approach from the main road, this climbing area attracts a small but growing group of rock-climbing enthusiasts. Getting ready for a climb, Görkem ties a ‘figure 8 knot’ to secure his harness to the climbing rope while Sertunç is watching. Bolt is a point of protection permanently installed in a hole drilled into the rock, to which a metal hanger is attached, having a hole for a carabiner or ring. Görkem is the lead climbing, while Sertunç is belaying on the ground. Görkem is collecting the express sets (carabiner pairs) on his way down the route, after clipping the rope through the top anchor point. Physically connected to each other by the rope, the climber and the belayer connect in mind as well. Communication and trust between them is necessary for a safe and comfortable climb. Outdoor Artificial Climbing Wall Members of the Nature Sports Club in the Middle Eastern Technical University can test their skills on a difficult route on the outdoor artificial climbing wall. The 11-meter-high climbing wall offers numerous difficulty levels. Wall climbing is used as training for climbing on natural rock formations with most beginners introduced to climbing via an artificial climbing wall. Learning particular techniques and special moves are necessary to be able to ascend up routes with higher difficulty levels. Artificial Rock Walls Rock climbing can also be practiced on artificial rock walls, as well as on natural rock formations. The aim of rock-climbing is to safely reach an endpoint through a pre-defined route using ropes. In top-roping, an anchor is set up at the summit of a route, before the start of a climb. Rope is run through the anchor; one end attaches to the climber and the other to the belayer, who keeps the rope taut during the climb, and prevents long falls. This type of climbing is widely regarded as the safest type of climbing, with the lowest chance of injury. Rock climbing is a physically and mentally demanding sport requiring strength, endurance, agility and balance and mental control. It can be a dangerous sport, and knowledge of proper climbing techniques and usage of specialised climbing equipment is crucial for safe completion of routes. Kyrenia Mountains Rock Climbing In 2007, the leading rock-climbing enthusiasts of North Cyprus Nazife ‘Nazo’ Canıtez and İnan Taşlı invited the professional rock climbers of Türkiye, Tunç Fındık and Doğan Palut to open the first routes on the Kyrenia Mountains together. This pioneer group designated the Kartal Kayası rock outcrop to be the most suitable and accessible place, and installed climbing bolts to create the first climbing area in Northern Cyprus. Rock type is very important in designating climbing areas, as outcrops must be free of easily crumbled rocks, which may break during a climb. The Kyrenia Mountains are particularly suitable for rock climbing as there are plenty of outcrops of very strong dolomitic limestones, mostly recrystallized and brecciated. Lead climbing In lead climbing, one person, called the “leader”, will climb from the ground up, with rope directly attached to their harness (not through a top anchor). The second person, “belays” the leader by feeding out enough rope to allow upward progression without undue slack. As the leader progresses, they clip the rope through intermediate points of protection (bolts,) with quick express carabiners, to limit the length of a potential fall. Top Things To Do > Water Sports A must of your holiday in North Cyprus is water sports. The lure of the clear blue waters of the warm Mediterranean Sea is almost irresistible, so there’s plenty of water sports on offer to make the most of this fantastic aquatic playground. Most seaside hotels offer water sports or you can take part in them via specialist firms at Kyrenia or other ports. Windsurfing The north coast is ideal for windsurfing, with enough wind to enjoy yourself without being blown to Turkey. Beginners can learn in calm coves where errors only mean a dip in the sea. The main windsurfing hire companies and training schools are based west of Kyrenia and at resort hotels near Salamis. For stronger winds, expert windsurfers should head off the capes and ride the waves in style. Jet skiing You might need a driving licence to hire a jet ski, but once you do these mean machines are great fun to zip around the coastline, but make sure you avoid any nesting turtle beaches or military zones. Kyrenia has jet skis available for hire for use off its 1km long sandy beach, and the public beach at Glapsides north of Famagusta also have jet skis to hire. Power boating North Cyprus powerboat trips come complete with an experienced driver. Just sit back and enjoy the ride as the magnificent coastline of Northern Cyprus flies past in a flurry of spray. Canoeing Canoes can be hired from most major hotels, and for a peaceful paddle around the coast they can’t be beaten. Ideal for spotting fish or swimming turtles, without even getting wet! Sailing/Yachting Courses can be found in the local harbour towns. Sailing is a very calm and tranquil way of skirting the coastline, with the summer weather meaning the seas are extremely calm. It’s become a very popular pastime since the first Eastern Mediterranean Yacht Rally in 1990 which visited North Cyprus as part of its route, and is now a major feature of the yachting calendar featuring around 100 vessels. Water Parks Another favourite for kids and adults alike. The Oscar and Acapulco Resorts to the east of Kyrenia, both have great water slide parks to spend hours mucking around in, with slides, huge pools, flumes and even organised daily pool activities for children in the summer. Both are open to non-residents of the hotel for a fee. On the west coast of Kyrenia there’s the slide park and wave pool at the Club Lapethos in Lapta, or in Famagusta there is the Club Exotic which has a slide park. Paragliding As you soar like a bird with a para glider, the umbrellas lined up on the bright white beach and the colour of the turquoise blue sea make you feel like you’re looking at a giant tourist brochure. Swimming There’s plenty of places to have a dip in the Med, and you can either drive along the coast to find secluded and sheltered spots, or spend the day at one of the many beach clubs around the central areas. There’s indoor and outdoor pools at the major hotels that are also open to non-residents, normally free if you have a bite to eat while you’re there. Other Water Sports Yes, there’s more! You can also hire a water bicycle, go tubing, knee boarding, wake boarding and almost any other kind of boarding you can imagine! Just ask your hotel reception for details, or see what everyone else is doing on the beach. Water skiing and Mono-skiing Beginners are well catered for since the sea is usually calm and warm for those inevitable spills. Beach tuition is available, experienced skiers are also welcome and you can also mono-ski. Banana Boats The only skill needed for these fun rides is the ability to hang on tight and scream a lot. Fun for all the family, these rides are very popular on the beaches. Just pop on a life jacket and join in the fun. What holiday video would be complete without footage of a banana ride? Top Things To Do > Zipline Top

North Cyprus Experiences - Foodie, Sightseeing, Nature, Things To Do, Culture, Health, Property, Locations, General Information Guides > Experiences > Below are some of the fabulous experiences North Cyprus offers. How to Make Cypriot Coffee / Kibris kahvesi / κυπριακο καφέ Play Video Easiest Flaouna, Pilavuna bread (Cyprus Cheese, Halloumi / Hellim & Eggs Savoury Snack) Play Video How To Drink Yeni Raki Play Video How to peel and eat Prickly Pear or Cactus Fruit in Cyprus. The Art of Peeling Prickly Pear Play Video Foodie Watch Now Share Whole Channel This Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Share Channel Info Close Discover Buyuk Han, Cyprus Play Video Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque (Saint Nicholas's Cathedral), Famagusta, Northern Cyprus Play Video Porta Del Mare (Sea Gate) Famagusta, Gazimagusa Play Video Varosha,Ghost town, Famagusta by drone Phantom 3 Play Video Sightseeing Watch Now Share Whole Channel This Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Share Channel Info Close We are the champions ! Ranch Riders celebrate victory ! Play Video North Cyprus Wedding short film Play Video 3 EPIC Mountain Hikes in Northern Cyprus Play Video FISHING in NORTH CYPRUS with LADYBOSS Play Video Things To Do Watch Now Share Whole Channel This Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Share Channel Info Close Travel North Cyprus with Cansu - Orange Festival Play Video Fazıl Say Concert Play Video The Truth About the Evil Eye - Your Guide to a Powerful Good Luck Charm! 🌟🔮 | Stay Protected Play Video Cittaslow North Cyprus Play Video Culture Watch Now Share Whole Channel This Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Share Channel Info Close North Cyprus Health System Episode 3 Play Video North Cyprus Health System Episode 4 Play Video North Cyprus - Carrington's Spa full movie Play Video North Cyprus Health System Episode 5 Play Video Health Watch Now Share Whole Channel This Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Share Channel Info Close The sunset View, From Besparmak Mountains, Northern Cyprus Play Video Tulipa cypria - Cyprus tulip, Τουλίπα η κυπρία - Κορμακίτης - Endemic to Cyprus - 19/3/2023 Play Video Cypriot blunt-nosed viper Play Video North Cyprus Water Project Play Video Nature Watch Now Share Whole Channel This Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Share Channel Info Close Interview with an investor in North Cyprus | Elections in Turkey | Earthquakes Play Video Visit Thalassa Beach Resort & Spa in Virtual Reality! Play Video Cyprus Residencies, North Cyprus Play Video Property Watch Now Share Whole Channel This Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Share Channel Info Close Savyon Village, Catalkoy, North Cyprus Play Video Lefke, North Cyprus Play Video Wonderful view of Zeytinlik- Cihanara Tourism & Investment Play Video LAPTA, North Cyprus Trailer | Nordzypern , Кипр. Drone Cyprus. Play Video Locations Watch Now Share Whole Channel This Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Share Channel Info Close Why school education in North Cyprus is the best for your kids? Play Video North Cyprus, 300 days of summer! Play Video Ercan Airport Play Video Travel North Cyprus with Cansu - Places for Kids In North Cyprus Play Video General Information Watch Now Share Whole Channel This Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Share Channel Info Close Venedik Sütunu (The Venetian Column), Lefkoşa/Nicosia Play Video Varosha,Ghost town, Famagusta by drone Phantom 3 Play Video Soli Ruins / Soli Harabeleri Play Video Salamis Harabeleri ve Amfitiyatro - Gazimağusa / Kuzey Kıbrıs Havadan Çekim Play Video All Videos Watch Now Share Whole Channel This Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Share Channel Info Close Top

Multiple qualitative tools to track website performance, understand website visitors' on-site behavior, identify experience breakages, connect with individual visitors for feedback and suggestions, and then utilize all the insights to optimize the site

Whats On In TRNC Privacy Policy Outling Scope, Information Collected, How Information is used, Sharing and disclosure, Data Retention, Cookies, International Transfers Turquoisebaycyprus.com / Turquoisebaycyprus.org - Privacy Policy This Privacy Policy explains what personal information turquoisebaycyprus.com / turquoisebaycyprus.org("we", "us", "our") collect, use, share and otherwise process about individuals ("you") interacting with our Offerings ("Information").Under the laws of some countries, we may need your consent to our processing of your Information set forth in this Privacy Policy. Subject to any indications you may give us to the contrary, such as opting out or not opting in if asked, and where permitted by law, by providing Information or otherwise interacting with our Offerings, you consent to our use of Information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. SCOPE OF THIS PRIVAC Y POLICY Please read this policy carefully. It explains the types of Information we may collect about you, the purposes for and methods by which we collect it, and (where applicable) the lawful basis on which we do so, as well as information about data retention, your rights and how to contact us. This Privacy Policy covers both our online and offline data processing activities, including Information that we collect through our various Offerings such as those set out below: Digital Services: Our websites, including activities run through our websites; Mobile apps, including activities run through our apps, such as those listed for our websites; Subscription services or other streaming services offered by us to consumers and services where you receive our audio-visual content through our websites, mobile apps and/or via a service provided by a third party, such as an internet service provider, pay TV platform or mobile phone operator; Console games; and Our pages/channels/accounts on third party social networks. Events you attend as a consumer or guest (as opposed to in a business capacity), marketing and influencer events, focus group or user tests and private events held at our premises or studios under hire. Please note that we may combine Information that we collect via one source with Information we collect via another source (e.g., a mobile app, one of our different companies or a third party (as further described below. Certain of our Offerings may not be operated by us but by a third-party licensee or app store; any processing of your personal information by such a licensee or app store is not subject to this Privacy Policy, so please check carefully whether the relevant terms and conditions refer to one of our companies or not. INFORMATION WE MAY COLLECT We collect, use, share and otherwise process the following categories of Information: 1) Information we may collect from you: Registration, account, and sign-up Information, including information about you when you register or sign up with us for one of our Offerings (e.g., name, username, password, email, contact details, date of birth or age, interest in our content, etc.). Information about your purchase of an Offering, including relevant payment information (e.g., credit card information). We may also process Information about trial periods, redemptions of rewards or promotions, periods without an active subscription, payment history and any missed payments. Information about your use of, or participation in an Offering, including information about whether you have opened an email we have sent you, how you (including any account you use) interact with a Digital Service, content that you have viewed or posted, advertisements you have interacted with, games you have played and the level you reached, your preferences and interest in and use of various features, programs, services and content available on a Digital Service. This may also include demographic information, including at an individual or household level. Information you provide when participating in consumer surveys, research studies or focus group tests, including online or written replies and where applicable the recording of your audio or video interviews. Entries to promotions, competitions, prize-draws or calls to action, including images, videos and text. Camera access, including where for some Digital Services, we ask for permission to access your device's camera. If you grant permission, you may be able to take pictures or video within the app experience, to send them to us, or to access certain augmented reality ("AR") features. Some of these features may rely on camera systems to track movements of your eyes and other facial features or your immediate surroundings to apply AR effects. Sensitive data, including where you choose to share Information as part of one of our Offerings, or where you provide Information during one of our surveys or feedback sessions, including, where permitted by applicable law, information relating to your physical or mental health, race or ethnicity, religious or philosophical beliefs, sex life or sexual orientation, or your political beliefs. In some Offerings that include dynamic entertainment features, we may with your consent and in accordance with applicable law, collect information such as via facial scanning, eye tracking, or skin response that may be considered biometric. Information about your social media engagement, including your interactions with our fan pages/channels/accounts in third party communities, forums, and social media sites, services, plug-ins, and applications ("Social Media Sites"). This may include posts, your 'likes' and other user-generated content that you may provide, as well as details about yourself such as your name, user ID, profile photo, birthday, and, where you allow us to, lists of friends and people you follow. For information about how you can customize your privacy settings on Social Media Sites, and how those Social Media Sites handle your personal information and content, please refer to their privacy help guides, privacy policies, and terms of use. Information shared on our public or community forums, including where you share photos, letters, videos or comments, while participating in online forums. Depending on your privacy settings, this Information or content and your username may become public on the Internet or within a community of users. We cannot prevent further use of this Information once you share it in a publicly available or community forum. Please refer to the specific forum's privacy policies for further information on how they handle your Information. Information about your location, including where it is derived from device information (such as an IP address or country code), your device's interactions with our Digital Services, or, with your consent, Information about your device's precise location (e.g. geolocation via mobile devices). Event Information, including images and clips, whether captured via a booth or by other means by us or a third party on our behalf, and other Information relating to the organisation and management of an event, such as food allergies and other individual requirements. Technical/usage Information from your device, including the type of device, browser, unique device identifier, operating system, internet provider, mobile device identifier and/or mobile advertising identifier, connected device identifier (including that of a connected television), IP address, network attributes, television device and application attributes and settings, and other device or browser attributes and settings. Information about your customer queries, including when you contact us through one of our customer helpdesks, email addresses, customer service chat boxes, forms or ticketing systems, Social Media Sites and customer call-centres, where calls may be recorded. 2) Information we may collect about you, from other sources, including friends: Information from other sources. On occasion, we combine Information with other online information we receive, including usage information about your interactions with other websites and with online advertising and media. We also supplement or combine Information with Information from a variety of other sources or outside records, including third-party data providers that provide us with Information such as demographics, transaction and purchase history; Information about the content and advertisements you interact with. We may also receive Information about you from your friends who invite you to interact with any of our Digital Services. We may receive Information from third parties with which you have a subscription agreement that includes access to our content or services. Information from friends. In certain situations, we may enable friends using our Offerings to provide Information about you. For example, someone can submit Information on our websites to invite you to participate in an Offering, make recommendations or share content through one of our apps, or have multiple players sharing the same game session. By processing these requests, we may receive your Information, including your name, contact details, or information about your interest in and use of our Offerings. HOW WE MAY USE THE INFORMATION We may use Information for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, or as otherwise disclosed at the time of collection. Below, we explain our various purposes, any processing activities that we believe may need further explanation and, where necessary, the 'lawful basis' on which we rely to process your Information.Please note that while Information may be processed for more than one purpose (e.g., Information we obtain when Providing Our Offering may also be used for Improving and Developing Our Offering and/or for Marketing and Personalized Advertising), not all of the purposes or processing activities below will necessarily apply in every case. Our particular use of your Information will depend on the Offering you engage with and the manner in which you interact with us, including the permissions you give us (e.g., whether or not you consent to certain uses, such as direct marketing) and other controls you exercise regarding our processing of your Information (e.g., whether or not you choose to opt-out, where this is offered). Your ability to control some of the purposes for which your Information is processed is described in the INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS REQUEST and COOKIES AND OTHER TECHNICAL INFORMATION sections below. Providing Our Offerings We may use your Information for the purpose of setting up your account with us, registering you for an Offering, enabling you to pay for it, providing the Offering, allowing you to participate in a promotion, competition, prize-draw or a call to action to submit UGC, or maintaining the Offering and resolving any issues. This may include enforcing applicable terms and conditions (e.g., for our subscription services, limitations on number of devices and displaying the right content based on location) and optimizing the delivery of the Offering to each specific device used to access it and to provide the "continue watching" feature on our subscription services.In countries where our processing of Information requires a lawful basis, we rely upon the following: Much of our processing, such as providing, and maintaining our Offerings, is necessary for entering into, or the performance of, the contract we have with you, including enabling new customers to sign-up or register with us and existing customers to log-in to our Digital Services. Other types of processing are necessary for our 'legitimate interests' (and those of others), including: Running our business, providing our Offerings and serving our customers; Contacting customers with important notices or updates; Contacting customers about their transactions, purchases and competition wins; Personalizing content and making recommendations for other content; Exercising and/or enforcing the rights granted to us under the terms and conditions of the Offering; Facilitating payment for our Offerings. For other types of processing, we may rely on your consent (where given). Improving and Developing Our Offerings We may use your Information for the purpose of analyzing, improving, personalizing and evaluating our Offerings and your use of them, as well as to develop new Offerings. This may include analyzing your responses to consumer surveys.In countries where our processing of Information requires a lawful basis, we rely upon the following: Some types of processing are necessary for our 'legitimate interests' (and those of others), including: Improving and developing our Offerings. Creating efficiencies in our business. Understanding consumer trends and interests, including through customer insights, market research, and measurement of content performance. Compiling statistics about the use of our Offerings. For other types of processing, we may rely on your consent (where given). Marketing and Personalized Advertising We may use your Information for the purpose of marketing and/or advertising our Offerings and those of our clients and partners. We may also aggregate information about users to create groups or categories of users, such as 'segments', to communicate with you about our offerings and let you know about our clients' and partners' offerings, including on Social Media Sites. While processing of your Information for this purpose may involve an algorithm automatically selecting advertising which is intended to be of interest to you, we do not make fully-automated decisions that may have a legal or significant effect on you without either your explicit consent, or where otherwise permitted by applicable law. We may also use UGC for marketing or advertising purposes, subject to the relevant terms and conditions of the Offering. n countries where our processing of Information requires a lawful basis, we rely upon the following: To use UGC you have submitted, we will rely on the rights granted to us under the terms and conditions of the Offering and the performance of our contract with you. Other types of processing for Marketing and Personalized Advertising are necessary for our legitimate interests (or those of others), including: Furthering our commercial interests by marketing and advertising Our Offerings, including engaging in contextual (non-data driven) advertising, analytics, and measurement of ad performance; Expanding our customer base by deepening relationships with existing customers and developing new customers; Using UGC you have submitted (unless it is not necessary for the performance of a contract with you or we are able to ask for your consent); and, Promoting our brand both online and offline. In certain jurisdictions, for certain types of processing, such as interest-based advertising or where we send direct marketing communications by email, text message or SMS, messages on Social Media Sites, we rely on your consent (where given). Providing Customer Services We may use your Information for the purpose of providing Customer Services, including dealing with your queries and complaints (including troubleshooting), whether you contact us by telephone, email, chat boxes, forms or ticketing services, letter, website or via a Social Media Site. In countries where our processing of Information requires a lawful basis, we rely upon the following: Some types of processing activities will be necessary for us to perform our contract with you to provide an Offering. Some types of processing activities will be necessary to comply with our legal obligations. Some types of processing will be necessary for our legitimate interests (or those of others), including: Responding to our customer queries and complaints; Tracking the progress and effectiveness of our response; and Improving our Customer Services. Detecting, preventing and investigating criminal and other illegal activities We may use your Information for the purpose of detecting, preventing or investigating criminal activities (including fraud and copyright infringement), protecting user safety and enforcing our civil rights in the courts. For example, where necessary, we may share your Information with law enforcement bodies or use it to take legal action against you to enforce our rights. In countries where our processing of Information requires a lawful basis, we rely upon the following: Some types of processing activities will be necessary to comply with our legal obligations. Some types of processing will be necessary for our legitimate interests (or those of others), including: Protecting our business interests and rights, privacy, safety and property, or that of our customers and users; Establishing, exercising or defending legal claims; Sharing your Information with third parties in order to permit us to pursue available remedies or limit damage that we may sustain. Compliance with legal obligations We may use your Information for the purpose of complying with our legal obligations, including accounting rules, responding to Individual Rights Requests and responding to requests from regulators, judicial authorities and law enforcement or governmental bodies. In countries where our processing of Information requires a lawful basis, we rely upon the following: These types of activities are necessary to comply with our legal obligations. INFORMATION SHARING AND DISCLOSURE We share Information with and disclose it to the following parties, for the purposes set out below: Within our group of companies Our companies support and interact with each other to run their businesses. As a result, our companies may receive your Information to process for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy, where there is a legal basis for them to do so and consistent with any permissions you have given (e.g. whether or not you wish to receive marketing communications) and any other controls you exercise regarding our processing of your Information (e.g. where you have chosen to opt-out of certain processing), as described in the INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS REQUEST and COOKIES AND OTHER TECHNICAL INFORMATION sections below. Outside our group of companies Third Party Service Providers. Our agents and contractors have access to Information to help carry out the services they are performing for us, such as, but not limited to, fulfilment, creation, maintenance, hosting, and delivery of our Offerings, conducting marketing, providing IT services and security, handling payments, email and order fulfillment, administering promotions, competitions and prize-draws, conducting research, measurement and analytics, deriving insights, or customer service. Linked Third Party Social Media Sites. Some of our Digital Services may contain links to other sites, including Social Media Sites, for the purposes of customer interaction and marketing. The information practices of the Social Media Sites can be different from ours so you should consult their privacy policy and terms before submitting your personal information, as we have no control over personal information that is submitted to or collected by these third parties. Third Party Partners. We may offer Digital Services and Offline Services that are sponsored by or co-branded with identified third parties. By virtue of these relationships, the third parties collect or obtain personal information from you during the activity. We do not control these third parties' use of personal information. We encourage you to read their privacy policies to learn about their data practices. AdTech Providers. We may share certain Information with third parties (e.g. other companies, retailers, research organizations, advertisers, ad agencies, advertising networks and platforms, participatory databases, publishers, and non-profit organizations) for processing generally in a hashed or de-identified form, to provide advertising to you based on your interests. Other third parties. In the event of a likely change of control of the business (or a part of the business) such as a transaction or reorganization, we may share your Information with interested parties, including a new business owner, and their respective professional advisers. Law enforcement bodies, the authorities and courts. We disclose Information where necessary for the prevention, investigation or prosecution of criminal activities, and also in response to legal process, e.g., in response to a court order or a subpoena, or in response to a regulator, government authority or law enforcement body's request. Public forums. If you post or share Information while interacting with one of our Digital Services, or through a Social Media Site, depending on the nature of the service or your privacy settings this Information can become public, after which, we cannot prevent further use or sharing of this Information. For information about how you can customize your privacy settings on Social Media Sites, please refer to their privacy help guides and terms of use. DATA RETENTION In broad terms, we will only retain your Information for as long as is necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy. This means that the retention periods will vary according to the type of Information and the reason that we have collected the Information in the first place. For example, some Information related to the provision of our Offerings to you will be kept for a number of years in order to comply with various finance and tax related legal obligations. We have detailed internal retention policies that set out the various retention periods for different categories of Information, depending on our legal obligations and whether there is a commercial need to retain the Information. After a retention period has lapsed, the Information is securely deleted, unless it is necessary for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims. For further information regarding applicable retention periods, you should contact us using the contact methods set out below. INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS REQUESTS Under certain conditions, you have the right to ask us to fulfil one or more of the following requests. We may ask you for proof of identity or other additional information before doing so. Right to access and rectification: You can request details of the Information we hold, along with a copy of your Information, and the correction of any errors in your Information. Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten"): The right, in certain circumstances, to ask for your Information to be deleted. In specific cases, we may not be able to delete some types of Information, in particular, where we have a legal obligation to keep that Information (e.g. for regulatory reporting purposes) or, for example, where you want us to continue to provide you with an Offering and the processing of the Information is necessary for the provision of that Offering. Marketing communications and sharing with third parties. We provide you with an opportunity to express your preferences with respect to receiving certain marketing communications from us, and our sharing of Information with trusted partners for their direct marketing purposes. Please see the "Ad Choices" section below for more information. Right to portability: The right in some cases to receive your Information in a digital format or to have it transmitted directly to another controller (where technically feasible). Right to object: The right to object (on grounds relating to your particular situation) to the processing of your Information on the basis of our legitimate interests, including for direct marketing purposes. Right to withdraw consent: You can withdraw your consent at any time in respect of any processing of Information which is based upon a consent. We will assess any request to exercise these rights on a case-by-case basis. There may be circumstances in which we are not legally required to comply with a request because of relevant exemptions provided for in applicable data protection legislation. In some instances, this may mean that we are able to retain your Information even if you withdraw your consent. To exercise these rights, or to contact our Data Protection Officer, please submit a request through our individual rights request portal. COOKIES AND OTHER TECHNICAL INFORMATION When you visit our Digital Services, we, third party service providers, and partners may use "cookies" or similar technologies, such as pixels and SDKs to (i) provide, develop, maintain, personalize, protect, and improve our Digital Services and their content (ii) perform analytics, including to analyse and report on usage and performance of our Digital Services and any advertisements displayed on or delivered by or through them (iii) protect against, identify, and prevent fraud and other unlawful activity (iv) create aggregate data about groups or categories of our users (including advertising audiences), and (v) for us, our partners and third party service providers to deliver, target, offer, market, or personalise advertising relating to our Offerings or the offerings of our clients and partners (including limiting how often you see an advertisement). Cookie Description Website Preferences Details Required cookies These cookies are required to enable core website functionality Strictly necessary cookies or similar technologies: They are essential in order to enable you to move around our Digital Services and use their features, such as accessing secure areas. If you disable these cookies, some or all of the Digital Services' features may not work. Performance cookies These cookies allow us to analyze usage of our Digital Services so we can measure and improve performance Performance cookies or similar technologies: They collect information about how you use our Digital Services, so that we can analyze traffic, understand users' interactions, and improve the relevant Digital Service. Our emails and newsletters may contain a 'web pixel' to let us know how you have interacted with what we have sent you. For games, these technologies collect information about your gameplay, including accomplishments, use of features and other in-game activities. We may use third party service providers for this purpose who may use their own cookies or similar technologies. Functionality cookies Functionality cookies or similar technologies: These allow our Digital Services to remember choices you make (such as your user name or the region you are in) and provide enhanced, more personalized features, including personalized content. They may also be used to provide Digital Services you have asked for, such as watching a video or commenting on a blog. Advertising cookies These cookies are used by advertising companies to serve ads that are relevant to your interests Social media cookies or similar technologies: These are used when you share Information using a social media sharing button or 'like' button via our Digital Services, or when you link your account or engage with our content on or through a Social Media Site, such as Facebook or Twitter. The Social Media Site will record that you have done this, and this Information may be linked to targeting/advertising activities, including building custom audiences. Advertising cookies or similar technologies: Some of our Digital Services may use a third-party advertising network, or another of our companies, to deliver targeted advertising. They may also have the capability to track your browsing or usage across our Digital Services and Social Media Sites. Marketing communications. We may provide you with an opportunity to express your preferences with respect to receiving certain marketing communications from us. If you would like to update these preferences, you can (i) log in to an account you may have created with us to adjust your settings (where the feature is available). You can also follow the 'unsubscribe' instructions provided in any marketing email you receive. Ad choices. On our own or working with affiliates or third parties, we may present advertisements and engage in data collection, reporting, ad response measurement, and site analytics on our Digital Services and on third party websites across the Internet and applications over time. We, our affiliates, or third parties may use cookies, web beacons, pixels, SDKs, or similar technologies to perform this activity. They obtain information about applications you use, websites you visit, and other information from across your devices and browsers and across websites, services, and apps over time, in order to help serve advertising that will be more relevant to your interests on and off our Digital Services and across your devices and browsers. This type of advertising is known as 'interest-based advertising'. We, our affiliates, or third parties may also use this information to associate your different browsers and devices together for interest-based advertising and for other purposes like research, analytics, internal operations, fraud prevention, and enhancing consumer experiences. In addition to managing your preferences through our own consent management platform, for more information about interest-based advertising on your desktop or mobile browser, and to opt out of this type of advertising by third parties that participate in self-regulatory programs by visiting Your Online Choices if in the EEA, which is hosted by the European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance (EDAA); if in Australia to the Australian Advertising Alliance (ADAA); and if in Canada, to the Digital Advertising Alliance of Canada (DAAC). To learn more about interest-based advertising on mobile apps in Canada and to opt out of this type of advertising by third parties that participate in the DAAC's AppChoices program, please visit the DAAC tools page to download the version of AppChoices for your device. Please note that any opt-out choice you exercise through these programs will apply to interest-based advertising by the third parties you select, but will still allow the collection of Information for other purposes, including research, analytics, and internal operations. You can therefore continue to receive advertising, but that advertising may be less relevant to your interests. You may have more options depending on your mobile device and operating system. For example, most device operating systems (e.g., iOS for Apple phones, Android for Android devices, and Windows for Microsoft devices) provide their own instructions on how to limit or prevent the delivery of tailored in-application advertisements. You may review the support materials and/or the privacy settings for the respective operating systems to learn more about these features and how they apply to tailored in-app advertisements. Precise location information. To enable or disable the collection of precise location information from your mobile device through our mobile apps, you can access your mobile device settings and choose to limit that collection. INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS We operate internationally, and some of the processes involved in our use of your Information will require your Information to be stored or processed in countries outside the country where you are located, including countries where the level of legal protection for your Information may be different and where you may have fewer legal rights in relation to it. In particular, your Information may be transferred to, and processed in the United States, where some of our systems are located. However, whenever we transfer your Information outside of a country or region, we will make sure that we take steps necessary to comply with applicable legal requirements. Therefore, where required, we will ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place by using appropriate contractual mechanisms or by relying upon the service providers participating in an approved international data transfer mechanism, including the adoption of Binding Corporate Rules. NOTIFICATION REGARDING UPDATES From time to time, we may update this Privacy Policy. We will notify you about any material changes by placing a notice on our sites. We encourage you to periodically check back and review this policy so that you are up to date. COMPLAINTS If you are unhappy with how we have dealt with your query you may have the right to complain to your Data Protection Authority. This Privacy Policy was last updated on Febryary 1st 2024. © turquoisebaycyprus.org All Rights Reserved. Top

TRNC Churches - Apotolos Andreas Monastery, Ayia Zone, Ayios Philon, Bellapais Abbey, Ganchvor Monastery, Sourp Magar Monastery, St Andrews, St Anne, St Barnabas Monastery, St Francis, St George, St Mamas Monastery, St Mary, St Nikolas, St Simeon, Twin Churches. Guides > Churches Apostolos Andreas Bellapais Abbey Sourp Magar Monastery St Francis Church St Mary Church Ayia Zone Ganchvor Monastery St Andrews Church St George of the Greeks St Nikolas Church Ayios Philon Panagia Chrysopolitissa St Anne Church St George of the Latins St Simeon Church Ayias Trias Basilica Panayia Pergamininiotissa St Barnabas Monastery St Mamas Monastery The Twin Churches Guides > Churches > Apostolos Andreas Monastery The easternmost monastery on the island, for hundreds of years it's served as an important resting place for followers of the Orthodox faith on pilgrimage to the Holy Land . As an important multi-faith place of pilgrimage, visitors from all over the world to this monastery offer their devotion or pray for healing. It's almost at the end of the Karpaz peninsula, and is a place of reverence by both Turkish and Greek Cypriots. It's thought there's been a monastery here since Byzantine times, and is possibly the location of the surrender of Isaac Commenos to Richard the Lionheart in 1191. St Andrew, a follower of John the Baptist, was the first man who was called to become a priest, and as such received the title of “O Protoklidos”, which means “the first one to have been called”. One of the stories about him is that on his way to Jerusalem, the boat in which he was sailing ran out of water, As the captain, who was blind in one eye, was wondering how he would find water, St Andrew told him that he would find water in the place where the monastery now stands. Those who went ashore found water there, as they had been told. The water was brought back to the ship, and as the captain drank the water, sight returned to his eye. He wanted to reward Stndrew by giving him valuable goods but St Andrew would not accept them. Instead, the captain and his crew converted to Christianity. Afterwards, the captain bought a very valuble icon of StAndrew and put it by the well. Thereafter, the site became a place of pilgrimage known as "the Lourdes of Cyprus " and in the 15th century, a small chapel was built close to the shore, where you can still collect the healing water. The church of the main monastery dates to the 18th century, with main buildings 100 years younger. Although St Andrew is known primarily as a saint who is able to cure health problems related to the eyes, those who have other incurable illnesses or worries believe that they can be cured by praying to him too. Those who have their wishes granted, depending on the nature of their problem, leave a small figure of an eye, ear, hand or child made out of wax or metal next to the religious icons. Amongst the offerings made to StAndrew are money, silver, gold and other jewellery. Those who cannot come to the monastery can make an offering to him by taking a bottle of olive oil and throwing it into the sea at the closest point. It's believed that by taking control of the winds, St Andrew will ensure that sooner or later the bottles will be taken to the priests at the monastery. Mass pilgrimage only dates to the early 20th century. Apparently, in 1895, the son of Maria Georgiou was kidnapped. Seventeen years later, St Andrew appeared to her in a dream, telling her to pray for her son's return at the monastery. Living in Anatolia, she embarked on the crossing on a crowded boat. Telling her story during the journey, one of the passengers, a young Dervish priest, became more and more interested. Asking if her son had any distinguishing marks, and on hearing of a pair of birthmarks, he stripped off his clothes to reveal the same marks, and mother and son were reunited. On your arrival, you'll see a courtyard, surrounded by cloisters where the pilgrims once stayed. Looking towards the sea, you 'll see the bell tower of the church where you'll find some icons and normally some nuns or a retired priest acting as caretakers. The small chaperl which has been built next to it in the Gothic style is the monastery's oldest building, thought to have been built in the 15th century. The church to the far west of the chapel was built in 1867 by the priest of DIpkarpaz, Babayuannu Ilkonomou. The monastery rooms which are set arounf the church and chapel qwew built attsome poit after1912. Further down the slope, you'll reach the oldest part of the monastery and the holy well. On two days of the year, the monastery is really busy; August 15th, Assumption Day (when Mary was "assumed" into heaven to be reunited with her soul), and November 30th, which is St Andrew's day. Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, Greece, Cyprus and Russia. Although the monastery fell into disrepair in recent years, funding for refurbishment was provided by Church of Cyprus, EVKAF Administration and the United States Agency for International Developmen t (USAID). The first phase concerned the restoration of the main church, and the building of a new north arcade. On November 30th, St Andrew's day, the completed first phase was handed back to the Church of Cyprus, and a service was held. Phase two will see the chapel and the fountain close to the shore renovated. Phase three will see the restoration of the buildings to the north of the church, and the final phase will involve the completion of external works below the main road, and landscaping. Top Guides > Churches > Ayia Zone Church Ayia Zone is typical of Orthodox churches built in later medieval times, with Gothic architecture incorporated into otherwise Byzantine forms. In the south east of Famagusta, close to St Nikolas church , it's one of 3 remaining Byzantine churches in the area, the other being St Simeon . A simple cross-shaped church it may well stand on earlier foundations. It's likely this church was abandoned or used for other purposes during the Ottoman reign, as it's maintained itself very well throughout hundreds of years. Ayia Zone is dedicated to the sacred belt of the Virgin Mary . According to tradition, the Holy Belt was made by the Virgin Mary herself out of camel hair,. was about 90cm long, with strings at the end to tie it up. Three days after she died, during her ascension, she gave the belt to the Apostle Thomas. Thomas and the other Apostles opened her grave, but didn't find her body so the belt is seen as proof of her ascension into heaven. At some point, it must have had a piece of this cloth, a sacred relic of the clothing of Mary. It's currently used as a rehearsal room for a local theatre group and contains fragmentary frescoes of the Archangel Michael . Top Guides > Churches > Ayia Philon Church Dating to the 10thcentury, this church was dedicated to the saint who converted people of Karpaz to Christianity in the 4thcentury. It was built on top of ruins from Hellenistic and Roman periods and is pretty much all that remains of the Phoenician port of Karpasia. Founded by King Pygmalion of Cyprus , it was a flourishing trading port between Salamis and Anatolia. It was abandoned in 802 after Arab raiders sacked it and inhabitants moved inland, founding Dipkarpaz. Traces of the old harbour wall can still be seen offshore, but the majority of the village is now under sand dunes west of the church. The church is named after St Philo , who converted locals to Christianity, and had been ordained by St Epiphanios in the 4th Century. (St Epiphanios' Basilica is at Salamis). It's a typically domed Byzantine church, with a 3-part apse and a courtyard surrounded by columns. There's a cistern and baptising room, as well as numerous mosaics from the earlier structure. Top Guides > Churches > Ayias Trias Basilica To the North of the small village of Sipahi , this basilica has been dated to the end of the 5thcentury. Destroyed by Arab raiders in the 7th century, it was discovered by accident in 1957 and is famous for its well-preserved mosaics, but they've been left to the elements and their colours are fading. It must have been a grand building in its day, with the richness of the floors suggesting wealth of the surrounding areas in Byzantine times. Decorated with geometric, leaf and cross motifs, there's also an inscription in front of the main apse which credits a deacon called Heraclos as having “paid for the building of this part of the structure”. There are 3 unusual areas of mosaic. Two show pairs of sandals, one facing in and one facing outward as well as a representation of pomegranates. The site boasts remains of what must have been an impressive solea , a barrier running down the middle of the church, marking out spaces for clergy and other members of the congregation. A cross-shaped baptismal pool can be seen in the baptistery. There's also a number of wheat mills, thought to have been used to grind wheat for bread used in religious ceremonies. In May 2018, plans were announced for preservation works. Top Guides > Churches > Bellapais Abbey Bellapais Abbey, also known as Bellapais Monastery, was founded by the French ruler Aimery , to house Augustinian monks expelled from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre when Jerusalem fell to Saladin in 1187. Known as the “Abbaye de la Paix”, (Abbey of Peace), most of what remains dates from 1267–84, with the cloisters and refectory added in 1324–59. In its early years the monastery adopted strict beliefs, but as time went by it became known as a place where monks ate and drank to excess, took wives (sometimes two or three), had children, and would then only accept their own sons into the monastery as novices. Very French you might say. Though it built up considerable wealth, its treasure was plundered by the Genoese in 1373. After the Ottoman Conquest in 1571 the abbey became derelict, and was raided for its dressed building stone, although the church escaped as it was used by the local Greek Orthodox community. Vandalization of the monastery continued under the British, who even used the refectory as a rifle range. Very British you might say. It's not uncommon for Monasteries and abbeys to be built in spectacular locations and this is no exception. The ruins overlook the sea from a small square filled with trees, lawns, flowerbeds and park benches. When you go in, you’ll see the Kybele Restaurant , which occupies the abbey’s kitchen court, and a set of steps to the abbey’s medieval tower which is far too good a photo-op to miss.Tall Gothic arches standing shoulder to shoulder invite you into the cloisters. This is one of the iconic images of North Cyprus and a must visit place on your holidays. The flat roofed church is the most complete part of the monastery. North of the church are the cloisters, the most atmospheric part of the abbey. Poplar trees were planted in the quadrangle in 1940, and are now home to a flock of sparrows whose constant chirping just adds to the unique atmosphere of the place. To the north of the cloisters, accessed via a superb doorway with dog-tooth edges and three Lusignan coats of arms, is the refectory. 30m long, 10m wide and 12m high, it’s covered by a single-span stone vaulted roof, an architectural triumph considering it stands at the edge of a cliff. It's illuminated by natural light that streams through its windows, throwing shadows across the columns. At one end was the Abbot’s high table in front of long tables of the monks. There’s also a pulpit where scriptures would be read to silently eating monks. Outside the refectory is a fountain where monks would wash their hands and if you look carefully you can make out the Roman sarcophagus into which it’s been incorporated. Concerts and musical events take place in the abbey from May to October , mostly in the refectory. It’s also used for weddings during summer months, and it’s hard to imagine a more beautiful and romantic setting. Lawrence Durrell lived in Bellapais from 1953–56. His house is up from the abbey square, past the Tatlisu market on Aci Limon Sokak (Bitter Lemon Street) and has a ceramic plaque above the door. Across the road is the public water fountain (marked “ER 1953”), which played a prominent part in the tortuous and hilarious process of buying the house, which takes up a whole chapter in his book. Another chapter of the book is devoted to the “Tree of Idleness ” that stands opposite the abbey. Durrell was warned never to sit under it because “its shadow incapacitates one for serious work”, a belief that arose from the idle hours spent by many villagers under the tree. Legend has it that those who sit under the tree will become so lethargic and relaxed they’ll be unwilling to work, and Durrell was struck by how true this legend seemed. It‘s now the centrepiece of a pretty good restaurant. The Village Halfway between St Hilarion and Buffavento , 210m above sea level, is the flower-covered village of Bellapais. Full of narrow lanes and steep hills with views of Kyrenia, Bellapais is best known for its medieval abbey, one of the most beautiful in the eastern Mediterranean. The village itself is a step back in time, with quiet lanes and whitewashed houses. The name Bellapais comes from the French ‘belle paix’, meaning ‘beautiful peace ’. It's popular because of the abbey, but was also made more famous by English author Lawrence Durrell who lived here in the 1950s ,and included descriptions of the village and its inhabitants in his classic holiday reading book “Bitter Lemons ”. To find Bellapais, head east from Kyrenia, turn right at the Bellapais-signposted “peace” roundabout (with its two figures holding olive branches), then take the first main turning left. At the top of the hill, turn left at the roundabout, and continue on to the village where there’s parking. There’s no shortage of restaurants and bars in the village, with many in the square overlooking the abbey. While the abbey is definitely a must see, there’s also ancient crusader paths that criss-cross the mountains where you can follow in the footsteps of Richard the Lionheart. Accommodation There’s a good choice of accommodation if you’d like to stay in the village. A stone’s thrown from the Abbey is The Abbey Inn , a small boutique hotel with only ten rooms, small pool and a restaurant. Close by is another small but quality hotel called The Residence . Then there's Bellapais Monastery Village , and further down the road, about half-way to Kyrenia, is Altinkaya Holiday Village . A short walk from the abbey takes you to Bellapais Garden Top Guides > Churches > Ganchvor Monastery Ganchvor Sourp Asdvadzadzin is the Armenian Apostolic church located within the walled city of Famagusta. The Armenians escaped Mameluke attacks against Ayas of Cilicia and arrived from the southern coast of Turkey, before the French Lusignans arrived. Like other non-Latin or non-Orthodox Christians, they settled in the Syrian quarter of the city, especially populated with Carmelites . The Armenian church was built in 1346 by Armenian refugees from Cilicia in a typical fortress-like Armenian style with Cypriot masonry. and was part of an important monastic and cultural centre, where Saint Nerses Lampronatsi is said to have studied in the 12th century, suggesting it was an important theological institute. A scriptorium devoted to the writing, copying and illuminating of manuscripts operated here, manuscripts of which survive at the Armenian Saint James’ Monastery in Jerusalem. After the Ottoman siege, the church became unused from 1571. Records show that until 1862, it featured a small bell-tower. It was preserved by the Department of Antiquities in 1907 and in 1936 it was leased to the Armenian community of Famagusta for a period of 99 years. After repairs between 1937 and 1944, the first liturgy was held on 14 January 1945 by Archimandrite Krikor Bahlavouni, but it was partially burnt by militia in 1957. After being repaired, it was used as a church until 1962. It was taken over by Turkish Cypriots and then in August 1974 by the Turkish military. Even after the partial lifting of movement restrictions by Northern Cyprus in 2003, it was still inaccessible, as it was located within a "military area". It’s now accessible. It's small, with only one aisle and a cylindrical apse. The roof is in the shape of a cruciform, and the apse is covered with a semi-dome. There is some evidence that a second chapel was added to the north east, but this hasn’t survived. Outside the church, crosses have been inscribed on the wall by pilgrims as a declaration of faith. Beyond the southern door, you can also see traces of a medieval sun dial . It adjoins the Carmelite church, which was established at a similar period, as part of a monastic complex dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Top Guides > Churches > Panagia Chrysopolitissa Kyrenia's Oldest Church. Dating to the 1500’s it was built as a Latin church and set in narrow back streets behind Kyrenia Harbour, almost opposite the rear entrance to the Folk Art Museum . The interesting architectural feature is a Gothic doorway on the north side. The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ is also depicted on the wall of the front entrance. Though now blocked up it doesn't appear to be in its' original state and may well have come from another, and larger, Gothic building. Top Guides > Churches > Panayia Pergamininiotissa A late Byzantine church, dating from the 11th century in Tatlısu, an unspoilt coastal village 20 km from Esentepe. Has a interesting cylindrical apse but the building is square shaped, with the roof in the form of a cross, topped with a drum on which sits a small dome. It may have been built over a much earlier one, as foundations were exposed outside the apse during renovation. Wall paintings from the 11th and 12th centuries have mainly been removed, although some still remain. Look carefully and you can see the overgrown ruined foundations of buildings that once surrounded the church, reached via some paths. Works to prevent deterioration of the building means it is no longer possible to get inside, however it is still worth taking a look at, especially if you plan to tour the Minia Cyprus Museum within the same grounds, another must-see for visitors. Top Guides > Churches > Sourp Magar Monastery Also known as Magaravank , this is an Armenian monastery set in a forested valley in the Alevkaya range. First established in the 11th century as a Coptic (Egyptian Christian) monastery, it came into Armenian hands about the 15th century. The Armenians retained control of its lands under Venetian and Ottoman rule when it was often called the Blue Monastery, on account of the colour of the doors and windows. 530 metres above sea level, also referred to as the Monastery of the Virgin Mary, Sourp Magar had been a religious centre for Armenians for centuries, the quiet surroundings providing a haven for clergymen and laymen alike. The Armenian community in Nicosia used it as a summer retreat, and it became a stopover for pilgrims headed for Jerusalem. It once housed a collection of manuscripts and other sacred items which were relocated to the Holy See of Cilicia in 1947. Upheavals in the Ottoman empire at the beginning of the 20th century resulted in the arrival of thousands of Armenian refugees to the island, and the monastery opened its doors to orphans and those in need. It helped feed the hungry by developing farming on monastery lands which ran to around 3,000 acres. Although the last monks left in the early 20th century, the monastery remained a favourite place for Armenian families and schools to visit, as the grounds were particularly pleasant, especially in hot summer months. The residential buildings at Sourp Magar are extremely important for the history of architecture in Cyprus, being the best-preserved and most extensive examples of late medieval domestic building on the island, even in its current state. It consists of an irregular rectangle of two-storied residential buildings constructed around a generous precinct, sited on an overall slope. Two small churches or chapels, standing in the north-east part of the central courtyard, stand side-by-side. The largest chapel, with its vault still in place, was built in 1814. The line of residential buildings facing towards the north and east probably belong to the 15th century judging from the shape and style of the Gothic windows and doors. One window has a chevron design, a characteristic feature of later Gothic building in Cyprus. These buildings were probably put up when the Armenians first took possession of the site. Internally, the buildings are two-storied, with a simple arcade below and a walkway above. The walkway was originally edged by stone posts with wooden lintels. The roofs throughout rested on wooden beams and were covered with curved tiles. Inside the monastery enclosure you can still see the remains of an orchard with a tiny church and pilgrims’ cells lining the east and south perimeter walls. It's well worth a visit to soak up the atmosphere, marvel at the distant views or even picnic in the grounds. Armenians retain great attachment to their ancient establishment and pilgrimages have been made there in recent years. Access to this monastery lies on the road that leads from the Five Finger Mountain to Alevkaya. After driving for about 6.5km, looking down at the valley below, the monastery buildings will be seen nestling among the pine trees. Top Guides > Churches > St Andrews Church One of two Anglican churches in North Cyprus, St Andrew’s was built in 1913 thanks to the generosity of a lay reader Ernest Eldred McDonald and a wealthy Scottish mine owner George Houstoun, and is approaching 110 years of service to the Kyrenia community. The site of the Church was well chosen. A few yards from Kyrenia Castle and the Harbour , it's near to the centre of the town and much of the congregation is holiday visitors. Well seen from the outside, the church tower itself was constructed 25 years after the main build. Items of interest within the church include the bowl of the font, which is a domestic marble mortar found in 1949 at Lambousa and dated to the 6th century A.D. It's part of the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf (one of the four dioceses that make up the Episcopal Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East), which includes Cyprus, the Gulf States, Iraq and Yemen, and also a part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Top Guides > Churches > St Anne Church The church of St Anne was probably built in the early 14th Century and was part of a monastic complex. It was erected in what was known as the Syrian quarter and was originally a Latin, Catholic church before it was passed to Maronites later in the century. Located in the walled city of Famagusta, next to the Martinengo Bastion , it forms part of the “Martinengo Cluster” – a collection of monuments conserved to promote the economic growth and territorial development of those regions. St Anne was restored by both the Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities in 2018. It consists of a single nave with 2 bays, with groin vaults separated by transverse ribs. The walls are supported by external buttresses, between which are tall windows, a typically Gothic feature. It's believed the original facade supported a belfry. Top Guides > Churches > St Barnabas Monastery Head west from Salamis and you’ll come to the Monastery of St Barnabas, once one of the most important Christian sites, now an archaeological and icon museum. Said to have been built as the result of a divinely inspired dream, it consists of the church of St Barnabas and monastery cloisters, which is a colonnade of pillars on three sides of a lush and well-tended garden. An extension. further colonnades and a campanile, though modern, fits in pretty well with the rest of the building. The white domes are the local landmarks. The buildings An archaeological museum housed in rooms that overlook the garden, contains Neolithic axe-heads, Bronze Age pottery, Iron Age antiquities and Ottoman artefacts. A stunning collection dating back to the 7th Century BC, they're kept in the monks' old cells and are mostly intact. It also has a small gift shop and restaurant. An Icon Museum housed in the church of St Barnabas is a large collection of lit-up icons, depicting mostly well-known religious figures which are in great condition. Some of the Orthodox furnishings remain, including the pulpit, a chair and the iconostasis or screen. Four frescoes to the right of the entrance tell the story of the finding of St Barnabas’s body. What is said to be the tomb of the Barnabas himself is housed in a 1950s-built mausoleum about 100 yards from the monastery, built on the spot where his remains were discovered. Brief History St Barnabas is the patron saint of Cyprus . Over the years, Cyprus had rulers with different religious beliefs which have intermingled and the result is an island with mixed religions, churches and mosques. In Roman times most people practised Judaism, including St. Barnabas who came from Salamis. He travelled to the Holy Land to study law, met Paul the apostle and converted to Christianity. He was made the Archbishop of Salamis, returned, founded the Cypriot church and became a preacher. See The Bible Acts 4: 36-37, & Acts 13: 1-5 for reference. He convinced the Roman ruler Sergius Paulus to adopt Christianity, making Cyprus the first country in the world to have a Christian ruler. Together with his cousin Mark the Evangelist and the pivotal St Paul, he travelled extensively in both Cyprus and Asia Minor, spreading the gospel. Barnabas was so successful the Jewish elders in Salamis had him stoned to death around 75 AD. Mark retrieved his body and buried it secretly in a cave to the west of the city. Over time, the location of the cave was forgotten. 400 years later Cypriot Church under Archbishop Anthemios was faced with a takeover bid by Antioch , the patriarch of which claimed the right to rule over the island’s Christians, a claim supported by Byzantine Emperor Zeno . In 478 AD, when all seemed lost, Anthemios was visited in a dream by the spirit of St Barnabas, who told him where his body was buried – beneath a distinctive carob tree on the western edge of Salamis. Anthemios discovered a skeleton along with a copy of The Gospel of Matthew written in Hebrew by St Barnabas himself. Anthemios shot off to Constantinople, donated the book to the Emperor and the Church of Cyprus was triumphantly granted autonomous status. Zeno also paid for a monastery to be built over the saint’s final resting place. In Cyprus, most churches feature an icon of Barnabas holding St Matthew’s gospel, placed in the backrest of the bishop’s chair. St Barnabas is said to be the patron saint of peace making and hailstorms , with St. Barnabas day taking place on June 11th. The monastery crumbled over the years and was replaced in the 18th Century. It was rebuilt with three domes, but lack of foundations and soft soil made one of the domes and an apse collapse. The third dome wasn’t replaced but the walls of the original apse can still be seen. Top Guides > Churches > St Francis Church During the life of St Francis of Assisi, this was the most important structure of the Franciscan order in Cyprus. It was part of a Franciscan monastery in the north of the Royal Palace of Venice, built by priests. Today it can be found close to the Venetian Palace. It consists of a three-sided apse with a small chapel off the south side. Buttressing supported the external walls. It was built in the 14th Century with funding supplied by Henry II who was known for his close ties with the Franciscans. Henry's reign was anything but peaceful. He saw the fall of Acre in 1291, was imprisoned himself from 1306 to 1310, and saw the disbandment of the Knights Templars in 1313. He funded the building of this church, the fortification of Famagusta, and the start of the rebuilding of St Nicholas Cathedral. The Franciscans were founded in 1209 by Francis of Assisi as part of the Catholic Church. Followers gave up all their possessions and life to live in poverty and they became famous for their love, simplicity and practices. Francis himself was believed to have visited Cyprus during a trip to the Holy Land during the Crusades. The Franciscans are one of the oldest and most important Latin religious groups in Cyprus, and their monasteries in Famagusta have become some of the city's most important religious structures. The site housed a monastery that occupied a large area within the city and because of its proximity, the Royal Palace once had a private entrance to the monastery and church, through a steeped road. Nobles from Famagusta, Genoa and overseas who contributed to the construction of the church are buried in this area. Archaeologists discovered tombs dating back to 1314-1474 under the church. Structurally, it resembled the Church of Mary with side chapels added. Outside walls are supported by struts, and visitors can see medieval stone workmanship outside the western gate. The monastery, which didn't survive, was believed to be located to the southwest of the church. Top Guides > Churches > St George of the Greeks Church This Nestorian Church , officially known as the Church of St George the Exile r, is in Famagusta. Not to be confused with St George of the Latins , it is the second largest church in Famagusta, and during the middle ages served as a Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Built in the 12th century around the time St Nicholas Cathedral was initiated, it was financed by East Syrian Nestorian merchants, the Lakhas brothers, who were known for their immense wealth. It's architecture and decorations were reminiscent of Southern French and Italian Gothic churches of the time, and may have been influenced by King Peter I’ s visit to Avignon in 1363, although its' architecture is also reminiscent of the 12th–13th century Crusader architecture in Palestine and Syria. The Orthodox Cathedral When the French Catholic Lusignans took rule of the island in 1191, they inherited an island that was predominately eastern Orthodox, and they immediately reduced the power of the church. In doing so, the southeast corner of Famagusta became a compact Greek quarter, and a conglomeration of several churches came about, most still inherent today and within close proximity of one another. Although there was a perfectly serviceable cathedral church, namely the small Byzantine St Simeon Church , the Orthodox community wanted a place of worship that rivalled its neighbouring counterparts. They built the much greater church with a wide central nave, two side aisles and huge columns that held up the nave vaulting. Gothic elements were also added to the church’s north side to create a hybrid form of architecture that makes this 14th century Byzantine figure somewhat rare amongst Mediterranean churches. The central nave also featured chapels on both sides, leading to a cross nave, all with rounded apses. St George of the Greeks became the Orthodox cathedral of Famagusta and was dedicated to St Epiphanius, Bishop of Salamis , who had gained a reputation as a strong defender of orthodoxy. It's believed the saint’s remains were formerly buried at the adjacent St Simeon before his body was taken to Constantinople by Emperor Leo in the 9th century. Unfortunately, the structure was too large, with insufficient buttressing and a roof that was just too heavy, and years of modifications and renovations followed. The pillars throughout the nave were expanded to take more weight, and the roof was inserted with large upturned terracotta pots to spread the load. The church was not in existence long enough to find out if the revised compositions were sustainable. Taking the brunt of the Ottomans, evidence of which is still very evident in the remaining walls, the main of the build stood for a little over a hundred years. Siege of Famagusta After the capture of the city, the church was converted into a stable for camels , with worship here only being permitted once a year, during the feast of St George the Exiler. The Ottoman siege in 1571 left its marks on the structure and visitors today can still see cannon ball marks on the top of the church and cannonballs still embedded in the walls. Consequently, little remains of its vaulted roof. It's believed that during this era the apse was used as a shooting gallery, and there is much evidence in the form of bullet holes to be seen. By the 18th century, it was more or less abandoned, with only a handful of residents living near to the desolate churches. Sailors from the nearby port would disembark and come into the city, sometimes sketching drawings of their ships into the plaster of these derelict churches. Some of these etchings can be seen at the western end of the St George Greek church. In 1905, the British administration handed the church to Greek Cypriots , who used it as their parish. By the 1930’s, many frescoes that were previously observed had disappeared, and between 1937 and 1939, Greek Cypriots undertook excavations and repaired some parts of the build. The church is still nevertheless home to numerous frescoes dated to the 14th and 15th centuries, depicting the life of Christ. Unlike Byzantine Orthodox churches, the frescoes in the Nestorian Church were not part of a unified design, and many were painted in differing periods by various artists. Visitors can still make out the faint outlines of once-rich frescos upon the interior stone walls. The apse on the other hand may have had a unified design, but this is impossible to ascertain given the level of damage. The church walls are made of ashlar and the structure has three naves and three apses. All three naves have entrances to their west. Originally, the church was built with a single nave and a protruding apse while the other two naves and two minor apses were added at a later date. Some fragments of wall paintings still cling to the walls of the eastern apse, and pieces of pottery jars sit within the ceiling, which were thought to improve the church acoustics. During the pre-Ottoman modifications, collars were added to support the overweight, and visitors will notice the remains of the iron clamps that were used to hold the blocks together. A drawing of the church from the 18th century shows a dome on the church, not unlike the one on the nearby St Nikolas Church , an octagonal drum with the dome sat on top. Even with the extra support added to the pillars, eventually the dome has fallen to inexistence. Along the walls of the church, you can see several arched niches. These alcoves were the tombs of the patrons of the church. The sarcophagus was at ground level, while the brackets you can see would have held a stone slab, probably with an effigy of the deceased carved on it. It's believed these niches were built after the walls, and their construction further weakened the roof support. Excavations on this site have also unearthed coloured glass, most likely from the old church windows. The only church in Famagusta that still has a bell, the Church of St George of the Greeks is one of the best-preserved from medieval times despite the damage incurred and yet another impressive ruin to add to your visit list with much to discover. Top Guides > Churches > St George of the Latins Church Sitting amid a traffic intersection, St George of the Latins is one of Famagusta’s oldest churches. Located in the northern part of the old city, close to Othello’s Tower , the remaining walls with their distinctive lancet windows, are a great example of early Gothic architecture. Though the precise date of its construction is unknown, evidence of a fortified parapet where defenders could protect the church, indicates that St George was built at a time when the Lusignans had not yet completed the city walls, most likely in the last quarter of the 13th century, using materials removed from Salamis. Its design is said to be inspired by Sainte-Chapelle in Paris, considered among the highest achievements of the Rayonnant period of Gothic architecture, and consecrated in 1248. Despite what remains today is predominantly the northern and eastern walls, the remnants indicate what the edifice may have looked like in its prime. Thin columns built into the walls were usually elaborately carved with religious figures or with coats of arms belonging to benefactors of the church. Areas of the walls between the pillars were structured to be relatively free of weight, one of the main features of Gothic architecture, granting huge windows and substantial sunlight to enter the church. In the south west corner, the first steps of what was a spiral staircase leading up to the roof can be seen, and to the north west, remnants of a guard house with a conical roof, the entrance doorway still unmistakable. Following the line of the roof you can still see some of the protective wall, complete with arrow slots, another reason researchers believe the church was built before the city walls were completed. As was the case with most of the towering buildings, the city walls didn't provide complete protection and the church suffered damage during the Ottoman siege of 1570 – 1571, some of which can still be observed on the eastern wall of the church. The only entrance which survives is to the north, and this is comparatively well preserved. It's surrounded by carvings – a gargoyle in the form of a monk opening his mouth with his hand, most likely used to drain water from the walls, and also of a lion devouring a lamb. Not to be confused with the similarly named St George of the Greeks church which is a few minutes walk away. Top Guides > Churches > St Mamas Monastery Dedicated to the island’s beloved tax-repelling patron saint, the monastery was formerly the site of a pagan temple. St Mamas Monastery in Guzelyurt is the third most important place of worship for the Greek Orthodox in North Cyprus, after the St Barnabas Tomb at Famagusta and the Apostolos Andreas Monastery in Karpaz . Today it also houses several significant icons and artefacts. Legendary Tales According to local legend, Mamas was a hermit living in extremely poor circumstances in a cave outside of town. When the authorities tried to tax him, he pleaded poverty and evaded them for some time. Soldiers were sent out to recoup the levy and arrested him at his dwelling. On the way back he escaped by jumping on to the back of a ferocious lion attacking a lamb, and he rode it all the way into town while carrying the injured lamb in his arms. On seeing this sight, the Byzantine authorities were so impressed that they decided to exempt him from paying taxes for the rest of his life and of any punishment. Since then, St Mamas has been the Patron Saint of tax avoiders and so famous locally there are over 10 churches on the island dedicated to this Christian Saint. Another tale says Mamas was killed in Anatolia and placed by his family in a stone coffin aided by Jesus Christ. The story continues with the coffin swept away to sea and washed up on the shores of Guzelyurt Bay. Discovered by a local farmer, he harnessed the immensely hefty coffin to two oxen and hauled it as far as the beasts could manage, and when they could go no further, a church was built around it. The Church Most of this compound dates from the 18th century but its Iconostasis, the lavish wall of icons and religious paintings separating the nave from the sanctuary, is a gorgeous sample of artful wood carving of the 16th century. The church in the monastery was originally a Byzantine building, built on the site of an Aphrodite temple. It has been reconstructed at various times over the centuries, and most of the buildings today date to the 18th century, when the large central dome was also added. The side portals and columns of the nave survive from an earlier Gothic church built by the Lusignans. A strange mixture of Gothic and Byzantine styles, it’s more spacious than many other Orthodox churches on the island. It has a central nave, apse, and two side aisles, with the grand dome that rises above the nave at the altar end, pierced by six tall narrow windows. The columns are decorated with foliar carvings, vine leaves and visages carved with clear delineation. Into the Iconostasis are incorporated marble panels that are carved with Venetian coats of arms, and there are two marble pillars on either side of the Holy Door that are evidence of early recycling, probably from an earlier church, though not necessarily on this site. The pulpit was built in 1711, and the oldest icon is dated to around 1745. There’s no evidence this church was ever in use by members of the Catholic faith and therefore presumably it has always been a place of Orthodox worship. The most beautiful exhibit in the church is the magnificent crystal chandelier that hangs in the centre of the apse and surprises every visitor upon entry through the side entrance as its plain outer façade gives no hint of the splendid interior. Hundreds of droplets glow with all the iridescence of the spectrum when the lamps are lit, and it's flanked by smaller, though equally elegant, examples of the glass-blowers craft. St Mamas is shown as a relief on the outside of the church, as well as on several icons inside. Monastery buildings are to the north and east, and records show them as being built in 1779. Architecturally, the arches on the front of the northern buildings that reflect a traditional style, are quite different to those on the eastern side, which have a resemblance to 18th century Ottoman inns, with stone columns on the ground floor and timber balconies on the second. Tomb of St Mamas The marble sarcophagus of the Saint can be found forming part of the north wall of the church, surrounded by richly carved decorations, many in the shape of ear drums, depicting scenes of excruciating martyrdom. It’s said that during Ottoman rule, believing there was treasure hidden in the coffin, they pierced holes into its lid, from which in turn an ointment liquid oozed out. This liquid, which appeared at irregular intervals, was purported to have curative properties. Around the tomb you will see offerings in the shape of ears since St Mamas is not only the Patron Saint of tax avoiders, but also of those suffering ear aches and infections! Icon Museum Whilst the Icon collection isn't as extensive as the collection at the St Barnabas Monastery, St Mamas remains without doubt the most beautiful and best kept of all the Orthodox churches that are preserved as Icon Museums on the island, and is the highlight of any visit to Güzelyurt . The magnificent collection of religious Icons is certainly worth seeing, as is the skilled art and craftwork dating back many centuries. Top Guides > Churches > St Mary Church Located in the bastion precinct, this church was one of the city’s larger buildings. In the 13th century, middle eastern Christians fled the Holy Land and although Christian, their beliefs weren't Latin or Orthodox and they tended to congregate in the same area. In1311, Pope Clement V allowed the Carmelites to settle in Cyprus. Two other mendicant orders, the Franciscan and Dominican , were established 15 years prior and the Augustinians, the last of the mendicant orders, arrived shortly after. The Carmelites originated from the Carmel mountains of Northern Israel and settled in what later became known as the Syrian quarter of the city. The church was built in the 14th Century as part of a monastic complex dedicated to the Virgin Mary , hence its name. Other churches were built in the town at the same time, as Famagusta was one of the richest cities in Christendom. It was close to where the Venetians would later build the Martinengo Bastion in the 16th century. It adjoined the Armenian monastery, established at the same time, and was next to other monasteries Located in the bastion precinct, this church was one of the city’s larger buildings. In the 13th century, middle eastern Christians fled the Holy Land and although Christian, their beliefs weren't Latin or Orthodox and they tended to congregate in the same area. In1311, Pope Clement V allowed the Carmelites to settle in Cyprus. Two other mendicant orders, the Franciscan and Dominican , were established 15 years prior and the Augustinians, the last of the mendicant orders, arrived shortly after. The Carmelites originated from the Carmel mountains of Northern Israel and settled in what later became known as the Syrian quarter of the city. The church was built in the 14th Century as part of a monastic complex dedicated to the Virgin Mary , hence its name. Other churches were built in the town at the same time, as Famagusta was one of the richest cities in Christendom. It was close to where the Top Guides > Churches > St Nikolas Church This is one of 3 remaining Byzantine churches in Famagusta. St Nikolas is a small double-aisled church that history has taken its toll on, although some parts still remain and are visible. The structure had 2 domes , noticeable at the top of the piers. Below the window of the dome, a visible groove indicates something was lowered from here, possibly a chandelier or maybe the church bell. Three small holes in the wall create a triangular formation and behind these are hollow spaces made of clay pots that have been built in – a technique that lightened load to make it structurally more reliable. At the same time, these pots were thought to create better acoustics , creating a more heavenly aura. If you try chanting you can judge for yourself.. Top Guides > Churches > St Simeon Church In the early 14th century, the Church of St Simeon in Famagusta was described as the metochion of a Sinai monastery. Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Egypt , controlled by the Church of Sinai and part of the Greek Orthodox Church, owned lands in Cyprus. The Sinai founded the priory of Saint Simeon, which Pope John XXII endowed with privileges in 1334. The term metochion when used with a monastery describes a dependent of the senior monastery, almost like a child that's being given blessing and support, to develop into an autonomous monastery or society. The metochion would perhaps receive clergy from that monastery or other forms of support. St Simeon is one of 3 churches remaining in Famagusta that were built during Byzantine rule, the others being Ayia Zoni and St Nikolas. An orthodox Bishopric was established early, and the Agios Simeon became the Orthodox Cathedral when citizens of Salamis moved to Famagusta. The cathedral was cruciform in shape and would have supported a dome. There were two aisles, each with a semi-circular apse and altar, situated behind a decorated iconostasis. It's reputed that the remains of St Epiphanios, Bishop of Salamis , were once enshrined here although his remains were taken to Constantinople by Emperor Leo in the 9th century. The St George church is also attached to the north wall, dedicated to this Bishop who had gained a reputation as a defender of orthodoxy. The Orthodox community built this newer and grander church alongside the old Simeon which later became abandoned. Top Guides > Churches > The Twin Churches Among the many churches in Famagusta, these two medieval buildings have an exhilarating story. Officially named Templars Church of St John and Hospitallers Church of St John they were built alongside one another within the same century, and together are known as the Twin Churches. The larger and older of the two is the Templars and together they were the centres of the two orders in Cyprus. Also known as the Knights Templa r, they formed one of the three great military orders of knighthood, founded around 1119 to protect pilgrims on their way to the Holy Land. They quickly rose to legendary wealth and influence for two centuries. At the head of the order was the Master of the Temple at Jerusalem until 1291. With the gradual loss of their possessions in the Holy Land and the fall of the Latin kingdom, the Templars relocated their headquarters to Cyprus which they had once previously acquired from King Richard I of England in 1192. The Hospitallers were a Christian organisation founded in Jerusalem in 1080, founded by St John the Almoner of Amathus , son of the Byzantine Governor of Cyprus Epiphanios, and provided care for poor, sick or injured or injured pilgrims to the Holy Land, and soon became the other Christian force in the region. After the first Crusade it became a military order, charged with upkeep and defence of the Holy Land. They soon became the most powerful Christian groups in the area, enjoying similar privileges and prosperity to the Templars, and, like them, sought refuge in Cyprus in 1291 after the fall of Acre, the crusaders’ last Levantine bastion. After their heyday, the two famous fighting orders of the Crusaders’ period met with very contrasting fates. Following the failed papal attempt to merge them into one, the Hospitallers were able to establish a lasting rule in Rhodos , while the Templars, persecuted by Philip IV of France and Pope Clement V , were dissolved and many of them burned at stake. The Hospitallers became involved in Cypriot politics. After the Templars were dissolved, they took over their Cypriot properties. Nonetheless, they constructed their own church abutting the older church, hence the Twin Churches of Famagusta, a testimony to the two orders’ adventures in Cyprus. A later addition saw a passage built connecting the churches. Above the doorway of the Templars, you can see a small rose window and above the opposite door, the coats of arms of the Knights Hospitallers are still visible. The belfry of this church is a much later addition, dating to the 16th century. Various Byzantine frescoes from the same period can be seen to this day on these walls. These churches have been since restored and are an historic site for thousands of visitors each year. A hundred metres over from the Twin Churches is the Somineli Ev or Chimney House , a hybrid of exterior Venetian architecture meets interior Ottoman design. The building has been modified since and is used for arts and crafts exhibitions. Top

TRNC Culture - Barber Shops, Charities, Cittaslow, Evil Eyes, Festivals, Folklore, Meyhanes, Music, Myths & Legends, Radio Stations, Stamps, The Noble Peasant, Theatre, Traditional Crafts Guides > Culture Barber Shops Festivals Myths & Legends Theatre Charities Folklore Radio Stations Traditional Crafts Cittaslow Meyhanes Stamps Evil Eyes Music The Noble Peasant Guides > Culture > Barber Shops Always ask the price before committing yourself to a seat in the barbers’ chair as they have been known to vary charges even though they have a standard price list. There are various options open to you, but most men seem to go for a traditional shave and this is what you can expect: Your face is washed with warm water to soften up the bristles. The barber will then whip up foam in a cup using traditional ‘traş ’ soap and apply a first layer to your chin, neck and sideburns . While that's soaking in you'll often be treated to a neck and temple massage. The second coat of shaving soap is applied to the same areas as before, and the barber will work his magic with his razor or ‘ustura ’– a typical straight razor that flicks open like a pen-knife. If you're unfortunate enough to suffer the odd nick, the barber will produce what is known as a ‘blood stone’ or ‘kantaşı ’ in Turkish. This involves a quick rub to the nick which will stop the bleeding immediately. Now for your cheekbones . This is the real treat and there are two ways of removing unwanted cheekbone hair. First option is dipping cotton wool into some pure alcohol, then lighting it and brushing it quickly over the cheekbones. Don’t worry, it's not painful or dangerous, but there is a faint whiff of burnt hair after. Second option is to use a length of cotton, which is twisted and drawn across the cheekbone, plucking out the hairs. You might know this technique as "threading ". To finish the look, you can have nasal and ear hairs trimmed as well. The barber will use a modern little shaver to do the nostrils, but the ears will be done with the cotton wool and alcohol method. Finally, just so everyone knows you’ve just been to the barbers, traditional lemon essence cologne is patted around the shaven areas, and to top it all off a good slap of moisturising face cream and you may even get a shoulder massage as well. Baby, smacked and bottom are all words to describe your finished appearance and you 'll certainly feel refreshed and invigorated! Top Guides > Culture > Charities ATA - Anglo Turkish Association One of the largest NGO's in TRNC. Non-profit making, it aims to promote understanding and mutual respect between expats and locals. Membership is open to all English speakers who live for at least part of the year in TRNC. It has important cultural, educational and charitable aims, and also organises social gatherings, lectures, seminars, concerts, exhibitions and excursions which are also open to non-members. BRS - British Residents’ Society Established 1975, provides support and advice for British passport holders. Has direct access to the British High Commission and to Government Departments of the TRNC and enjoys their support. CESV - Civil Emergency Service Volunteers Local and expat volunteers who assist emergency services and work in conjunction with Civil Defence. KAR - Kyrenia Animal Rescue Animal Rescue Centre high in the Besparmak Mountains provides refuge for hundreds of dogs and cats. Employees run the centre; care for the animals and provide advice to the public while volunteers collect animals; conduct veterinary visits; groom; staff a charity shop; fund-raise and do eduation visits. NCCCT – North Cyprus Cancer Charity Trust Formed late 1980s. Provides medical equipment to help cancer patients in state hospitals. RBL - Royal British Legion, Kyrenia Branch Formed 1st October 2011 and currently has over 300 members. SOS Children’s Villages in North Cyprus Built in Lefkosa in 1993. Today, as well as the Village, they have an SOS Youth Facility, an SOS Nursery and an SOS Social Centre. Family Strengthening Programme enables children who are at risk of losing the care of their family to grow within a caring family environment. Children live with a family in a warm and safe house, are encouraged to become active community members, and provided with education and life training they need to become independent adults. SPOT - Society for Protection of Turtles Founded late 1980s, provided accommodation on land at Alagadi, which is still used by the Marine Turtle Conservation Project (MTCP). TFR - The Foreign Residents in the TRNC Formed in 1998. Participate in the maintenance of the international cemeteries. TULIPS - Help Those With Cancer Association Cancer is one of the hardest battles to be faced and Tulips is there to help, irrespective of nationality. Top Guides > Culture > Cittaslow Cittaslow is part of a global cultural trend known as the slow movement. An organisation founded in Italy, Cittaslow’s goals include improving the quality of life in towns by slowing down its overall pace, especially in their use of spaces and the flow of life and traffic through them. Living in a Cittaslow town means having a cleaner environment, eating wholesome food, participating in a rich social life that respects the values of tradition, and openings to persons of other cultures. Northern Cyprus is a member of this organisation, and the official Cittaslow towns of Lefke, Tatlisu, Geçitkale, Yeniboğaziçi near Famagusta and Mehmetcik in the Karpaz region, all represent this culture, hosting events throughout the year characterising the Cittaslow way of life. The Cittaslow manifesto states: “We are looking for towns where men are still curious of the old times, towns rich of theatres, squares, cafes, workshops, restaurants and spiritual places, towns with untouched landscapes and charming craftsman where people are still able to recognise the slow course of the Seasons and their genuine products respecting tastes, health and spontaneous customs.” For the avid traveller, these towns are well worth a visit and attending one of the many events a pleasurable experience. Top Guides > Culture > Evil Eyes No matter where you go in Northern Cyprus, you’ll come across an evil eye gem . These blue beads are known locally as Nazar Boncukare and are hung in homes, cars, shops, restaurants, used as an accessory in jewellery, and even embedded into walls and arches. The humble beads play an important function for Turkish Cypriots as they ward off and protect the owner from “evil eyes ”, bad luck or sickness. This tradition dates from pre-Christian times, when people believed that a look of hate from one person to another could bring upon illness, bad luck or even death. Hatred, jealousy or even extreme affection can also be the cause of any potential adverse experiences. The blue evil eye beads are made from glass, and should also contain iron, copper, water and salt, a more resistant ingredient against evil. Don’t underestimate the protective powers of these gems. You’ll find one in almost every jeweller or gift shop, and imake great souvenirs. Top Guides > Culture > Festivals North Cyprus has a large festival scene, with more organised every year. Village festivals may play on the particular speciality the village lends its name to, or it may be international music and culture festivals at some of the great historical venues. Festival season runs from March to October . Village fairs have grown in popularity over the last few years enabling the public to see traditions and culture of Turkish Cypriot life, as well as giving locals a chance to show off their skills and wares including cookery displays, arts and crafts demonstrations, competitions and the ever popular folk dance displays. Buy local products made in their traditional fashion or have a go at making them at the Büyükkonuk Eco-festival . Festivals are generally organised by the local municipality, with sponsors for some of the larger exhibitions and displays. North Cyprus is also becoming well known for its international musical events, with big names attending events including classical tenors, Turkish pop singers, plus old favourites like Boney M and Bonnie Tyler . The International Bellapais Music Festival held in the stunning Bellapais Monastery, has featured international classical groups, orchestras and individuals to amaze the crowds. Equally, theInternational Famagusta Art & Culture Festival is growing in stature with theatre and music events mostly being held at the Salamis Antique theatre. Besides music and village festivals there's also the cinematic and arts festivals of North Cyprus, featuring something for everyone to enjoy. Some of the festivals available in Northern Cyprus: Name Month Top Guides > Culture > Folklore Many countries around the world have a traditional dance that has been passed down through the generations and Northern Cyprus is no different. Folklore occupies a very important place with the locals as they've benefited from an assortment of civilisations that have all influenced the cultural heritage and folklore represents its unity and identity. Dances One popular folk dance is the Karsilama , where men and women perform together. It's a long series of dances presented by pairs of friends dancing face to face with a smiling mimic. Dancing in perfect timing, the men and women typically present different, but complimentary, moves. The Sirto is recognised as the oldest folk dance, where dancers hold each other’s wrists forming a circle. There are twelve basic steps involved, where one dancer leads the rest of the participants, varying the tempo. In some parts of Sirto, pairs of dancers hold a handkerchief from its two sides, as can also sometimes be seen in Karsilama. Individual dancers may show talents like spinning, jumping, kneeling or hitting their feet or legs or the ground with their hands. Costumes The colourful costumes worn by folk dancers in Northern Cyprus reflect the origins of the dances. The women wear colourful headdresses and jewellery, and dress in eye-catching dresses, usually knee length. The men wear white shirts with black knee-length trousers, and a wide red cloth belt. Combined with their blue waistcoats and red fez hats, their dashing folk dancing costume is completed by a pocket watch or handkerchief. Music A live folk dance nowadays is likely to be performed to a tape but traditional folk dances are usually accompanied by musicians, playing traditional instruments such as the zurna, a reed instrument with a distinctive and evocative Middle Eastern sound. Two types of drums can also be played, the smaller darbuka played with both hands, and the larger davul which is beaten with a stick. A violin is also usually played, and other instruments can be added, such as an accordion, or mandolin. Other than the folk music which accompanies dancing, entertainment and shows, other genre of “Türkü’s” are equally important, the most famous being “Dillirga”, “Kebapçıların Şişi” (“the skewers of the kebab makers”) and “Portakal Atışalım” (“let’s throw each other oranges”). Events & Festivals Dancing is a way of life in Northern Cyprus and can be seen in bridal showers, weddings, festivals and harvest time and is a way to show emotions of joy and gratitude. Turkish Cypriot folk dances are not only significant because they're enjoyed by locals, but also because they receive acclaim in other parts of the world, with folk-dance groups routinely representing Northern Cyprus at international festivals. The annual “Folk Dance International Festival ” is also held in Iskele, usually around the end of June, attracting groups from around the world. Lasting a week, the festival brings together the beauty of diverse cultures. It’s quite a sight to see younger generation of Cypriot folk dancers getting to grips with the sickle dance, when the sickles they're holding are almost as tall as them. Traditional dances are a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in an ancient tradition and local culture. Top Guides > Culture > Meyhanes Like Italy’s osterias , Spain’s bodegas and France’s bistros , North Cyprus eating and entertainment houses, known as Meyhanes , are a place to come together over meze and raki and is a tradition dating back thousands of years. They are the epitome of Northern Cyprus eating and drinking culture, and date to Byzantine time with a slow evolution. A type of drinking den in the Ottoman empire, the name comes from the Persian "mey " meaning ‘wine’ and "khāneh " meaning ‘house’. These joints used to be described as small dark spaces, often underground, with few or no windows, wooden stools and low tables by a bar, and casks filled with wine lining the walls. Under Ottoman rule, meyhanes were owned by non-Muslims, who were generally allowed to produce and sell their own wine outside of Muslim districts. Although rakı entered the meyhane scene in the 16th century, it played second fiddle to wine until the 19th century. The meyhane today is where people sit together around tables draped in red or white linen, eat a colossal amount of meze’s, meat or seafood, and sip raki. More than just a place to eat and drink, it's a place where conversation takes centre stage, where hearts are poured out as the rakı flows, and where quenching the thirst of the soul matters more than satisfying the hunger of the stomach. Meyhane culture differs to other counterparts in the Mediterranean. You won't find a menu, and a feast of local delicacies will be brought to the table one after the other, until you say stop . Starting with a spread of cold Meze’s, several plates of different types, no less than fifteen, are the start of the almost banquet serving. Specialities unique to Northern Cyprus include green olives known as Chakistes, pickled Quail eggs, Samarella which consists usually of goat’s meat that's salted and cured for preservation, and Tahin , a sesame paste made from toasted and ground sesame seeds mixed with garlic, lemon juice and olive oil, a staple of any Cypriot meze. If you're drinking rakı, you can ask for Beyaz Peynir (white ewe’s milk cheese matured in brine) to always be accompanied by slices of fresh melon. Warm meze’s follow , usually with grilled Hellim in pitta bread, Çiğer which is diced liver either grilled or fried, Magarina Bulli, tubular pasta cooked and served with chicken, sprinkled with grated Hellim and dried mint. A meat platter arrives soon after, from Köfte (meatballs) to Lamb and Chicken Şiş (skewered), Chops, to the infamous Seftali Kebab, a type of crépinette, with a lamb filling mixed with finely chopped onion and parsley, seasoned with salt and pepper. If you have room for dessert , you 'll be served mixed seasonal fruit, a type of Macun which is a traditional fruit preserve and inherent part of Cypriot culture, and most meyhanes will also offer a serving of the infamous Kırbaç, which literally translates as “the Whip” – a blend of Nor, a fresh mild whey cheese produced in Cyprus, and cream or milk, drizzled with local honey and topped with walnuts. Before leaving, you'll be offered a Kahve (Turkish coffee) to help digest the feast. You'll be amazed by the great value for money you receive in meyhanes and you probably won't be able to finish everything served to you. The more traditional concentrations are inland, in Nicosia or neighbouring Gönyeli, but you'll find more than one Meyhane in almost every town, and it's likely any local can direct you to one. Afiyet Olsun! Bon Appétit! Top Guides > Culture > Music North Cyprus is home to a really wide variety of music and musicians and you can find great venues to listen to music, get involved or dance to what you hear. The island has wonderful home-grown talent in classical music and rock and music classes and private tuition are available to learn new skills. Many restaurants, hotels and casinos have their own house bands, providing jazz, pop and Turkish music that pull in local crowds as well as guests. Classical music is one of North Cyprus’ most heavily promoted genres, with classical music festivals throughout the year where you can experience orchestras, chamber choirs, tenor singers, quartets and trios, often at historic venues. Smaller venues hold traditional music evenings during the summer months. Classical music also incorporates the tradition of ‘Fasıl ’ music which has its roots in the Ottoman era. This is a blend of instrumental and vocal music dating back to the 14th century. Jazz is popular and can often be heard in bigger 5 star hotels. Club or disco music is played in clubs all summer long , and you can often just follow the sound to find out where it’s coming from. DJs from all over the world come to North Cyprus to entertain packed audiences at the various beach clubs and continue well into the morning. Rock music has a healthy following and live rock music is in many pubs and bars. There's a number of good local musicians and bands around and they normally play at the live music venues. The bigger rock bands that visit from Türkiye will mostly get to play at the larger beach club venues. During big Public Holidays such as Şeker Bayram and Kurban Bayram, there’s an explosion of Turkish music with stars arriving en masse to entertain the many visiting Turkish mainlanders and the locals with their glitz and glamour and unique style of entertainment. Top Guides > Culture > Myths & Legends Pygmalion & Galatea The ancient city of Karpasia was a harbour town 4km west of today’s Dipkarpaz village. It was established during pagan times as a city-state before Christianity. Today, it’s possible to see the fortification walls and columns of the palace in the sea. It was the legendary King Pygmalion who founded this city, one of the oldest in Cyprus, which also gave its name to the Karpaz Peninsula. Pygmalion lived alone in his palace. Having an artistic character, he decorated his palace with his own carved marble sculptures. He wasn’t satisfied with the women around him and was waiting for his ideal woman – his Queen. One day, he began to carve a beautiful woman, sculpted from snow-white marble and day by day fell in love with it. He stroked its cheeks and hair and gave it pearls, seashells jewellery and flowers. Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, took pity on Pygmalion and wanted to end his sorrow. One day when the King returned to his palace and hugged the sculpture, he realised it had come to life, had colour in its cheeks and was looking at him lovingly. Pygmalion gave the fair skinned woman the name “Galatea” which means “as white as milk”. The King had found his Queen. He married her and they had a son named Paphos, who grew up to become a strong handsome man. Pygmalion called his son to him and said: “Dear Son, I have established my kingdom at thevery easternmost point of the island. Go to the west and found your own kingdom.” It’s believed that the city of Paphos or Baf, was founded by and named after Paphos, the son of King Pygmalion. Aphrodite & Adonis Kinyras, the King of Cyprus, had a daughter who was a legendary beauty called Smyrna. One day her father claimed his daughter was more beautiful than the goddess Aphrodite. When Aphrodite heard this, she took revenge by making the King and his daughter fall in love with each other. They both fell under the effect of the spell, and she became pregnant by her father. Ashamed and afraid, she sought refuge in a forest while the King looked everywhere for her with the intention of murdering her. Symrna begged to the gods and Zeus took pity on her, turning Smyrna into a myrtle tree to save her. After nine months, the princess, who was pregnant when she transformed into a tree, gave birth to her son Adonis by ripping apart the trunk of the tree. The goddess Aphrodite found this beautiful baby on the trunk of the tree and took care of the child, taking him to live with her. As he grew up, Adonis became very handsome leading to Aphrodite and the goddess of the underworld, Persephone, coming into conflict over him. Zeus and Olimpos ended the battle between these two goddesses by deciding that Adonis should live for 6 months of the year with Aphrodite and 6 months of the year with Persephone. As he prepared to meet Aphrodite, Adonis was engaging in his favourite activity, hunting, when he encountered a wild boar. A fight took place between them and Adonis was badly wounded. Bleeding and in pain he attempted to reach Aphrodite, but lost all his strength, collapsing to the ground and taking his final breath. As it turned out, the life of Adonis was very brief …. like a flower. Aphrodite couldn’t accept his death and cried for days. From that time, nature stepped in to make this love immortal. The red and white anemones, a flower with a very short life span, blossom in Cyprus, in the place where Adonis, died. The red anemones symbolise the blood spilling from the wounds of Adonis and the white ones the tears of Aphrodite and the yellow one represent this tragic end. The Olive Tree In the past, the wealth of people was measured by the number of olive trees they owned. Weddings were only scheduled after the harvest of the olives in Templo, today’s Zeytinlik village. The olive tree is a sacred tree which had economic, cultural and spiritual value. The sanctity of the olive tree is believed to be based on a legend about Jesus Christ. It was said that Jesus hid on top of an olive tree while he was trying to escape from his enemies and after the enemies went by, he said this prayer: “live 100 years more than the person who cultivated you, give plentiful fruit and oil and make your owners rich.” The olive tree asked “what will happen if they cut and burn me?”. He replied: “the smoke which comes from your wood and leaves will protect you from devilry and envy”. Today for the people of Cyprus, as for the Zeytinlik villagers, the olive leaf has a sacred meaning offering protection from evil. St Mamas St Mamas was a priest who was born in Cyprus and gave his name to the church in Guzelyurt. He was was living in a cave in the region when a mandate decreed everyone was to pay taxes. Mamas refused to pay saying that since he was living in a cave he didn’t enjoy any of the government’s facilities. He was arrested and on his journey to Lefkosa, a lion jumped into the road while chasing a lamb. As Mamas raised his hand, suddenly the lion paused. Mamas picked up the lamb, mounted the lion, and rode on its back until he reached the throne room of the Duke who proposed the tax rule. The Duke was so shocked that he agreed to waive Mamas payment. Five Finger Mountains A beautiful girl lived in a village in the mountains which form a backdrop of today’s Girne. Two young men loved this girl - one was good-hearted the other wasn’t. They decided to have a duel on the edge of a marsh in Merserya. The malevolent one wounded the good man by putting him in the marsh. The good-hearted youth gradually started to sink in the marshy area while he was trying to push himself up out of the mud. He raised his sword with a final effort, and as the sword slipped from his grasp, he was buried with five fingers open to the sky. In time the marshy area dried out and the good-hearted youth’s hand turned into mountains resembling his five fingers. The Nursing Rock on Top of The Fortifications of Gamimagusa There is a location on the fortifications of Gazimagusa where a white liquid flows like milk. The people of Gazimagusa think it has a specific and extraordinary power. Women who have just given birth, who have difficulty in breast feeding, come to this place to make a wish. It’s also visited by women who want to have children, who come to touch the rock. Petrified Lions of The Gate of The Harbour The sculptures on the right side of the sea gate of the Othello Castle belong to a lion and its cub. According to legend, the lion had tried to eat its cub and they were turned into stone. One of the sculptures is lost. According to another legend, the lion opens its mouth at an unknown time of an unknown day once a year and the person who puts their hand into the mouth of the lion will find an unbelievable treasure. The Legend of Canbalut Pasha The Venetians had placed a rotating wheel with knives around it, at the gate of the city to cut invading soldiers in half. Canbulat Bey was fed up of the siege as it was taking so long and rode his horse towards the wheel, was decapitated but replaced his head and continued to fight. After the conquest of the war, he lay down in peace and died a martyr. The Legend of St Barnabas St Barnabas was born Jewish in Salamis and met Jesus Christ during one of his journeys to Palestine. He came to Cyprus 46 years after the death of Jesus and was killed by local Jewish people when he attempted to spread Christianity. His corpse was hidden in a marshy area from which they planned to throw it into the sea but his supporters rescued his corpse and buried his corpse in a cave to the west of Salamis, putting a copy of the Bible, written by St Matthew, with him. The place of the grave wasn’t known and was kept secret. 432 years after his death, Bishop Anthemios saw the grave in his dream, identified its location and asked for it to be opened. When the grave was opened the Bible was found and the grave was easily identified as that of St Barnabas. In AD 477 the monastery was built on the site of that grave and today is one of the most important places for Greek Orthodox Cypriots. The Castle of St Hilarion St Hilarion castle was built in the 6th century AD and took its name from a hermit of the same name. According to legend, a group of young men visited the castle on what was known as “Wish Day”, the only day of the year when wishes were accepted and the one day in every 40 years when the door of the 101st room was opened. The young men, finding this door opened, swarmed into that room, saw it full of treasure and started to grab everything they saw. One tried to take the crown, sceptre and sword. In their greed they didn’t realise their time was up and the doors slammed shut. They slept for 40 years in the room and when the day came, the doors opened again and they returned back to their villages. They’d stayed the same age but their children had grown old and many of their peers were dead already. The Legend of Apostolos Andreas The Monastery of Apostolos Andreas is a sacred place for both Turkish and Greek people. Its’ sanctity comes from the water which flows through the rocks where a monastery and church were built, believed to be a place visited by St Andreas. (St Andrew). The legend of Apostolos Andreas is that the romans had learned about his attempts to spread Christianity round the Mediterranean and Black Sea and decided to send him to Rome. En route, the captain of the ship transporting him was worried because they were out of water. Apostolos Andreas said “I can find water for you” and asked for permission to land. When he stepped ashore they discovered the spring flowing through the rocks. The Captain set him free and the Andreas decided to settle there. Following the spread of Christianity the news of the miracle of Andreas spread. People began to believe the healing power of the water and the monastery became a shrine. According to Muslims, this sacred water is “the miracle of Hz. Suleyman”. They believe anyone who drinks the water will be healed; a blind person will see; and a paralysed person will walk. Those who drink from the sacred water, take away bottles of water for those who can’t visit. Turkish people make wishes by lighting a candle at Christmas. The Christians also shape their candles according to their wishes and bring bottles of olive oil. The Queen of Yuzbirevler During the Lusignan Dynasty, the name of the castle of St Hilarion was changed to “Dieu D’Amour” - “Castle of the Goddess of Love”. The castle was also known as the “Castle of Regina” – “Castle of the Queen”. The Queen was famous not only for her beauty but also her evil nature. According to legend, the queen was sitting on top of a high rock controlling the building works during the construction of the castle. She didn’t give permission for the builders to rest as they carried sand, water, and pebbles from the sea to the mountain. Finally the construction was completed and the queen moved into the palace. Having no further use for the builders, she called them to the palace and threw them out of the window. She also threw soldiers from the window when they'd finished their guard duties. It was said she didn’t want anyone alive who took a role during the construction of the palace. Today, the Gothic style decorated window, facing to the northwest is known as the “Queen’s Window”. The Castle of Buffavento Buffavento is an Italian name meaning “disobeying the wind” and also has a story relating to a Queen. According to legend, a Byzantine princess got leprosy and retired to the castle to isolate herself. The princess had a dog who also had leprosy. The dog would leave the castle every day and disappear behind the southern peak returning to the castle some time later. The princess noticed one day that the dog was healthy again, so she followed it the next day and saw it bathe in a natural spring. She bathed in it as well and was cured. She had the Church of St John Chrysostomos built over the place where she discovered the healing spring. The Legend of Fire Rock A villager always complained about God and blamed him for any negative thing, including the bad harvest. Shepherds meeting around the rock of fire, after releasing their animals into the Five FInger Mountains, heard him complaining and said to the farmer that he should go back to the rock of fire and make his complaints directly to God there. The farmer climbed to the top of the mountain, raised his hands and started shouting at God like a mad man. He was hit by lighting and turned to stone. If you visit the rock of fire which shines very brightly during sunset, you’ll see that it does look like a human silhouette. The Legend of the Phoenix A big stone in the Ciklos region looks like a huge half-divided egg which is known as the Soil Stone or Egg Stone. According to legend, the Ciklos region is the nest of the phoenix and after the death of his mate, he protected his last egg. He sat on the egg day after day during incubation, but eventually left the egg to get food because he was hungry. The egg hatched, crows ate the newly hatched phoenix and the race became extinct. It's said that crows circle on top of the rock because they haven’t forgotten the taste of the phoenix. The Legend of Hz. Omer’s Tomb One day a shepherd, known as Mad Hasan of Catalkoy, spotted a pirate ship at sea and began to pray. Suddenly, seven Arabic cavaliers appeared, rode across the surface of the sea to reach the ship with sparks coming out of their horseshoes, sank it, then quickly disappeared, thus protecting Catalkoy from attack. No one believed Mad Hasan until they saw the marks left by the horseshoes on the rocks and understood they were cavaliers of Hz. Omer. As a result of this legend which is based on the horseshoe prints on the rocks, the Ottomans have constructed seven graves and a shrine which have a symbolic meaning. Since then, this place has become a sacred place for the Muslims who live in Cyprus and they visit this shrine especially during religious festivals when they pray and make offerings. Top Guides > Culture > Radio Stations Top Guides > Culture > Stamps Turkish Cypriot stamps are highly sought after by philatelists around the world due to their designs, limited series print, thematic subjects and historical past. Pre-Philatelic Periods The first letter known in Cyprus was a commercial letter written in Italian, dated 17th June 1353, and sent from Famagusta to Istanbul. The date corresponds to Lusignan rule although it was the Venetians who set up postal organisation on the island. In those days written letters were folded like an envelope and stamped with a wax seal. In addition, captains of the vessels transporting letters were placing their own signs and signatures on the letters they were carrying. Philatelic Period Austrian Postal Services Austrian Lloyd was a maritime company set up as a postal agency in 1837. Initially stamps weren’t used on letters which were sealed. In following years, stamp and seal were used together. Ottoman Postal Services Ottomans set up a post office in Lefkosa in 1871 but it was closed when the British took over in 1878. British Postal Services The British set up a post office in Larnaca on 27rh July 1878. British stamps were used for about 2 years as there weren’t any Cypriot stamps. Later the word CYPRUS was overprinted on British stamps and this continued for a year. The first series of Cypriot stamps were printed on 1st July 1881. The last series of stamps printed by the British for Cyprus were put on sale on 1st August 1955 and were used until 15th August 1960 when the Republic of Cyprus was established. Republic of Cyprus On 16th August 1960 a Republic based on partnership by Turks and Greeks was established in Cyprus. When Turks opposed unification with Greece, armed clashes resulted and Turks were dismissed from the organs of the Republic. Greek Cypriots started applying postal service embargoes on Turks, thus preventing freedom of communication. Turkish Cypriot Postal Services Turkish Cypriot postal services were established on 6th January 1964, a short while after armed clashes between the two Cypriot communities. The first Turkish Cypriot stamp was printed on 8th April 1970, named “Social Aid ”, was used as both a revenue and postage stamp and bore the name “Assembly of the Turkish Community ”. The Turkish Red Cross Association helped Turkish Cypriots in their communication with foreign countries especially with Turkey. Letters collected in Nicosia Post Office were handed over to the Red Crescent, then transferred to Ankara where they were stamped and distributed to Turkish addresses. There was an agreement to normalise postal services in 1966. Greek Cypriots permitted Turkish Cypriots to have one post office in the towns of Nicosia, Famagusta and Lefka and agents in Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos with the condition that only the name “The Republic of Cyprus ” be used and this was the case until 1970. Letters sent between Turkish quarters of the island carried the Social Aid stamps and letters sent overseas carried stamps of The Republic of Cyprus. After 1974 these arrangements were abandoned. Turkish Cypriot Stamps issued on 29th October 1973 commemorated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Republic of Turkey. They were issued with the name of “Turkish Cypriot Administration ” and is the first series accepted as the real Turkish Cypriot postage stamp. After the 1974 intervention by Turkey, the first post office branch was opened in Kyrenia and started to communicate with foreign countries by post. Stamps, beside their usage for postal services, are also used to present a country to the world. Turkish stamps have as themes, natural beauty, flora and fauna, famous people, important events and anniversaries. They’ve been printed annually since 1975. Special Edition Stamps The postal service often releases Special Edition Stamps such as in the spring, or before particular bayram holidays etc. The Postal Department also has a Philatelist Section which collectors can contact to receive limited editions and special first day covers. Private purchases can also be made. Top Guides > Culture > The Noble Peasant Why is the desire to build monuments so strong and lasting? What is it that sparks the desire or need to build monuments? For thousands of years, humans have had the desire to be remembered. This is done as a reminder of the life and accomplishments of an individual, society, or nation. The desire to leave art and artefacts for posterity is a natural human response. To allow the lessons and experiences of one’s own life to mean something to future generations is an innate human desire. Building monuments creates an everlasting object symbolising the life and accomplishments of an individual or a society, bringing meaning and understanding to future generations. The imposing and majestic proportions of a monumental sculpture give a sense of strength and evoke admiration and wonder. Great outdoor monumental sculptures create a lasting visual appeal, are prestigious, and often attract large numbers of tourists. The powerful effects of a monumental statue, in one particular case, has had important consequences. A visit to Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro elicited a powerful reaction in Erbil Arkin, founder of ARUCAD University of Creative Arts and Design . i.e., a large community of vegetation and wildlife adapted to a specific climate - that will showcase different aspects of Cyprus’s natural habitat. The current area is well stocked with young pine trees and maquis shrub. Of the trees that will be introduced to the area, many will be saplings sourced from the Forestry Department that will allow the hillside to grow and develop organically over time.In part, it was the way that Corcovado Mountain dominated the city of Rio, much in the way the Five Finger Mountain Range does to Kyrenia. For Mr. Arkin, however, the idea that was germinating was for a statue in Cyprus that all Cypriots would identify with as being inherent to their culture and traditions. His desire was for a monument to The Noble Peasant that would celebrate and exalt the inner nobility of ordinary folk. In a country that has witnessed divisions and conflict in its past, a unifying factor was that almost all Cypriots were, only a few generations ago, sons and daughters of the soil - farmers, animal husbanders, peasants. The Noble Peasant, 40 metres in height and standing sentinel over the coastline, has the potential to bring world renown to North Cyprus as a symbol of pride in the capabilities and resourcefulness of its people . As a work of engineering and artistic excellence, it will long outlast our lifetimes and will be a gift to future generations. It is currently under construction and can be seen slowly emerging on the hillside that overlooks Girne. It will surely be the most iconic building in Northern Cyprus when finished. The Park The Noble Peasant Park covers a large area of over 23 hectares and has been conceived and designed in conjunction with the Noble Peasant Statue Project. The park is situated on a prominent hill to the south of the coastal town of Kyrenia and is surrounded by the spectacular backdrop of the Five Finger Mountains. While the immediate plaza area around the statue is envisaged as having slightly formal, tended gardens, much in the way of the urban parks of Europe, the much larger, wider hill area is intended to be designed to be a semi-“wilded” environment and laid out in biomes - i.e., a large community of vegetation and wildlife adapted to a specific climate - that will showcase different aspects of Cyprus’s natural habitat. The current area is well stocked with young pine trees and maquis shrub. Of the trees that will be introduced to the area, many will be saplings sourced from the Forestry Department that will allow the hillside to grow and develop organically over time. Top Guides > Culture > Theatre Turkish Cypriot theatre and shadow puppetry have been very popular in North Cyprus for centuries as they were the only sources of entertainment for people prior to TV. Even when cinemas opened in towns and cities, it was still difficult for village folk to reach urban centers, so shadow plays continued to play a prominent role in cultural life. Theatre has served as entertainment and an instructive medium and adopted an identity of their own both in subject matter and style. In particular, the Shadow Game (Karagöz) has long been a popular play in North Cyprus and has become an institution for Turkish Cypriots. Local theatre evolved from traditional Turkish theatre then adopted Western theatre styles and techniques at the beginning of the 20th Century. Founded in 1963, the first Turkish Cypriot theatre was called ‘First Stage ’ and later became known as the Turkish Cypriot State Theatre in 1966. It has staged various plays both in TRNC and abroad. Today, local and foreign theatre groups also operate alongside the Turkish Cypriot State Theatre. Many local and foreign theatre groups add variety and liveliness to the cultural life of North Cyprus during theatre festivals. There is the International Cyprus Theatre Festival for example, often held at one of the large university complexes, but which also stages one off shows in town squares or castles, offering up to a month’s worth of stage plays, puppet and dance theatre. Theatre companies from Türkiye, such as the famous Büyükşehir Belediyesi Şehir Tiyatrosu from Istanbul, come to perform as well as groups from Ankara, Russia and local Turkish Cypriot theatre companies. There are several theatre companies based in North Cyprus, one of the main being Sidetreets in Lefkoşa. Popular private companies include Lefkoşa Belediye Tiyatrosu and Maras Emek Theatre , as well as a comedy theatre group called Kıbrıs Türk Komedi Tiyatrosu which is based in Famagusta. Some shows are silent, so there's no problem with language barriers, but even if the mother tongue isn't Turkish, lots of people attend plays just to see the exceptional standards of acting, and some of the stories are so old and well known it doesn’t take a genius to work out the storylines. Lefkoşa, Kyrenia and Famagusta are all host to an array of theatre activities. For foreign residents KADS, (Kyrenia Amateur Dramatics Society ), puts on productions of well known English plays during the year at various locations in Kyrenia, and has even broadcast their productions on radio. Top Guides > Culture > Traditional Handicrafts The handicrafts of each country represent the heritage and culture of that country, and Northern Cyprus is no different. Many traditional handicrafts are still made today and carry on the legacy of years of knowledge, culture and expertise. For example: Embroidered Lace Undoubtedly the most famous handicraft of Northern Cyprus is the embroidery lace, known as the Lefkaritika net . The art dates back to the 15th century and was inspired by the Venetians Local women got ideas from the delicate embroidery on Venetian clothes and put them on their own net. Traditionally, a Cypriot girl had to have an extended collection of Lefkara Lace ready for exhibition on her wedding day, and in this way, skills have passed from mother to daughter. For centuries, women from villages and small towns have sat side by side, embroidering on linen fabrics. Cyprus Lefkara Lace is made of linen with thread, and varies in shapes and cutting techniques used to decorate the final hand craft. It's quite distinctive and notable characteristics are the hemstitch, satin stitch fillings, and needlepoint edgings. These form linens such as tablecloths and napkins which are only made in white, brown and ecru colours. The other distinctive feature of fine lace in Northern Cyprus is that there's no difference between the front and back of any piece. Only lace made in this traditional way is considered to be authentic. The design for Lefkara Lace is first drawn onto paper, and then a transparent second sheet placed over this to protect the lace. Needles are placed along the design outline, and a thread tied to the front-most needle. The thread is then run around the outside of all the needles and tied to the last needle. Once three layers of such threads have been built up, they are stitched together like a buttonhole. Gradually, the lace starts to form, rising out from the paper base. The result is an incredibly delicate, intricate and true labour of love. The skilled art is recognised on the UNESCO Intangible World Heritage List , defined as ‘practices, representations, expressions, knowledge and skills’ from around the world that are protected for their invaluable cultural heritage. The linens became an important trade under Venetian rule, so famous that even Leonardo da Vinci personally visited Cyprus to find embroidery for decorating the altar of the Duomo Cathedral in Milan . When visiting small villages, you may come across ladies sitting on their front porch busily hand-embroidering, working the lace as they have done for centuries. Lace work of Lefkara is a hot buy for visitors perhaps even as a gift to pass down through generations in truly Cypriot fashion. Available in souvenir or handicraft shops, the most renowned are at the Buyuk Han in Lefkosa. Wicker Weaving You can't ignore the wicker baskets! The bright and cheerful designs of these mat weavers in shops and restaurant walls all over the country, attract your attention. Mat weaving in Northern Cyprus is a unique art, as each weaver has his or her own weaving pattern. Plant knitting is where tree trunks, leaves, and twigs are used in mat weaving, by cutting them into thin strips to make baskets, bread trays, brooms, or jewelry boxes. Straw Chairs In many handicraft shops in North Cyprus you'll find chairs made of straw. Each of these miniature chairs has a very complex texture, being very light, yet durable, and are still very popular among Turkish Cypriot families. Top

TRNC General Information - Borders, Business, Children, Climate, Education, Embassies, Ferries, Free Trade, Duty Free, Govt Departments, History, Internet & TV, MICE, New Year, Overview, Phones, Police, Post, Practical Inofrmation, Religion, Relocating, Residency, Retiring, Rough Guide, Transport, Visas, Weddings, Wills Useful Information Banking Car Hire Dentists Embassies Duty Free Insurance Overview Post Relocating Supermarkets Weddings Borders Cleaning Doctors Emergencies Govt Departments Internet/TV Pharmacy Practical Information Residency Transport Wills Bus Service Climate Driving Ferries History Local Tradesmen Phones Refuse Collection Retiring Utilities Business Currency & Exchange Education Food & Drink Hospitals M.I.C.E. Police Religion Rough Guide Visas Useful Information > Banking With high savings rates for accounts in sterling, a personal bank account in TRNC may be attractive. If you have a home here, you may want a current account and a bank card to make transactions or pay for bills. What are the requirements for opening a bank account in TRNC? Do you need to have a home there? Can you apply with a UK or other overseas address? What proof of address is required? What forms of identification are acceptable? The answers vary depending on each bank's policies. TRNC banks must adhere to "Know Your Customer” (KYC) regulations. These require banks to carry out checks on your identity and address. Foreign nationals can apply with a valid passport or ID from their own country. A utility bill, tax letter or other official document may be accepted as proof of address for applicants from outside the TRNC. A driving licence is not accepted as a valid proof of identity. In practice some banks may insist on a TRNC certificate of residence (ikametgah belgesi) to open a bank account, which can be obtained from the local “muhtar”, while others accept addresses in the UK and other countries. Applications must be submitted and signed in person at a bank branch. All TRNC banks use a correspondent bank in Turkey. Top Useful Information > Border Crossings There are nine crossing points between North and South Cyprus but if you intend to use a particular crossing, you'd be wise to check it's open before making your journey, just to make sure. West to east, these are the names of the Cyprus border crossings: Yesilirmak (Limnitis/Kato Pyrgos) near Guzelyurt (Morpho) Lefke (Lefka) Bostanci/Guzelyurt (Astromeritis) Metehan (Agios Dometios) Ledra Palace - Official cars only Ledra Stree t - Pedestrains Beyarmudu (Dhekelia) – SBA crossing Akyar (Strovilia/Agios Nikolaos) - SBA crossing Dherynia (Famagusta/Gazimagusa) Border crossings are quite well signed in the north if you want to go south, but not so well in the south if you want to go north. Names above are Turkish names, those in brackets Greek. These two names aren't necessarily the same place, but the names of the nearest village or town on each side of the border, as there's often a short drive between the two. Crossing points are mainly designed for cars, but there is one pedestrian-only crossing point in the capital Lefkosa known as Ledra Street. It's possible to walk through some crossing points if you're being collected by a car or taxi on the other side (for example Metehan ) but note some crossing points are rural with limited facilities on either side and some crossing points have a long distance between them so walking isn't allowed (for example, Yesilirmak ). All crossing points are open 24/7 but if you need to buy car insurance, you should use Metehan which offers 24-hour car insurance service. The other border crossings tend to offer car insurance services only in-office hours. You'll need your passport as well as the car documents, insurance and driving licence if you're taking a car across. The most used crossing is Metehan which is about 20-minutes drive from Kyrenia. The Sovereign Base Area (SBA) British Army crossing point of Beyarmudu is actually nearer to Larnaca Airport but the journey to Kyrenia is longer, so it tends to be used for those visiting East Coast locations of Iskele or Famagusta . If you fly via Paphos , you'd be better to use Metehan as well. Lefke and Yesilirmak may look closer, but they're mainly used by locals, involve mountainous roads and are not really suitable for first-time visitors or new tourists, particularly at night. You can use sat nav or google maps or Waze to find the Cyprus border crossings but once through reset your device to your final destination. If you're a first time visitor to North Cyprus and arriving at night in the South , take a taxi over the border and hire a car in the north. This gives you fully comp insurance plus breakdown cover and stops you getting lost in the dark. You might also want to book that pickup in advance with a North Cyprus company rather than an airport taxi as many Greek Cypriot taxi drivers won't know the way on the north side. Top Useful Information > Car Hire Car Hire - Why not enjoy the island in your own time… Hiring a car is undoubtedly the best way to see all that Northern Cyprus has to offer. It allows you to set your own timetable and go exactly where you want and when you want. Travel the scenic coastal routes from the farthest point west, all the way to the tip of the Karpaz Peninsula in the east. A journey that isn’t possible on public transport. Drive the mountain routes, take in the spectacular scenery or have a picnic under scented pines. See all the ancient sites and ramble through crusader castles with no rush to move on! Driving in Northern Cyprus is much like driving in the UK; the same side of the road, signs that are for the most part international and well-placed speed limit notices and direction signs. Pre-book in high season as demand, especially for vehicles with air-conditioning, is high. North Cyprus car hire specifications and regulations: Rght-hand drive unless a left-hand drive car is specifically requested Manual and automatic available, state preference Cars may be calibrated in MPH or KPH Speed limits on all roads are posted in KPH Full current driving licence is required Hirers must be over 21 years of age Terms and Conditions of renting a car in Northern Cyprus: Prices do not normally include collision damage waiver (CDW) Additional drivers are not normally included Minimum booking is usually 3 days for pickup and drop off at apartments Minimum booking is usually 7 days for pickup and drop off at the Car hire is billed in 24 hour periods If you arrive at night, book your car from 10 am the following morning Cars are generally picked up and dropped off at around 10 am Top Useful Information > Opening a Business Foreign Direct Investment has helped develop the TRNC economy, especially in tourism, construction and services. That's why the government welcomes foreigners opening businesses and provides them with full rights to the company in many sectors with or without local partners. Businesses may be a small shop, spa salon, restaurant, investment company or a five star hotel. Many companies are foreign owned and ran for years. To open a business at least two people will be needed. They can be foreigners or partner with Turkish Cypriots. If the business is real estate or construction related, the foreigner must hold 49% shares and the local representative 51% . To set up your business you'll need to deposit US$100,000 . into a local bank if you don't have local partners, and US$49,000 if you do. Seeking advice of a solicitor is wise as there's different rules for different types of companies. You'll also need a local accountant to make appropriate applications to the Council of Ministers. Memorandums and Articles will specify the company’s function, management structure and share information. You'll also need a business permit (a stamp in your passport), which is specifically issued to Company Directors, which is different to work or residency permits. Other permits might also be needed e.g. if you're serving alcohol, a beverage license from the local council. You'll need to register with the tax office , the social security and pensions departments . There will be costs involved for any workers you employ, paying for their permits and their monthly state contributions. As a Director you'll also need to make state contributions. Tax Certificates and Certificate of Incorporation have to be displayed in your premises at all times and must be kept in their original forms. Top Useful Information > Bus Service A really fun and inexpensive way to travel. Simply walk to the main road at the top of Turquoise Bay and flag the local bus (Dolmus) down. Wherever you want to get off just ring the bell. Fare into Girne is around 50tl (< £1.50) and j ourney time to/from Turquoise Bay to Girne is around 30 minutes depending on traffic. The timetable to the right show the times the bus leves from Esentepe and returns from Girne. Top Useful Information > Climate Climate inTRNC is “intense Mediterranean ” meaning short mild, temperate winters and long hot summers. Temperatures and rainfall vary depending on elevation. It's obviously cooler at the top of St Hilarion or Buffavento Castle than it is in Kyrenia harbour. Summer can begin as early as March, though officially it doesn’t start until June. By then, temperatures are in the 30s (around 86°F) . June to September there's no rain, days are long and hot, evenings are balmy and relaxing, though nights can sometimes be a bit uncomfortable and you'll love your air-con unit. In October the weather begins to change but you can still sunbathe. Rains usually fall in the first two weeks of October bringing plants and trees a much needed drink. After the long hot summer, drains are full of dust and leaves and this makes for an interesting driving experience after the first few days of rains. It doesn’t rain that much in Northern Cyprus but the rains bring greenery which soon bursts into colourful bloom. Springtime in Cyprus is an incredible sight . If you only ever visit in summer you’ll find it hard to believe that the sometimes desert-like interior landscape greens over and then gives birth to thousands of beautiful flowers, but it does. Officially the seasons in North Cyprus are Autumn in October ; Winter from November to March ; Spring in April and May ; and Summer from June to September . Average daily temperatures in July and August start in the mid 30s, whereas April, May, June, September and October start in the mid 20’s. This means an average 300 days of sunshine a year. December and January are the worst months for weather in Northern Cyprus, night time temperatures can be very cold, occasionally dropping below freezing in the mountains. Rainfall when it comes, can be very heavy and stormy, and if you’re lucky enough to have a sea view, you can watch incredible lightning shows out at sea. March and April are two of the most popular months to visit the island, with warm days but not the sometimes oppressive heat of high summer. There's plenty of flowers to look at and beaches and harbour side cafes are quieter. December and January do get some warm days and some beautiful blue skies, but you also get overcast and even cold days. If you want a heady mix of long hot days for beach flopping and long warm nights for partying then visit from May to September and you’ll be assured perfect sunny weather and plenty of fun-packed days and nights. Top Useful Information > Cleaning Want your apartment sprucing up or spring cleaned before you arrive? Or someone to come in and "do" for you every week? Cotact Shareen on +90 539 104 7435 Contact Kibris Klean Team on +90 542 868 0269 Top Useful Information > Currency & Exchange Local currency in North Cyprus is the Turkish Lira . Many outlets will also accept British Pounds, Euros or US Dollars for payment. Ask your outlet about other currencies they may accept. Live Turkish Lira Exchange Rates Top Useful Information > Education Kindergarten Children below age 6 , can attend kindergartens of public and private institutions. Kindergarten is not mandatory. Elementary school Provides 5 years of education for children between the ages of 6 and 11. All are public and free. High sch ool High schools provide a minimum 6 years of education, where 3 years are for junior high school (Ortaokul). There are different kinds of high schools such as standard public high schools, private high schools, science high schools, vocational high schools, technical high schools and fine arts high schools. Universities You might be surprised to learn that Northern Cyprus has numerous international Universities offering world-class education, in English, to nearly 100,000 students from over 100 countries . TRNC has a welcoming visa policy and multi-cultural atmosphere which encourages students to easily utilise degree courses . and the Government has education at the top of its agenda, leading to a boom in student numbers. For example, Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) student numbers have grown by almost 400% in recent years. Education is contributing close to $1 billion to the government’s budget - well over 50% of its total. Private investors include Suat Gunsel , a Forbes list billionaire, who invested into his own Near East University in Lefkosa. NEU boasts a state-of-the-art teaching hospital drawing patients from South Cyprus and internationally; a journalism department broadcasting 24-hour programs from its own tv and radio studios; and an Olympic-size swimming pool. The boom in student numbers creates demand for accommodation, attracting investors to buy rental properties close to Universities. Many families are buying properties for their student children to use with the added benefit of it being a perfect base for family holidays during university vacation times. Students at TRNC Universities are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week to help pay fees if required, and full medical insurance is included in all fees. There's also a prep year available to learn English if a student needs to improve that before starting their course. Crucial to the success of the universities is the fact that diplomas and degrees are accepted by most universities around the world. Students who've moved on to other countries confirm they encountered few problems in the transition. Top Useful Information > Driving Driving in North Cyprus is similar to driving in the UK in as much as speed limits are approximately the same on conversion and the use of speed cameras is countrywide. Speeding fines are heavy. Drunken driving is not tolerated and anyone failing a breath test may well spend the night in the local police station. Seat belts are compulsory for drivers and front-seat passengers. Be aware that in TRNC, for whatever reason, people often drive fast and love to overtake so accidents are a common occurence. The sheer scale of accidents has led the police to cracking down on motorists so watch out for speed cameras as well as police officers with speed guns positioned at locations where speeding is common. Speed Limits (unless singnposted otherwise): 50km per hour: Built-up areas 65km per hour: Main roads and on the approach to junctions 75km per hour: Dual Carriageways Top Useful Information > Embassies Several nations have embassies , high commissions or foreign missions in Northern Cyprus and they can help with passport renewals, birth certificates , and legal advice among others. Local Turkish Cypriots wishing to travel to the countries which are represented on the island are required to visit that nation’s offices to obtain visas for their journey. You'd be surpried how much information and advice these offices can give you. Below are the main offices available in North Cyprus, which are mostly located near to the Ledra checkpoint area in Lefkoşa. Some of them only operate on certain days of the week so you might want to call ahead and make an appointment. Australia ‘Australia Place’ – Australian Information Bureau 20 Güner Türkmen Street, Köşklüçiftlik, Lefkoşa, North Cyprus Telephone: +90 (0)392 2277332 Fax: +90 (0)392 2285458 Website: www.cyprus.embassy.gov.au France French Cultural Information Centre (Association Culturelle Française Chypriote-Turc) 1, Hasene Ilgaz Street, Köşklüçiftlik, Lefkoşa, North Cyprus Tel: +90 (0)392 2283328 Website: www.france.visahq.com UK British High Commission (North Nicosia Office) Shakespeare Avenue 29, Mehmet Akif Caddesi, Köşklüçiftlik, Lefkoşa, North Cyprus Telephone: +90 (0)392 2283861 Website: www.ukincyprus.fco.gov.uk USA American Embassy (North Nicosia Office) 20, Güner Türkmen Street, Köşklüçiftlik, Lefkoşa, North Cyprus Telephone: +90 (0)392 2272443 Website: cyprus.usembassy.gov Germany German Embassy (North Nicosia Information Office) No:15, 28 Kasım Street, Lefkoşa, North Cyprus Telephone: +90 (0)392 2275161 Website: www.nikosia.diplo.de Türkiye Turkish Embassy Bedrettin Demirel Avenue, Lefkoşa, North Cyprus Telephone: +90 (0)392 2272314 Fax: +90 (0)392 2282209 & +90 (0)392 2285518 Website: www.tclefkosabe.org Other Countries TRNC has ‘representative offices ’ and consulates in many other countries around the world. These are sometimes useful, for example, if you need official papers such as a power of attorney notarised at their offices, to save you travelling to TRNC. Google your particular nation to see if there's a representative office in that country. Top Useful Information > Ferries Akgünler İşletmeleri A.Ş. Ltd . has been serving the TRNC tourism industry since 1978 and continues to expand. The company has 1 catamaran and 2 roro / passenger ships in its fleet with the largest passenger and freight capacity in the TRNC. The Company and ships conform to the International Safety Management Certificate (ISMC), the International Ship and Security Certificate (ISPSC), are constantly audited by Lloyds registered entities and operate in accordance with all international maritime rules. Via Mare Via Mare is a German-made RoRo / Passenger-type ship that is 118m long, 21m wide. She has a capacity of carrying 470 passengers, 46 trucks, or 260 saloon vehicles. Her max speed is 15 knots per hour. She also has 15 cabins with two beds and four beds, with private bathrooms and toilets. Via Mare makes regular trips between Taşucu a an d Girne ports on 3 days a week for 12 months. Via Famagusta Via Famagusta is a Swedish-made RoRo / Passenger-type ship. She is 110m long, 16m wide and can carry 113 passengers, 41 trucks, or 220 saloon vehicles. Her max speed is 12 knots per hour. She has regular trips between Mersin and Famagusta ports, 3 days a week for 12 months. Famagusta is the famous historical port of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Akgünler 3 Akgünler III is a Norwegian-made catamaran-type fast sea bus that is 38 meters long, 9 meters wide. She can carry 384 passengers at a speed of 32 knots per hour. This fast ferry makes regular trips between the ports of Taşucu and Girne during May and October. The journey takes only 2 hours. Akgünler III is the only fastest option for your day trips between TRNC and TC. Ferry Schedule (Tasucu - Girne - Tasucu) Ferry Schedule (Mersin - Mağusa - Mersin) FAQ Can I travel with my Turkish ID? Yes, unless they are taking a car in which case they MUST carry a passport as well. What do I need to prepare when I travel from TRNC to Türkiye with my car? A vehicle exit permit from the Tax Office (Motor Vehicles). An exit permit from the bank if the vehicle is mortgaged. G-104 form if you’ve come via South Cyprus. What do I need to prepare before I travel from Türkiye to TRNC with my car? A vehicle can only be taken out of Türkiye by the registered owner. A power of attorney (POA) can be given to a third party. Anyone travelling with a car requires a passport. If the POA isn't a sibling or parent of the car owner, the vehicle must be <3 years old. POA is not accepted for any vehicle >5 years old. If the vehicle is owned by a company, all company partners are required to issue a POA. If there are loan payments for the vehicle you require a letter from the bank with the content "The vehicle can leave Türkiye". Vehicle owners must obtain at least 1 month vehicle insurance upon arrival at Northern Cyprus. Northern Cyprus students must have the student certificate from the school, valid for 1 year from date of receipt. Northern Cyprus students must obtain at least 3 months vehicle isurance upon arrival at Northern Cyprus. Form "G - 104" will be given to drivers by Northern Cyprus customs upon entry and is required when leaving Northern Cyprus.. Traffic is on the left. Local or international driving licenses can be used. Is driver free when I book a vehicle? Yes. The driver only pays the departure/arrival taxes. I am a Turkish army personnel. Must I pay the departure / entrance tax? If you have document "Husut Çıkış Belgesi", choose that option while buying your ticket online. Can I change the trip date of my ticket? Yes, but subject to any price difference. I'm not going to use my ticket and want to cancel it. Cancellation more than 24 hours before departure - full refund. Cancellation from 24 hours before departure to 6 hours before departure - 75% refund. Cancellation within 6 hours cannot be changed or converted to an open ticket unless there's a valid personal reason. The ticket can only be cancelled with a 50% penalty. All unused/unchanged tickets - no refund will be made. Open tickets are valid for 1 year from date of issuance. What discounts are there? There are discounts for students, soldiers, diplomats. I bought my tickets for vehicle and passengers. Is there anything else I need to pay in and out of ports? Entrance and exit taxes for passengers and vehicles are included in the price. You'll have to pay for vehicle insurance upon arrival. Can passengers under the age of 18 travel alone? If travelling with an ID Card: Passengers under 18 cannot go abroad without a "notarized or official consent" received from the notary public of the parent/legal guardian who will NOT travel with them. If the minor will travel with only the mother, a notarized or official consent of the father will be required. If the minor will travel only with the father, a notarized or official consent of the mother will be required. If the minor will travel with someone other than the parents or alone, the consent of both parents is required. If the child's custody is in a legal representative, a notarized or official consent is required indicating the consent of the legal representative. If travelling with a passport: Permission and notarized or official consent of parents IS NOT required. Which ports do you operate from? Türkiye: Taşucu Port and Mersin Port TRNC : Kyrenia Port and Famagusta Port Which port do the ships dock at in Taşucu? All sea traffic from Taşucu is from SEKA port.P Passengers with tickets are required to go to the Akgunler office in Taşucu city center first, 2.5 hours before the departure time. After completing their boarding procedures there is a complimentary shuttle bus to Seka Port. Do you have shuttle buses from Kyrenia and Famagusta? No. You have to use taxis or local transportation. Useful numbers Taşucu Port Police 0324 741 4195 Taşucu Port Customs 0324 741 4039 Kyrenia Port Police 0392 815 1799 Kyrenia Port Customs 0392 815 4984 Mersin Port Police 0324 231 5910 Mersin Port Customs 0324 241 2800 Can I travel with my pet? Entering North Cyprus: you can bring your pet (only cat, dog and bird) with you. Entering Türkiye: You can bring 2 pets (only cats or dogs) and 10 fish. You’ll need a veterinary health report, certificate of origin and vaccines and identity document. How many suitcases can I take with me for free? Is there a weight limit? 3 suitcases or parcels with you on Roro Ships (Via Mare and Via Famagusta). On the Catamaran fast ferry(Akgunler 3) - 2 suitcases and 1 handbag/backpack. There is no weight limit. Can Turkish citizens take their TRNC plated vehicles Türkiye? Yes, temporarily, providing proof of residence is supplied. What can I take with me as "duty free" when entering Türkiye? Tobacco Cigarettes 600 pieces Cigarillos (cigars weighing no more than 3 g each) 100 pieces Cigars 50 pieces Chopped tobacco (with 200 sheets of cigarette paper) 250 gr. Alcohol Alcohol and alcoholic beverages with an alcohol degree exceeding 22% 1 lt. Alcohol and alcoholic beverages with an alcohol degree not exceeding 22% 2 lt. Cosmetics 5 skin care products and make-up materials, cologne, perfume, lavender, essence or lotion, not exceeding 600 ml Food products Tea 1 kg. Soluble instant coffee 1 kg. Coffee 1 kg. Chocolate 1 kg. Candy etc 1 kg. Top Useful Information > Free Trade & Duty Free North Cyprus Duty Free Allowances You're allowed to bring in the following items free of any customs and duty for personal use only: Tobacco products - 400 cigarettes or 500 grams of smoking tobacco Alcohol - 150cc of either spirits, wine or beer Perfumes - 100cl of perfumes and lotions Non commercial goods - 75 EURO free, above may be charged Controlled items The following are controlled items & cannot be exported, nor imported Controlled Drugs - Opium, heroin,morphine, cocain, cannabis etc Firearms & Munitions - Including fireworks Antiquities - Including statues Obscene Publications Counterfeit Money Archaeological Goods Animals & Birds Don't attempt to export antiquities or archaeological goods from Northern Cyprus. There are heavy fines and the threat of jail for removing such items. Establishing a Free Zone Company TRNC has become an investment hotspot with Free Zone companies (FZC) the preferred form of incorporation by both domestic and foreign investors. A FZC in TRNC offers proximity and ease of access to Türkiye, Europe and the Middle East and is particularly appealing due to tax advantages it offers. The Free Trade Zone in TRNC is located at the port of Famagusta. Long established as the center of transit trade, import-export, warehousing and production, today companies providing remote services such as IT, tourism and consultancy are attracted and the number of companies established in the zone is increasing day by day. Free zone companies are established in the free trade zone but carry out their commercial activities abroad. Although they're subject to TRNC Companies Law, they operate with a special company status. The biggest advantage of FZC is that since they're accepted to be outside of the customs line, they're completely exempt from all taxes such as customs tax, income tax, corporate tax, VAT etc. on income from all activities carried out with any country other than the TRNC . Dividends are also tax-exempt and the earnings can be freely transferred abroad . Since FZC are completely legal entities, the revenue obtained from a FZC can be transferred to any other country the same way as any foreign company. As long as the transfer of income is not carried out illegally, you shouldn't expect to encounter any problems in the process. FZC can be established both in offices and/or warehouses/factories located in the Free Port Area. Mailboxes can also be used and are the preferred method used by consultancy, software development, advertising, or companies that provide virtual services as they don't need a physical office. Many online service providers recognized in the Republic of Türkiye and around the world have established a FZC and are active in the TRNC Free Trade Zone due to its tax benefits. The minimum initial capital required for the establishment of a FZC is currently 50,000 Euros which can be used for company activities after approval for the establishment of the company. Apart from admin fees and taxes payable during establishment, FZC don't pay an annual fixed fee. FZC can use banks registered in TRNC as well as branches of Turkish banks. Banks will search shareolder's business activity, trsutworthiness and background before authorising any new bank accounts. Decisions to provide accounts are entirely at the discretion of the bank so past and/or ongoing relations with them are definitely an advantage. Top Useful Information > Practical Information Phones IDD Code – International Direct Dialling Code is +90 Landline numbers start 0392 Mobile numbers start 0542 (KKTC Telsim) or 0533 (Turkcell). Public Holidays Ramadan & Kurban Bayram (Feast of the Sacrifice) -Varies annually New Year’s Day - January 1st Children's Day - April 23rd Labour Day - May 1st Youth and Sports Day - May 19th Peace and Freedom Day - July 20th Communal Resistance Day - August 1st Victory Day - August 30th Turkish National Day - October 29th Independence Day (Proclamation of TRNC in 1983) - November 15th Climate Winters - Wet & mild with temperature from 6°C-18°C October - First rains October to April - Rainy season April to June - Greenest months with bright displays of wild flowers July to August - Hot & humid with highs of 40°C+ and little relief at night. September - Humidity starts to drop and days are still hot October - Cool breezes, lightning displays over the sea Christmas - Visitors will typically swim until Christmas Currency The currency is the Turkish Lira , with a constantly fluctuating exchange rate. Shopkeepers and restaurant owners are fully conversant with all major currencies and bills can be paid in UK Sterling, Euros, Dollars as well as local currency. There are many exchange bureaux in all the major towns and money is changed with little problem. Major UK Credit and Debit cards are widely accepted and can be used in ATMs, but you should inform your bank before you travel so they don’t block your card. You should also enquire about charges to use your card abroad. Travellers Cheques and Scottish banknotes are not widely accepted. Banking Unless you intend to take up residency it’s unlikely you’ll need a bank, unless it’s to make a money transfer. Electricity Supply is 220/240 volts and is provided via three-pin plugs as in the UK. Medical Care In the case of accidents and emergencies, all hospitals will provide medical care. Minor cuts and bruises will usually be treated free . Major medical treatment can incur a hefty bill, so you need comprehensive insurance to cover your holiday period, making sure any pre-existing health conditions are notified to your insurance company prior to travel. The GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) and EHIC (European Health Insurance Card ) are NOT accepted in Northern Cyprus. Legal TRNC has rules and laws that are there to be obeyed. Drugs are absolutely not tolerated and possession of even a minute amount will result in a hefty prison sentence. Although North Cyprus is a safe country, care should always be taken with personal belongings, and important items should be kept in a safety deposit box. Driving Drive on the left , the same as UK. If you have a paper licence you must bring all parts to be able to hire a car. Minimum age to hire a rented vehicle is 25. You must carry your driving licence, insurance, and rental agreement at all times when driving. Visitors, if stopped by the police, will be treated kindly but driving under the influence of drink and/or drugs, as well as dangerous driving, is an offence, not tolerated, and heavy fines are imposed. Parking restrictions are evident by the painting of black and white on the kerb stones, or double yellow lines and should not be infringed. There are plenty of car parks and the fee isn't expensive. Language The language spoken in Northern Cyprus is Turkish, however many of the older Cypriots will speak English and are proud of the fact that they can. Hotel staff will usually speak a certain amount of English and are always happy to improve it. Visitors that attempt some Turkish, even if only to say Please (Lutfen), Thank you (Tessurker Ederiz) and Hello (Merhaba) will be rewarded with a beaming smile. Business / Shop Opening Hours Due to the heat of summer, most civil service offices will work from 0800 to 1400 . Winter opening hours, can and do, vary from department to department but usually they're operational from 0900 to 1230 and 1400 to 1730 . These hours will apply to most of the retail outlets with supermarkets staying open until quite late. Time Difference North Cyprus is GMT+2 hours in winter and GMT+3 hours in summer . There’s always 2 hours difference between UK time and TRNC time as clocks are altered on the same days of the year. Passports and Visas It's your responsibility to ensure that you're in possession of a full and valid passport/visa for travel. Please note if you're traveling into Larnaca (LCA) this is in Southern Cyprus, if you are travelling into Ercan (ECN) this is in Northern Cyprus, which could have different immigration. For more information before traveling to North Cyprus, please contact Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Representative Office in London, 29 Bedford Square, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3ED, UK. Phone: +44 20 7631 1920. For more information before traveling to South Cyprus, please contact High Commission of the Republic of Cyprus in London, 13 St James's Square, St. James's, London SW1Y 4LB, UK. Phone: +44 20 7321 4100. Airports and Border Crossing Points The two airports of Ercan and Gecitkale (Military Airport) and all crossing points on the border that divide the island, are legitimate points of entry. They’re subject to passport control regulations and whatever restrictions are in place regarding the importation of goods. It’s always advisable to check duty-free allowances for alcohol, perfume, and tobacco, and the monetary value of goods for personal use before travelling. These restrictions apply equally to crossing the border from north to south and vice versa. Water It’s not advisable to drink tap water, bottled water is best. Safety You should take care whenever you’re in a foreign country. If you’re going out on your own, let someone know where you’re going and what time you’ll be back . Store important items in a safe. Don’t carry large amounts of money or your passport with you unless necessary. Always keep a small amount of money in case of emergencies and ensure you have the contact numbers for police/ambulance/embassy etc if you need them. Emergency Phone Numbers Police:155 Fire:199 Forest Fires:177 Ambulance Emergencies:112 General (State) Hospital Phone Numbers Nicosia/Lefkosa0392 2285441 Kyrenia/Girne0392 815 2226/8152254 Famagusta/Magusa0392 3662876/3665328 Guzelyurt0392 7142125 Top Useful Information > Cyprus History Humans were in Cyprus In the Stone Age along with dwarf elephants , pygmy hippos , dogs, sheep, goats, cattle, pigs, foxes, and deer. By 6,000 BC cattle had disappeared, deer were still hunted, but the economy was based on sheep, goats and pigs. 10,000 years old water wells have been discovered. In 2004, a cat was discovered buried with its human owner and was estimated to be 9,500 years old - older than Egyptian civilization. The first cities were built in the Bronze Age when copper was mined and traded. Buildings were used to process and store olive oil , a product the island is still famous for today. Copper ingots recovered from shipwrecks show widespread metal trade. Cyprus was part of the Hittite empire governed from Northern Syria. Achaean Greeks settled from the 1400 BC and Dorian Greeks arrived around 1100 BC. Pottery indicates early trade with Crete . In the 8th century BC the number of settlements increased significantly and monumental tombs, like the 'Royal ' tombs of Salamis appear for the first time. This is likely the start of what is known as the Cypriot kingdoms . 10 kingdoms are listed in an inscription from 673 BC - Salamis, Kition, Amathus, Kourion, Paphos and Soli on the coast and Tamassos, Ledra, Idalium and Chytri in the interior. Cyprus gained independence around 669 BC but was conquered by Egypt and then by Persians around 545 BC. At the beginning of the 4th century BC, the King of Salamis, took control of the whole island and tried to gain independence from Persia, but was crushed by Artaxerxes in 344 BC. During the siege of Tyre, Cypriot Kings sided with Alexander the Great , then in 321 sided with Ptolemy I. Ptolemy lost Cyprus briefly, but it remained under Ptolemaic rule till 58 BC and was ruled by a governor from Egypt . Strong commercial relationships developed with Athens and Alexandria. Full Hellenisation took place under Ptolemaic rule, as Phoenician and native Cypriot traits disappeared, as well as the old Cypriot syllabic script. Cyprus became a Roman province in 58 BC. Mark Antony gave the island to Cleopatra of Egypt but it became a Roman province again after his defeat at the Battle of Actium, in 30 BC. A Jewish uprising of 115/116 AD led to great losses and it was placed under the control of and governed by a proconsul. Several earthquakes led to the destruction of Salamis at the beginning of the 4th century, at the same time drought and famine hit the island. After the Roman Empire, Cyprus came under the rule of Constantinople . The Arabs and Muslims invaded in the 650s, but in 688, Emperor Justinian II and the caliph Abd al-Malik reached a remarkable agreement where, for 300 years, Cyprus was ruled jointly by both the Arabs and the Byzantines as a condominium, despite almost constant war between the two parties on the mainland. In 965, Cyprus was conquered by a resurgent Byzantium. In the 12th century Cyprus was targeted by crusaders. Richard the Lionheart landed in Limassol on 1 June 1191 in search of his sister and his bride Berengaria, whose ship had become separated from the fleet in a storm. Richard married Berengaria in Limassol on 12 May 1192 and continued to occupy Cyprus and raise taxes until he sold it to the Knights Templar . Soon after, the French arrived, establishing the Kingdom of Cyprus. Latin , then French , become the official language, with Greek as a second official language. In 1196, the Latin Church was established, resulting in the Orthodox Cypriot Church being persecuted. Maronites from Syria settled on Cyprus during the Crusades and still maintain some villages in the North. A small Roman Catholic population was mainly confined to coastal cities such as Famagusta as well as Nicosia, the traditional capital. The independent Eastern Orthodox Church of Cyprus, with its own archbishop and subject to no patriarch, was allowed to remain on the island, but the Latin Church largely displaced it in stature and holding property. The Cathedral of Saint Nicholas was consecrated in 1328, and is the largest medieval building in Famagusta, where the Kings of Cyprus were crowned also as Kings of Jerusalem . In 1571 having fallen to the Ottoman Empire, it became the Mosque of Mağusa, and remains a mosque today. In 1268 , Hugh III of Cyprus claimed Cyprus and its territory of Acre as well as Jerusalem thus uniting the kingdoms. Like Jerusalem, Cyprus had a High Court . The island was richer and more feudal than Jerusalem, so the king had more personal wealth and could afford to ignore the court. Cyprus became the centre of European trade with Africa and Asia after the fall of Acre in 1291 and became dominated in the 14th century by Genoese merchants. In 1489 the last Queen, Catherine Cornaro, was forced to sell the island to Venice . Ottomans started raiding Cyprus immediately afterwards, and captured it in 1571 . This is the historical setting to Shakespeare's Othello , the play's title character being the commander of the Venetian garrison defending Cyprus against the Ottomans. Turks and Cypriots coexisted harmoniously on the island which was rich in salt, sugar, cotton, grains, and other export goods. It was also a centre of Syria-Venice trade and served as the eastern Mediterranean's main emporium for Venice's maritime trade. The Ottoman Empire was predominantly Muslim, so there was a cultural and religious clash when it conquered Cyprus. More Muslims came to Cyprus, mixing in with the Orthodox Christian Greek population of the island and led to the Millet System , which allowed authorities to rule over their religious minorities to keep peace in the Country. The 1878 Russo-Turkish War ended Ottoman control with Britain taking over who annexed the island unilaterally in 1914, after it declared war against the Ottomans during the First World War. Under British rule, the island enjoyed increased freedom of speech, something which allowed development of Greek Cypriots' ideas of enosis (unification with Greece). In the 1920s, representatives were repeatedly sent to England to request union with Greece but to no avail. In 1925, following the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, Britain declared the island a Crown Colony, and made it clear that unification was out of the question. In October 1931 the October riots resulted in autocratic rule known as Palmerokratia ("Palmerocracy"), named after governor Richmond Palmer, which until the start of World War II. In 1950 , the Orthodox Church of Cyprus organized a referendum on union with Greece, but the international community showed no desire to support their request. In 1960 , a new constitution createdpower-sharing, where the vice-president and at least 30% of members of parliament would be Turkish Cypriots. Archbishop Makarios III would be the President and Dr. Fazıl Küçük would become vice president. The constitution also created separate local municipalities so that Greek and Turkish Cypriots could manage their own municipalities in large towns. In 1964 , the United Nations were forced to send peacekeeping forces to protect the vastly outnumbered Turkish Cypriots from Greek Cypriot attacks and they remain on the island today. In 1974 , the Makarios Government was planning to eradicate Turkish Cypriots completely, but a military coup with the support of the junta in Greece led to Turkey intervening in the north of the island to protect Turkish Cypriots. In 1975 the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus was created. The name was changed to The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus , on 15 November 1983. In 2002 the UN started negotiations for unification. In 2004 a plan for unification emerged, supported by the UN, the EU and the USA. Turkish Cypriots accepted the plan, but Greek Cypriots rejected it. After Cyprus joined the EU in 2004, the euro replaced the Cypriot pound in 2008 while Northern Cyprus continued to use the Turkish lira. Top Useful Information > Internet & TV Northern Cyprus Internet connectivity is generally fast and good quality, with monthly packages low cost compared to western Europe or the UK. If you’re coming for short periods on holiday, you may be happy to use mobile broadband via your own mobile phone on roaming, or by purchasing a local sim card and data package, but if you’re purchasing a property you’ll more than likely want to have your own Wi-Fi installed. Coverage All of Northern Cyprus, apart from very remote country areas, has good mobile signal reception and high-quality internet operates via the mobile broadband system. Some apartment sites offer free internet restaurants or reception areas and if your property happens to be near to these, you might just get get free internet by virtue of your property location, but in most cases you'll want to have your own installed. Installation Contact one of the service providers and give them your address and they’ll be able to give you the best package for that location, arrange a time to come and fit your router, and give you all the price details. You’ll need to pay monthly in advance. Cost Exchange rates vary but broadband in Northern Cyprus is typically around half the cost of most European countries. Internet/Broadband providers Extend Multimax Nethouse Fixnet Turkcell Superonline Flynet Comtech Satellite Internet The Starlink satellite internet system, provided by Elon Musk's company. has scheduled TRNC coverage from late 2023. Mobile broadband It’s a good idea to purchase a local Telsim or Turkcell sim card upon arrival (they’re sold at the airport), and get the package which offers the best amount of data included. You may be able to use this to tether to your laptop or tablet too and this may suit you for short visits. English language TV You can receive local TV channels with a normal antenna, a few of which are in English. All English language TV is now accessed via the internet in Northern Cyprus. You can get quite a bit of TV from your own country using a VPN (virtual private network), and accessing TV via your own mobile data, but if you’re moving here or spending extended times in the country, your Internet/Broadband provider or the Satellite TV companies, listed here, can assist you. Satellite TV providers All North Cyprus English language TV is now accessed via the internet. Around the island, you'll see lots of places showing English Premier Leagure football. BEIN sports is very popular and this allows you to watch pretty much every EPL game live. Firesticks are also popular, and there are a number of providers who can set these up for you. Netflix is also popular in TRNC. Digiturk – Satellite TV Satellite Cyprus TV Local TV You can receive local TV many channels with a normal antenna. Top Useful Information > Local Tradesmen The following are all well known and respected tradesmen in the local area. Plumber : +90 533 830 6518 (Musait) Painter : +90 533 832 3308 (Inan) Yapi Market : +90 533 869 9734 (Huseyin) All Maintenance: +90 533 861 1467 (Erdogan) Renovations Repairs Electrics Top Useful Information > M.I.C.E. Tourism Climate, natural beauty and state-of-the-art facilities are making Northern Cyprus one of the fastest growing destinations for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions ) tourism, attracting businesses from far and wide. Pretty much all 5-star hotels cater for conferences and exhibitions, whether it be small seminar halls, or large convention centres. There's plenty of choice for business of all industries and sizes. As an incentive , business can now offer employees a safe, multicultural island, in the Mediterranean, with 10 months of sunshine, sandy beaches, spectacular mountains, superb hospitality, international entertainment and bundles of exquisite cuisine. Ancient civilisation sites; cultural tours; a championship golf course; spa treatment; Turkish baths or simply a dip in the pool or sea, ensure everyone will enjoy their time away from the meeting rooms. Top Useful Information > General Overview Top Useful Information > Mobile Phones Mobile Telephone Operators KKTCell - Commonly referred to as Turkcell. (0533 / 0539 numbers) Telsim - part owned by Vodafone. (0542 / 0548 numbers). You shouldn’t experience any issues in North Cyprus because both firms use GSM, which can be found on most modern mobile phones. GSM bands include 850, 900, 1800, and 1900. Both have agreements with all major international networks, so you shouldn’t have any trouble connecting after you arrive if you wish to use your usual mobile number while you're here. Coming from the UK Vodafone & O2 offer unlimited call and text roaming in North Cyprus &Türkiye at a cost. Vodafone also roams without additional charges in the South. For other networks, check with them before travelling to see what packages they’re offering. If Türkiye isn’t included, you’d be better to bring a second phone with a pay as you go Vodafone sim card in it. Alternatively, you can buy a sim card from Turkcell or Telsim. Offers available include pay as you go data packages as well as calls and texts. The larger supermarkets, including Lemar , generally have stands for both networks. There’s also one at Ercan Airport so you can buy a sim card immediately on arrival. South Cyprus If you have a mobile phone registered in Europe, roaming is free for South Cyprus whatever your network at home, although charges are higher in the North, unless you’re on Vodafone or O2. If you want a south Cyprus sim card, corner shops have a wide range of sim cards available. Using Turkcell or Telsim in South Cyprus Before crossing to the south: TURKCELL – text "GUNEY "(South) to 1717 to start roaming in the South. Text "KUZEY " (north) to 1717 to stop. TELSIM – text "AC " (open) to 7075 to start roaming in the South. Text "KAPAT " ( close) to 7075 to stop. Text before you cross the border, or you’ll be hit with different rates. Be careful when close to the border as you could roam accidentally. Using South Cyprus mobile phones in North Cyprus Contact your service provider to see if you need to activate roaming for the north before crossing the border. It may well be automatic. Charges for South Cyprus users visiting the North, are generally cheaper than for North Cyprus users visiting the South. Summary UK visitors : if you're coming for short periods to North or South Cyprus, a UK Vodafone or O2 pay as you go sim card or contract will include your usage on both sides of the border . European visitors : North Cyprus counts as Türkiye. South Cyprus is Europe. Your mobile phone will roam without additional charges in the south . It’ll incur costs in the north unless your provider includes Türkiye . Check with your provider. Buying local sim cards : Available at supermarkets and allow roaming on both sides of the border for a cost. Turkcell or Telsim sim card users need to activate roaming before they cross the border to avoid higher charges. WhatsApp WhatsApp is very popular in Northern Cyprus and many individuals and businesses use it. Top Useful Information > Police North Cyprus has a modern, well-equipped police force that carries out not just crime fighting, but traffic, immigration, drug and fraud divisions for example. They also assist other countries when they're investigating their nationals who may be residing in North Cyprus. They're very quick to deal with any crime committed against tourists, as infrequent as they are. The police report to the Security Council and Ministry of the Interior, with the Commander in Chief sitting on the Council along with representatives from the Ministries of Interior and Defence and the President. There are police stations in all main cities and towns , although villages usually have to rely on their nearest town for a police station and service. If you’re in any situation which requires the assistance of the police, you can rest assured that they will do all they can to help you . You may also find that local Turkish Cypriots will try to help you as well, translating and accompanying you to a police station if necessary for example. Emergency Police Number - 155 +90 392 381 2325 Police Karpaz +90 392 714 2140 Police Guzelyurt +90 392 366 5310 Police Famagusta +90 392 815 2014 Police Kyrenia +90 392 228 3311 Police Lefkosa Top Useful Information > Postal Services The postal service here is run by TRNC Postal Office which has branches in all major cities, towns and villages. Be aware that branch opening hours may not be the same as branch parcel acceptance & delivery hours. Contact your local branch to find out more. Addresses When sending letters from abroad it’s important the address includes “Mersin 10, Turkey ” and the postcode should also be included. These are not individual address codes, but relate to fairly large areas. This add-on routes post to Türkiye, where the “Mersin 10” lets them know it needs to come to Northern Cyprus. The postcode then tells the TRNC post office which area o it needs to go to. Make sure you don’t include ‘’Cyprus ’’ in the address, or it’ll be sent to the South of the island, who'll just return it to you. Example address with postcode: 123 Abc Sokak Karakum, Girne Mersin 10 99320 Türkiye Post can be collected from your local post office, who also have yellow PO Boxes in many branches, but there’s often a waiting list for renting them. You can rent one between a few families if there’s a limit on boxes available. Stamps Post offices sell stamps which you’ll need for posting letters, as well as any official documentation such as work and residency permits, taxing cars etc. If you’re buying stamps for official document purposes, buy plain stamps, not special edition stamps, as these are often not accepted by Government Departments. Special Edition Stamps The postal service often releases Special Edition Stamps such as in the spring, or before particular bayram holidays etc. The Postal Department also has a Philatelist Section which collectors can contact to receive limited editions and special first day covers. Private purchases can also be made. Postal Charges Current postal charges - Prices are in Turkish, but your local postal office can advise you regarding prices. Post can be sent on standard or registered/tracked mail . TRNC Post Office Service has an online “Track and Trace ” service to allow you to check the delivery status of any items ordered simply by entering the barcode number shown on an order receipt. Domestic Post – letters can be delivered throughout the island Surface Overseas Mail (by land & sea) - done by ferry from Famagusta. Divided into two groups: Türkiye and other countries. Sending mail to the TRNC from the UK If you want to send a letter or parcel from the UK, visit www.royalmail.com . They offer 3 main international services; Standard, Tracked, and Tracked & Signed. Tracked/Tracked & Signed, supply a tracking number, which you can use to follow your delivery until it gets to Istanbul. After it reaches Türkiye, you can view progress on the Turkish Tracking System in Turkish or ask your local post office and they’ll check it for you. Tracked Mail usually takes roughly 10-15 working days to arrive and are generally a more reliable method of ensuring your post arrives safely in TRNC. Cargo Companies Cargo companies that offer domestic and international post/package shipment. Yurtici Kargo MNG Kargo TNT Kargo UPS Kargo DHL Kargo All have offices in Lefkosa, some in Girne and Famagusta. Branch addresses are available on their websites. Top Useful Information > Refuse Collection Large bins for communal use are placed around the site but are for household refuse only. Do not put garden waste or rubble from renovations in these bins as they will not be emptied. Collections are usually twice a week but may vary. Collection days may also vary and in hot summer months may be at night or early morning when it is cooler. Garden waste and rubble can be disposed of by the local council / beledeyisi. Top Useful Information > Religion Northern Cyprus is a completely secular state, with therefore no official religion, although it's predominantly populated by people of Islamic faith. There are other religions and ethnic groups active on the island, some of whom are descendents from the various cultures that make this place such a mixed and special place to be. Muslim Islam was introduced when Uthman the 3rd Caliph conquered Cyprus in 649. Turkish Muslims settled during Ottoman rule between 1571 and 1878. The Ottoman Empire gave land to its soldiers provided they and their families stayed permanently. During the 17th century the Turkish population grew rapidly, and Islam is now the main religion practised in North Cyprus. You can hear the call to prayer five times a day from most places on the island, but the faith is not practised to such an extent that women cover themselves, nor do people abstain from alcohol in North Cyprus. Maronite Cypriots The Maronite community is based in the north-east of the island in Kormacit/Koruçam. They're of Christian origin, descended from those who came from Lebanon and Syria around 1200 years ago. They speak in an Arabic dialect, although many Turkish and Greek words are used. The Maronites belong to the Greek Cypriot community to which, owing to similar religious, linguistic and cultural bonds, they are much closer. They have a Maronite Archbishop who is elected by the Holy Synod of the Maronite Church in Lebanon and confirmed by His Holiness the Pope. Anglican A large number of Church of England expats and foreigners attend Anglican churches in North Cyprus. There's St Andrews Church in Kyrenia which holds services on Sundays and Thursdays, and St Marks which has services on a Sunday both at the Boğaz Hotel and St Georges Chapel in Famagusta. Roman Catholic There are also Roman Catholics in North Cyprus, with mass held at St Elizabeth of Hungary Roman Catholic Church in Kyrenia near to the Dome Hotel every Sunday. Bahá’i This religion is based upon the spiritual and is an independent religion practised worldwide with a small group in North Cyprus. Its principles are to bring about the oneness of humanity as there was only one Creator, the spiritual truth of all religions is the same. There are also smaller religious and ethnic groups, such as Armenian Cypriots who first arrived on the island in around 1915, Latin Cypriots who practise Catholicism, as well as Romany Gypsies who are reported to have arrived in Cyprus at the time of the Lusignans. Top Useful Information > Relocating If you’re thinking of relocating to Northern Cyprus here’s a guide to moving your possessions, car, family and pets to your new property. Importing furniture & possessions You can easily import them using an international removals company. They’re free of tax if they're all over 12 months old. If you’re moving from South Cyprus, you can bring one car or vanload of household goods. You should allow at least 6-8 weeks for items to arrive and you must be in Northern Cyprus to receive the goods in person. Alternatively, you could buy a fully furnished property and just ship or bring your most precious personal effects with you. If you’ve decided to import furniture, try Euromed , Olaytrans , Britannia Movers , Aspin International and Emel Shipping or search for others online. Some companies visit your home to review what you wish to ship and give a customised quotation. The quote will depend on how much of a 20- or 40-foot container your possessions will occupy. Some companies will also come and pack for you, at a cost, and offer a full door-to-door service; others will offer a door-to-Famagusta dock service. The company you choose should keep you updated on progress and inform you of the likely time and date of arrival. The quickest period from overseas is likely to be a month but you should allow longer. Once your goods arrive at the dock, it can take 5-10 days for customs clearance. The time can be affected by x-raying, physical inspection, volume of traffic at the port and the levy of any import duties or taxes. At the port you’ll need: • A complete inventory list of the contents of the container (in English and Turkish ). • A letter from the Muhktar (Mayor) of your TRNC village confirming your address (you may need a rental or sales agreement to get this). • An “in and out” letter from a police station (details your trips in and out of TRNC to date). Once you have these, you'll be advised to visit the customs office in Lefkoşa where they'll be stamped and authorised. Take this completed paperwork to your shipping agent offices in Famagusta. When packing, create an inventory of everything English and Turkish (the customs official checking it upon arrival in TRNC might not speak English). When the container finally arrives at your house, a local customs official will arrive with it to check it contains what you say it contains. At last, you're reunited with your possessions in your new home. Importing a car You can officially bring one car in if it's under 3 years old (or over five years old with you as registered owner for the last five years) but experienced ex-pats generally recommend against importing a car to TRNC due to the bureaucracy. You’ll also have to pay import duty of 40-60% of the Glasses guide mid-range value within 12 months of the car arriving. You may also find it more difficult to get comprehensive insurance, face restrictions on its resale for periods of time, and face difficulty sourcing spares and parts. General consensus is it’s not worth the effort or hassle, unless you really can’t be separated from a particular car. Second-hand cars often cost more in Northern Cyprus than other European countries due to import taxes, so it may be more sensible to shop around for a good second-hand car or long term car rental once you’re here. You can drive initially on your driving licence from your own country, but if you become resident in North Cyprus, you'll need to apply for a TRNC licence. Importing Pets The first thing you need to ensure is that the property you buy does allow pets, because some complexes don’t. You’ll ideally need some private outside space with a ground floor apartment or a villa set in a private plot. The British run KARS (Kyrenia Animal Rescue) charity in Karakum, Kyrenia, can help you organise the import. Not only do KARS rescue and care for stray and unwanted animals in Kyrenia, it has become THE information centre for cat and dog import and export to Northern Cyprus. TRNC isn’t in the EU, hence not part of the Pet Passport Scheme so you can import an animal but not bring them for short term visits or holidays. Before you move to North Cyprus, book an appointment with KARS. Your pet will need a current ‘Pet Passport’ with the Rabies vaccination done no less than 30 days prior to entry and the Serology Test being done no more than 12 months prior to entry. There are requirements for vaccinations for both cats and dogs which KARS has full details of. Quarantine is no longer required, but an import licence is. This will be issued in Lefkosa if the paperwork is in order. KARS can tell you how to organise this and can also advise on the export procedure. Importing family Many ex-pats move to Northern Cyprus with children or older relatives. There are excellent English-speaking junior schools, high schools and Universities for young people, and you might want to take into account driving time to school when choosing a property. When you apply for residency, you must prove you can support relatives who come with you who are under 18 and older relatives will need to prove a source of income or pension. There's excellent and affordable private health care in North Cyprus. With the growth of English education and increasingly sophisticated health care in North Cyprus, it’s becoming far more common for ex-pat families to arrive who have younger, and older, family members. Gone are the days when the only ex-pats relocating to North Cyprus were retirees, with facilities available for family members of all ages. The two main English speaking schools in Northern Cyprus, which cater for children from as young as 3 right up to 18, are the Necat British College in Alsancak (west of Kyrenia) and the English School of Kyrenia in Bellapais (East of Kyrenia). These excellent schools have affordable fee structures and are now attracting ex-pats to relocate to North Cyprus purely for the excellent quality of the education. If you’re a working age couple with elderly relatives, you might consider bringing them to live with you as the Mediterranean climate is ideal for older people and tends to lead to improvements in health. The main consideration at this point is health care as there's no free healthcare in Northern Cyprus. There is, however, excellent and affordable private dental and healthcare with many visitors coming especially for surgery, dental work and other procedures and with all pharmacists and doctors/specialists generally speaking English. Excellent and affordable pharmacies can fulfil prescriptions from elsewhere and are usually cheaper. Top Useful Information > Residency There is no automatic right to reside and work in the TRNC for EU citizens . If you want stay in TRNC longer than the period of a tourist visa, you have to get a residency permit . The first port of call is the local police station’s immigration department. You’ll need to produce to the police the following documents: Passport original and photocopy If you have the title deeds to property in your name, the title deeds (original) and photocopy. If you have purchased a property under Contract of Sale, but have not yet received the title deeds to the property, the Contract of Sale (original) and photocopy. If you are living in rented accommodation the Tenancy Agreement (original) and photocopy. A letter from your local village chief (Mukhtar ) to say you reside in his village. This letter is called Ikametgah Belgesi in Turkish. You can usually find your Mukhtar in the centre of the village where you live, near to the local municipality (Belediye) building or the post office Bank documents showing that you have a TRNC bank account which has sufficient funds or a regular income to enable you to support yourself in the TRNC without working. 2 passport photos 6YTL stamps (Damga Pulu in Turkish). The amount required is constantly changing, so take spares in case more are required. The police will then refer you to the Lefkosa State Hospital, or a licensed clinic, for a health test . The test will check for infectious diseases such as HIV, hepatitis and TB . After you’ve had the health test, take the results, unopened, to the immigration office in Lefkosa for the residency permit to be stamped in your passport. The immigration office is called the ‘Muhaceret Dairesi’ in Turkish. A residency permit only entitles you to live in the TRNC, not work or set up a business . It’s valid for 1 year and must be renewed every year by following the same procedure (except for the hospital check). Children under the age of 18, don’t require residency permits so families moving to TRNC only need apply for residency for the adult members of the family. Non-citizens who give birth to a child in TRNC, need to notify their embassy or consulate of the birth. Once this has been done and a letter to this effect has been obtained from the embassy or consulate, you apply to the District Office (Kaymakamlik ) in the area in which you live, to register the child’s birth. Becoming a citizen of TRNC is more complex. Citizenship is granted to all whose mother or father is a Turkish Cypriot or to those married to a Turkish Cypriot. Presently, there is a new law in Parliament to allow foreign nationals to become citizens of the TRNC after 10 years of residence in the TRNC. This guide is intended for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. The information provided is on the basis of current law at the time of writing. Top Useful Information > Retiring “We only came here for a week’s holiday. That was ten years ago!” Many who eventually move to live in the north of the island initially arrive for a holiday and quickly realise that the TRNC is the perfect retirement destination. There are now over 10,000 British, European and other international expat residents living happily alongside the over 300,000 resident Turkish-speaking population. So why do so many people choose North Cyprus for retirement?T here are a huge number of benefits to retirement in the TRNC. Probably the most frequently quoted reason is simply the fabulous Mediterranean weather – out of 365 days in a year, you can expect sunshine on around 340 of them ! The Cyprus climate verges on the semi-tropical and although there is of course the much-needed rain in the winter, it's generally at least 10° hotter than the UK on any given day of the year, with frost almost unheard of. It's well known that people 60+ benefit hugely from warmer weather and increased natural sunlight , with doctors recommending a Mediterranean climate to those with certain health conditions including arthritis . Private healthcare and hospital facilities are “state of the art” with new centres including the Near East University Hospital and Medical School boasting world-class equipment and treatment opportunities. More and more visitors arrive to take advantage of the far lower prices for private healthcare and operations and find better healthcare in Cyprus than in their own country of origin. Although those retiring to North Cyprus do need to consider private medical insurance, the specialist consultation prices are so low that it can be cheaper just to “pay as you go”. Prescription and over the counter medicines are often far cheaper. For the active retiree, the sky is actually NOT the limit for the number of leisure activities you can pursue. Well-known British centenarian and former TRNC resident, Peggy McAlpine, was world-famous for her Guinness Book of Records paragliding feats aged 104 from the 2,400 ft peak of the North Cyprus Besparmak (Five Finger) mountains down to the coast. For those preferring land or water-based leisure activities, Korineum Golf & Beach Resort boasts an impeccably maintained 18 hole golf course with stunning mountain and sea views. There are marinas as well as a host of diving and waters ports clubs. For those who like socialising , the various English-speaking societies organise dances, talks and other fundraising events. There's a host of new expat bookshops , cafes and weekend markets where expats meet and relax together in the sun. North Cyprus is officially a Muslim country but welcomes people from other faiths. Church goers are delighted to find the lovely traditional St. Andrew’s church in Kyrenia with regular Sunday services run by an Episcopal vicar resident at the nearby Hermitage. The British Residents Society and "Foreign Residents Society" hold “clinics” where experienced ex pats are happy to dispense advice to new arrivals and where membership can be obtained. Top Useful Information > Rough Guide Top Useful Information > Transportation As an island in the Mediterranean, travel to Northern Cyprus is mainly air , although transportation from Türkiye by sea is also an option. Once you’re here there’s a number of transportation options to choose from. Air Travel Ercan Airport (ECN) , located near the capital Lefkoşa, serves over 4m passengers a year. Turkish Airlines, Anadolu Jet and Pegasus Airlines are the main carriers. Charter flight carriers include Freebird, Tailwind and Corendon Airlines. A major extension of the runway as well as construction of an eco-friendly new terminal opened on 20 July 2023. The size of the new terminal building, described as the TRNC’s “window to the world”, is 20,000 square meters , sitting on grounds that measure some 7.8 million sq meters – six times the airport’s old size. The terminal parking area is 34,000 sq meters and its new main runway will be 2,755 meters long, in keeping with international standards for commercial aircraft. The airport apron has room for 30 parked aircraft, 9 of which have passenger boarding bridges. Inside the new terminal building, there are 60 check-in desks and 44 passport control points . Security has been enhanced with 26 modern x-ray devices and a baggage screening and handling capacity of 5,000 per hour . The new larger space and improved facilities mean the airport’s passenger traffic can grow to 10 million passengers a year. Most travellers currently come from Turkiye, but tourism to the TRNC from Europe, Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East continues to rise. Ercan Airport is located 14 kilometres from Lefkoşa, 40 km from Famagusta and 44 km from Kyrenia. Ease of access to Ercan and its direct links to global travel hub Istanbul Airport, has made it an increasingly popular choice for residents living in South Cyprus too. Shuttle Service Services to and from Ercan Airport to five major towns, Kyrenia, Nicosia, Famagusta, Güzelyurt and Lefke are organised around inbound and outbound flight times, offering visitors a consistent and economic means of transport. Many Tour Operators also offer transfers and door to door services for visitors booked through them. Car Rental Global and local vehicle hire operators are stationed throughout the island, with those running at Ercan offering pick up and drop at the airport. Car hire prices differ, based on season, brand, passenger capacity and length of hire. Visitors intending to explore the island are well advised to arrange car hire to make the most of their experience. Taxis Renowned for only driving luxury vehicle models, vacant taxi drivers are almost always stationed at their bays and not likely to be stopped roadside. All hotels will have a designated taxi partner readily on call, and in most town centres travellers will pass by a near taxi bay. Taxis are metered and charge per kilometre distance travelled, although rates do change between daytime and night. When travelling between towns, on mid to long distance journeys, most drivers will be able to quote a fixed price beforehand, and if you really wnat to get local, try bargaining the fee before you get in. Top Public Transport Not the most advanced service or infrastructure, small minibuses also known as “Dolmuş ” (dol-moush) pick up passengers’ roadside and transport over short distances, connecting main towns to villages. Very frequent in most towns as well as cheap, there's often no regulated schedule nor do they stray off any main roads, an important consideration when planning for your visit. Sea Travel If you're considering crossing the Mediterranean by sea, daily ferry services operate from Famagusta and Kyrenia to Mersin province in the southern coast of Türkiye and final plans are under way for services connecting Alanya near to Antalya, with North Cyprus. Depending on the type of ferry available, the shortest duration from Kyrenia to Mersin Taşucu is 2.5 hours . Driving Regulations Traffic in North Cyprus uses the left-hand side of the road and driving regulations are similar to that of the United Kingdom. Short-term visitors and tourists can drive non-commercial vehicles using most global driving licences, including EU and UK. Pedestrians Pedestrians are reminded that traffic moves on the left side of the road and are advised to look both right and left carefully before crossing any road. If pavements aren't available, you should walk on the right side, towards any oncoming traffic. Useful Information > Utilities For Gas Bottles or large (19 Litre) Bottles of Drinking Water Delivered to your door: Contact Mehmet on +90 533 846 5393 To have your 5 ton water tank refilled: Contact Celal on +90 533 862 1452 Contact Hasan on +90 533 861 4093 If you want to be connected to mains water: contact the local council/beleydisi. To get electricity connected: Contact Kibtek Power Cuts They do happen from time to time but usually for no more than an hour. Have some candles handy just in case. Top Useful Information > Visas & Entry There are two distinct ways of entering North Cyprus. Directly via Türkiye into Ercan airport, or via South Cyprus and crossing over the border. Via Ercan airport British, EU and US passport holders don't need tourist visas for North Cyprus entry and up to a 90-day stay may be granted. Tourist visitors staying at hotel or rented accommodation will normally be issued a visa for a maximum of 30 days. If they can submit documents showing that a prior payment has been made for lengthier accommodation, a visa up to 90 days may be granted. A visa up to 90 days may also be issued to those who come for official visits, business meetings, conferences, seminars, meetings, festivals, fairs, exhibitions, sporting events, cultural and artistic events, health tourism and similar purposes. Citizens of the European Union and Schengen Area Countries travelling to North Cyprus can show a National Identity Card, whereas citizens of other countries are required to present a valid Passport . Ercan Airport, located just outside the capital Nicosia, currently serves over 4million passengers a year, and major carriers include Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines as well as several charter flight carriers.. Upon arrival to Ercan, visitors fill out personal details on a white slip which will be stamped on entry and should be retained throughout the visit. Citizens of countries that don't have an Embassy, Consulate General, Consulate or Representative Office in North Cyprus, or that are not members of the EU, must have a passport valid for at least 6 months to be able to enter the country. Citizens of countries that do have an Embassy, Consulate General, Consulate or Representative Office in North Cyprus or are citizens of EU countries, must have a passport or travel document valid for at least 2 months to be able to enter. It's worth noting that visitors transiting Türkiye en route to Ercan, may decide to leave the airport in Türkiye to visit for a few hours or days, in which case they will have to purchase a visa available upon exit through passport control. Via South Cyprus You can cross the border at one of the many Turkish Cypriot passport controls points, and the same conditions apply. There are no restrictions on how many times you cross and border crossings are open 24 hours a day. There are limitations on the volume of goods you can cross the border with, especially duty-free items, such as cigarettes and alcohol or contraband. Any person found to be violating these restrictions will have their goods confiscated and a fine can also be imposed. Northern Cyprus Visa Applications Passport with a minimum of 2 blank pages that will be valid for at least 90 days after the end of travel. Copy of the first page, including personal data and previous visas (if obtained) also must be provided. Completed and signed visa application form along with one color biometric photo, that are not older than 6 months. Proof of travel, with confirmed two-way tickets. Bank account details, proving the passenger can sufficiently fund their travel. Evidence of occupation in the form of certified documents such as; letter from an employer, student certificate, document of registration or demonstration of pension funds. Accommodation details through an invitation letter or proof of hotel reservation throughout the stay. Documentation of travel health insurance throughout the period of travel and that is valid within the entire Schengen area. There are specific documents that need to be attached to an application depending on employment status. Employed: Employment contract (original certificate of employment indicating position in company and salary) Bank account statement of the past 6 months Approval letter of leave from employer Income Tax Return (ITR) Self-employed: Proof of business license (company registration) Company’s bank account statement of the past 6 months Income Tax Return (ITR) Student: Documentation of University enrolment No-objection certificate from school management Retired: Pension statement documenting the past 6 months Unemployed: Proof of financial resources is required If the person is not able to finance their own expenses, proof of a sponsor is mandatory. Visa Sponsorship Students or unemployed/retired people who aren't in a position to cover their own travel expenses will need to demonstrate support from a sponsor who will bear all costs. The sponsor must be a first-degree relative and will have to prove sufficient resources by meeting certain requirements such as filling out the sponsorship form and submitting the requested documents. Northern Cyprus Visa Rules Visa applications shall be submitted to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Embassy or Diplomatic Mission. It's advised to submit applications at least one month prior to your travel date. Visa applications are concluded in three days. Citizens of Syria, Nigeria and Armenia are required to process their visa applications in person. Citizens of other countries may obtain their visas at the border by Immigration Officers. However, the terms of entry differ depending on the nationality of passport holders. Flights to Northern Cyprus are connected from Türkiye. Thus, travelers may need a transit visa from Republic of Türkiye depending on their nationality of origin. Turkish citizens may face problems obtaining a Greek visa if their passports have an entry or exit stamp from Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Therefore, it may be recommended to travel with national identity card. Turkish Citizens Turkish citizens can visit Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus without any visa requirements. A valid passport or identity card is needed. Top Useful Information > Weddings & Honeymoons Good enough for royalty Weddings and Honeymoons in Northern Cyprus are really special. The warmth of the people who place marriage at the centre of their culture just adds to the occasion. Since Richard the Lionheart chose to marry his Queen, Berengaria in Cyprus, the island has always held a romantic attraction for couples. Convenient marriage laws and spectacular wedding locations make Northern Cyprus a truly great destination for your wedding. Whether it be the party itself, or the getaway after, Northern Cyprus has been soaring in appeal in recent years. Marriages in TRNC are legal, accepted and recognised worldwide, so it doesn’t matter where you're from. The law is based primarily on English law, which simplifies the whole marriage process, making it easier to understand and meaning wedding services and marital documents are all in English. Legal requirements for a wedding to take place include: bride and groom to have stayed in TRNC for at least 6 days before their wedding ; copies of passports; birth certificates, a form to be completed for submission to the District Officer; and a decree absolute if divorced. You'll find everything you might want which takes the stress out of the whole process. Personalised bouquets and arrangements are widely available. Standard or personalised wedding cakes only need a few days advance order. Custom designed wedding rings are widely available and usually less expensive. Hair and beauty salons are on almost every street corner or you can book a stylist to come to your venue and spend the day by your sides. Professional photographers and camera operators are on hand. Live entertainment , musicians, orchestras, English speaking singers and artists as well as DJ’s, are in abundance and easily found. Hen and stag nights can be catered for. Spa days, group nights out for dinner , raving at one of the best clubs in the Med, private boat trips or anything else you can come up with - it's all here! With the average cost of a wedding spiralling in Europe, it’s no wonder thousands of couples are looking to TRNC for their dream day where costs are commonly a third of a similar wedding at home - with almost perfect weather. Many friends and family make the trip to share in your dream wedding in the sun, often making a holiday of it themselves. Even if you do get married in Europe, North Cyprus offers a grand choice for honeymoons . Booking as a honeymoon couple will usually get you the “honeymoon suite”, decorated for the occasion and a generous welcome package. Pamper yourself at the spa, laze on golden beaches, bathe in the blue Mediterranean, sip cocktails, dine in style overlooking the shores or with a mountain backdrop and soak up the nature. It'll be a holiday to treasure and tell the kids about in years to come. Korineum Golf & Beach Resort Boasts breath-taking landscapes and 360° views with the Beşparmak Mountain Range on one side, the Mediterranean on the other and luscious lawns in between. Proceedings are set apart from the main hotel grounds ensuring your day remains private and intimate. For couples wanting luxurious facilities, but in green and peaceful surroundings, it's the perfect choice. Set amongst natural forest of umbrella pines and olives it’s an experience you’ll never forget. They also offer their private beach for weddings and events. Doğanköy Church If you’re looking for a quaint little church off the beaten track for your wedding in North Cyprus, Dogankoy Church could be perfect for you. Doğanköy is a small village located to the south east of Kyrenia. The church is one of the oldest buildings in the area and was recently restored to make it a really attractive wedding venue, away from the hustle and bustle of the town. The cool whitewashed walls inside the church make it very welcoming on a warm day, so you can share an intimate wedding ceremony under the white stone arches, surrounded by beautiful flowers and your close friends and family. Bellapais Abbey If you want a stunning historical backdrop for your ceremony then Bellapais Abbey is perfect. You can’t overstate how romantic it is to have a wedding surrounded by the arches of a 13th century abbey, with a backdrop of rugged mountains and spectacular views down to the Mediterranean. The Bellapais Monastery is one of the best examples of Gothic architecture in Europe, and almost certainly the most famous of all North Cyprus’ architectural treasures. The Monastery remains in a wonderful state of preservation, providing a haven of peace and tranquillity for your wedding. The nearby Kybele restaurant can cater for post-wedding celebrations, with great food for formal dining, or a drinks reception in the beautiful gardens. Alternatively, there are plenty of options in Bellapais Monastery Village for your wedding reception or accommodation for your guests. Bellapais Monastery Village Perfect for couples looking to marry in a peaceful, luxury retreat . The hotel is located at the foot of the Five Finger Mountain range, with panoramic views down over Kyrenia town and harbour. It’s just a short uphill walk from Bellapais Village and Bellapais Abbey. The hotel accommodates 130 guests in villas, rooms and luxury suites. There’s a rooftop restaurant for your wedding breakfast, a tranquil garden for reception drinks and space for live entertainment, making it perfect for the entire wedding party. Ambiance If you dream of a wedding by the sea , you’ll fall in love with Ambiance as a venue. The decking that stretches out over the water makes it a truly unparalleled wedding venue with one of the best beach front locations in North Cyprus. During the day there’s a pool area with sun loungers, but the evenings take on a whole new look, with sophisticated dining for you and your guests. As the sun sets over the Mediterranean you can dance by the sea and party late into the night to your own choice of music and the sound of the sea lapping against the rocks. ng well looked after. Karpaz Palm Beach Hotel The Palm Beach Hotel in Famagusta is a small boutique hotel offering 5-star luxury and a magnificent private golden beach. Weddings are held on the private sandy beach, pool area and decking area. Shayna Beach Club The perfect venue for an affordable beach wedding . Located right by the sea, with a private beach that can accommodate up to 500 people and a restaurant with a capacity of 120, everything you need is on site. The restaurant specialises in traditional Turkish or fresh fish meze, which are perfect for guests to sample local delicacies. There’s plenty of boutique hotels and luxury five-star facilities nearby. Five Mile Ideal for a fairy tale beach wedding , right on the sea front and with a backdrop of a stunning mountain range. Clean water and warm temperatures make it one of Kyrenia’s top swimming beaches as it curves round a gentle bay, fringed with trees and protected by the foothills of the Kyrenia Mountains. It’s overlooked by the restaurant of the same name, which provides all the facilities you need. They provide luxury 3 course wedding breakfasts or a cocktail party with canapés for your wedding reception, with a tailored menu. Hideaway Club Weddings at The Hideaway Club Hotel offer stunning views of both mountains and sea , all within one of North Cyprus’ top boutique hotels. Just three miles from Kyrenia, The Hideaway Club sits in the foothills of the mountain range, flanked by the majestic St Hilarion Castle. You and your guests can take in views of Kyrenia and the Mediterranean coastline from beside the pool. Ambellia Village Resting 1000 feet above sea level in the Five Finger Mountains, you’ll struggle to find a wedding venue with better views . Every balcony and patio offers panoramic views of the coastline and the town of Kyrenia. With the sea in front of you, the mountains as the backdrop and Bellapais Monastery in the distance, you can be sure your guests will be wowed, and your wedding photos will be remarkable. Nature lovers enjoy springtime weddings in Northern Cyprus, when the island becomes a paradise of wild flowers and beautiful birds, and Ambellia Village is a perfect wedding venue to take it all in. The Colony Style and sophistication for your dream wedding venue means The Colony Hotel. In the heart of downtown Kyrenia, the 5* hotel reflects the grandeur and opulence of the past, blending colonial style architecture with the glory of the Ottoman era. There’s a rooftop swimming pool, a spa and a restaurant with amazing views so your guests will be sure to be wowed. You can even arrive in your very own horse drawn carriage. 94 rooms and suites, means you and all your guests can enjoy the luxury of The Colony for the whole of your wedding. Churches There are some beautiful venues to choose from if you're dreaming of a church wedding in North Cyprus. Saint Andrews Church is situated behind the magical harbour, and it’s a perfect spot to have a Christian blessing before being taken by horse and carriage to one of the luxury hotels for your wedding reception. The church was built in 1913 and is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The relatively small resident congregation in Northern Cyprus is regularly joined by visitors to the island, and is extremely welcoming to new couples. Saint Elisabeth is a Catholic church located in Kyrenia. It’s close to the harbour, and provides a beautiful setting for a church blessing. Altinkaya Hotel Perfect for couples who’d like an outdoor wedding in the sun . This small, friendly hotel caters for weddings of all sizes around their beautiful pool and terrace area, with breathtaking views of the mountain range. It’s just 1km east of Kyrenia and 1.5km from Bellapais Abbey. There’s a rooftop and an indoor restaurant, so you can adapt your wedding depending on what the weather brings, and with plenty of on-site accommodation, you can relax knowing all your wedding guests are being well looked after. Top Useful Information > Making a Will You may be surprised to know that the majority of expats in TRNC don't have a Will. Making a Will ensures all your belongings will go to who you decide. If you die intestate (i.e. without leaving a Will) your spouse won't automatically inherit your estate if there are surviving children. Under TRNC law, no Will means your spouse would get 1/6th of your estate and the remaining 5/6th would go to any surviving children . If there's no children, then other relatives will get a share. A common misconception people have is that the State automatically gets an estate if there's no Will - this isn't true . The State only becomes entitled to an estate if there's no “next of kin”. Given there are six degrees of kin, there's usually someone living to inherit, not the State. Six degrees means a Second cousin or Great Great uncle’s son, for example. If you die with no “next of kin”, you're considered to have died without heirs, and your estate will go to the State, just as it would go to the Crown in the UK under the same circumstances. Be aware, that a Will prepared outside of TRNC doesn't cover your estate here, so you do need a separate one prepared. Also, include only assets in TRNC and not ones you have in your home country; they should be kept totally separate. A lawyer will talk you through the process and establish your requirements and who you wish beneficiaries and executors to be. Normally a Will includes property, any additional immovable property, real estate, leasehold rights, movable property, all rights for monies lodged in North, all personal belongings and items that are unique to you. The wording is generally quite standard and similar to Wills prepared in other countries and will normally be written in English . You need to be of sound mind and aged over 18 to make a will. Two witnesses need to sign it in your presence then it's lodged with the Probate Registrar at the local court (this isn't legally required but is sensible practice) who will check everything is correct, that you're the person making the will, and issue you copies with an official receipt. When you die your executor applies for a Grant of Probate or Administration, which will be issued by the Probate Registry allowing them to proceed with administering your estate and carry out yo Top

North Cyprus Sightseeing - Acendu Fountain, Arsenal Bastion, Bandabulya, Bedesten, Buffavento Castle, Chain Tower, Gamblers Inn, Gecitkoy Dam, Iskele Museum, Kantara Castle, Karmi, Kyrenia Castle & Harbour, Kyrenia Gate, Lapiday Museum, Minia Cyprus Museum, Namik Kemal Dungeon, Othellos Tower, Porta Del Mare Gate, Salimis, Soli, St Hilarion Castle, The Great Inn, Royal Tombs, Varosha, Venetion Column, Venetian Palce, Vouni Palace. Sightseeing> A View from above Bandabulya Büyükkonuk Dervis Pasha Mansion George VI Monument Iskele Museum Kyrenia Castle & Harbour Martinengo Bastion Nicosia Venetian Walls Railway History Seyyed Efendi Cistern The Royal Tombs Salamis Vouni Palace Acendu Fountain Bedesten Cafer Pasha Hamam Enkomi Village Greco-Roman Tombs Kantara Castle Kyrenia Gate Mevlevi Tekki Museum Othello's Tower Rivettina Bastion Soli Ruins Varosha Ghost Town Arsenal Bastion Buffavento Castle Cengiz Topel Monument Gambler's Inn Güzelyurt Museum Karaoğlanoğlu Memorial Lapidary Museum Minia Cyprus Museum Petra tou Limnidi Round Tower St Hilarion Castle Venetian Column Baldoken Graveyard Büyük Hamam Chain Tower Geçitköy Dam Hz. Omer Tomb Karmi Village Lefke Aqueduct Namik Kemal Dungeon Porta Del Mare Gate Salamis Ruins The Great Inn Venetian Palace Sightseeing > A view from above Top Sightseeing > Acendu Fountain The Acendu Fountain is in Lefke, in an area which it takes its name from. At the foot of the Troodos mountains, Lefke was served by aqueducts and springs to provide its water supply and this fountain was one of them. It was thought to have been built during the 15th or 16th centuries by the Venetians between the Lefke River and Laguna Mountain skirts. Prior to being built, there wasn't a water supply to the town. The Venetian ruler was named Cento, so the water became known as Aqua de Cento and over time was truncated to Cento. Today, it still provides water for orange groves surrounding it. Top Sightseeing > Arsenal Bastion Historically part of the Famagusta Walls, this bastion has been renamed and now houses a tomb and museum open to the public. When the Ottomans decided to conquer Cyprus, Canbulat Bey of Kilis, a provincial governor of the Empire, joined the invading forces. Successful during the capture of Nicosia, he was promoted to become commander of the right wing of the Ottoman army to the south of Famagusta, along with Iskender Pasha and Deniz Pasha. From here, the Ottomans bombarded the town, which is why most damage to the taller buildings within the old city walls is on the southeast side. The Ottomans initially tried to dig under the overwhelming walls, but the Venetians blasted the tunnels, and collapsed them. They then placed sharp blades on a turning wheel at the entrance of the bastion to cut any enemy into pieces. The siege lasted for months and popular folklore recounts that to obstruct the bladed turning wheel and allow the Ottomans passage through the city entrance, Canbulat decided to ride his horse into it. His head was cut off , but undeterred he picked his head up, mounted his horse, and continued to fight for several days with his skull under his arm. This motivated the Ottoman soldiers to continue the onslaught and eventually led the Venetians to surrender and the Arsenal Bastion was renamed the Canbulat Bastion. Canbulat's entombed remains are located at the Bastion which is also a place of pilgrimage for modern-day Turks visiting North Cyprus. Legend also maintains that a fig tree grew up over the tomb, the fruits of which promoted fertility in women who visited. The bastion also houses the ethnographic and archaeological Canbulat Museum, displaying artillery, uniforms, antiques and Venetian pottery. After the destruction of the Arsenal Bastion , the city rapidly began work to rebuild the parapets. Traces of the repairs of the Arsenal and Ravelin Bastions as well as the walls between the two can easily be seen by visitors. The Famagusta Lighthouse also stands on this historic location. Top Sightseeing > Baldoken Graveyard At the top of Kyrenia, lies Baldöken Graveyard , also known as the Islam Graveyard or Graveyard of Forlorn. When the Ottomans conquered Cyprus in 1571, this area outside Kyrenia Castle was reserved as a cemetery for soldiers until the end of the 17th century. When it began to accept non-soldiers, the name was changed to Islam Graveyard. In the 19th century, it was also used to bury the homeless and destitute. It once covered a large area but today only the remains of a small part exist. It's still an intriguing place to visit with its' cisterns, water canals and architectural tombs. Located next to the Anglican St Andrew’s Church , it was restored in 1995. A ‘Turbe ’ (mausoleum) of the Garrison Commander of the Ottomans is located in the graveyard that has adopted its present name. Top Sightseeing > Bandabulya The yard of St Sophia (Selimiye) and St Nicolas church (Bedesten) in Nicosia was used as the main trading place in the city during Venetian rule (1489-1570) in Cyprus. People entered the walled city to sell their products and textiles, using the area for their weekly local market. Due to population growth and rising popularity, the market became a permanent fixture and people from all around Cyprus came to buyand sell sell goods at the Bandabulya market. Also known as the Municipal Bazaar , it's the first indoor vegetable market, dating back to Lusignan times as an open market area with shops and stalls for trade, and rooms to accommodate traders. The bazaar, which was completely open when it was first built, was established in 1932, and quickly became the most crowded and significant market in the city. It’s an historical place where food, beverages, spices, vegetables and fruits unique to Cyprus are sold. It was also a public space where locals could gather and take their kids for ice cream on the weekends. In addition, there are cafes, restaurants, clubs and shops used as entertainment. Bandabulya covers an area of 4500 square meters, contains 77 shops and is one of the popular bazaars of the region. Etymological origin and tradition Bandabuliya is a word of Greek origin. "Banda" means continuous and "buliya" means sale. It’s the name given to the municipal markets brought to local culture by the British. It means gathering place, meeting place, shopping place, socializing place among the people. In bandabuliyas, which serve every day except Sundays, traders pay rent to the municipality they’re affiliated with. In the past, producers preferred to sell their wares in bandabuliya because sales there were in cash, whereas credit was common for sales in village squares. Bandabuliyas are found in Famagusta, Güzelyurt, Kyrenia, Lefke, Nicosia and Iskele. Some are market places, while others are used for different purposes. History Nicosia has been the capital of Cyprus for about 800 years. Austrian Archduke Ludwig Salvator, who visited Cyprus in 1872, writes in his book "Levkosia" that he found 23 bazaars performing different professions between the gates of Famagusta and Paphos, and describes the "Meat and Fish Bazaar" where all kinds of food are sold in the place of current Bandabuliya. Esme Scot Stevenson , in her 1880 book "Our Home in Cyprus ", describes the Nicosia bazaar as follows: "A little further, when we turned right, passing the coppersmiths and bell makers, which were ringing in the ears, we found ourselves in the vegetable market full of large melons, watermelons, pumpkins, strings of onions, figs and grapes. One street away, in the butchers' street, we found ourselves in the vegetable market. and other kinds of meat… Beyond a narrow street, there is the Women's Bazaar. The white-veiled women were sitting cross-legged next to the piles of local fabrics in front of them." On the Kitchener map published in 1881, where the current Bandabuliya area is located, the name "Market Place" is mentioned and it's open. Again, on land registry maps of Nicosia Surlariçi (1912-1915), there is a record of "Municipial Market" in the same place. In a 1950 watercolor painting by British painter Arthur J. Legge (1859-1942), you can see greengrocers in the Nicosia bazaar selling in covered places, and the streets where the people walk are open. Foundation of Bandabuliya In 1929 the city council decided to demolish the old bazaar and build a new Bandabuliya in its place. It was planned that 12 of the 132 small shops to be built would be used as fish shops, 80 as vegetable shops, 40 as wholesale warehouses, fruit shops, butcher's and pig shops. The £20,000 required for the construction was borrowed from the Bank of Cyprus at 6% interest for 30 years and shopkeepers temporarily moved to Misirli Han. The inscription "Belediye Pazarı" ("ΔHMOTΙKH AΓOPA"), in Turkish and Greek, was hung on the entrance door to the northwest of the bazaar, which was completed in 1932. Extension and restoration work of Bandabuliya When Bandabuliya couldn’t keep up with demand in 1940, an adjoining garden and property were purchased and the building was expanded and completed on 14 September 1940. In 2004, restoration turned the wholesale market into an entertainment centre, while the retailers area was retained. In the early 1970s new residential areas started to be built outside the city, and gradually the market started to be neglected by locals. Over the years, the shops closed down, the building became unsafe and finally closed in 2010. With the support of the United Nations Development Program, it was renovated and re-opened in June 2012 with 77 stalls for sellers, a café, bookshops and a small theatre for performances. Top Sightseeing > Bedesten Bedesten is a historical building in the Selimiye quarter of North Nicosia, located beside the Selimiye Mosque. The structure’s history spans more than 1,000 years. Originally built as a church, expanded and rebuilt, it was converted to a Bedesten, a type of covered market, during the period of Ottoman rule and is currently used as a cultural centre. Byzantine period The earliest history of the Bedesten is documented archaeologically by a Byzantine Basilica, fragments of which are preserved inside the current building. These remains possibly date to the 6th century, and marked the site of the first cathedral of Saint Sophia in Nicosia. Lusignan period After the fall of Acre in the late 12th century, English monks who were followers of Thomas Becket established a new Latin church on this site and dedicated it to Saint Nicholas. With the adjacent cathedral dedicated to the Latin rite (catholic), the Bedesten probably continued to serve an Orthodox role. The church was expanded several times and rebuilt during the 14th and 15th centuries, but the old Byzantine apse was retained. Venetian period During Venetian rule, the Bedesten was used as the metropolitan bishopric building by the Orthodox church and dedicated to Mary as Panagia Hodegetria. It was under the Venetians that the north façade was constructed. Patrons were noble Cypriot families, their identity documented in part by coats of arms carved above the main entrance. In the same period, the dome and large central apse were constructed, replacing the original of the Byzantine period. Ottoman period In 1573, the building was given by the Ottomans to Haramayn (Mecca and Medina) to be used as a bedesten (a covered textile market). It was later used as a market for food, and by the 1760s it was a food trading centre for Turkish, Greek and Armenian merchants. By 1873, it had been converted into a flour depot. It was then used as a wheat depot in the 1870s and a generic storage place for the Evkaf Administration in the 1930s. British period In the 1880s, Lord Kitchener and other prominent British men in Cyprus wanted to buy or rent the building to convert it back to a church, and use it as the Church of St Nicholas again. This wasn’t allowed as the property of a foundation couldn’t be sold, and a shrine of another religion couldn’t be opened within 100 yards of a mosque. The British undertook renovation of the building, but it didn’t reflect some of the original architecture. With the opening of the new municipal market, Bandabulya, in 1932, it fell into disuse. In the 1930s, it was used for storage by the Evkaf Administration and in 1935, the Department of Antiquities brought medieval tombstones to it from the Ömerge Mosque, and were displayed for some time in a room along with the room's ornate Ottoman-era ceiling. Architecture The Bedesten of Nicosia is stylistically very different from other bedestens in the Ottoman Empire. It consists mainly of a mix of Byzantine and Gothic architecture, but also incorporates elements of Renaissance French, Venetian and probably Spanish architectural styles. It uses a cross-shaped structural style and layout that belongs to the Byzantine style, but incorporates a nave with a high ceiling that belongs to the Gothic style. The southern double nave is a remnant of the Byzantine church and its middle section is the oldest part of the building. The exterior of the nave in the north has the most ornate decorations and stonework in the building. This façade is across the front arches of the Selimiye Mosque and is the side where the entrance is located. The entrance is through a very ornate Gothic-style gate, with elements of the Italian Renaissance architecture added later and a statuette of St Nicholas. Coats of arms are located on both sides of the entrance. This façade also has numerous animal statuettes and gargoyles. Renovation and current use Between June 2004 and 2009, renovation was undertaken and the walls of the building were cleansed and the vaults strengthened using traditional building materials and techniques. It was then reopened as a cultural centre. In 2009, the renovation was awarded the Europa Nostra Award. Among the activities hosted are weekly sufi dance shows and the Nicosia Walled City Jazz Festival. Top Sightseeing > Buffavento Castle At 3,100 feet, this is the highest and most inaccessible of the three famous castles in the Five Finger mountains. To get there, head out of Kyrenia towards the East and continue in the direction of Famagusta. Go through Catalkoy past the turn-off for Arapkoy and at the brow of the hill, at the Besparmak pass, turn right just after the Buffavento Restauant on the left. This leads you onto a narrow, single-track road along the southern slopes of the mountain. Drive slowly and carefully along this road and for sure don't do it if it's raining. There are a few passing places, steep drops and magnificent views over the Mesaoria Plain, Lefkosa and goats.The route twists and turns so the castle will disappear and reappear several times, but after about 4 slow miles, you’ll eventually arrive at the car park, with its’ solitary olive tree and a memorial to the crew of an aircraft that perished in a mountain top crash in 1988. Be aware that there's no toilets or facilities of any sort up here, so take a leak before you set off and bring some water with you, especially in hot weather. Now start the 30 minutes or so zig-zag path to get to just the first level of the castle. There are gently graded concrete steps with low walls for you to rest from the climb and wonderful views in every direction. Be aware that the steps don't have any hand rails. If you visit in Spring, your walk is covered in flowers that grow on the hillside. The trek up to the very top is pretty strenuous and in total may take up to an hour for the average person but it is worth it as the views over the sea to the North and the Masaoria Plain to the South are simply spectacular. Inside The castle is built on two levels or wards, and the main gate at the first level is more or less intact. The lower level has the most complete rooms, possibly royal apartments, where there’s evidence of cisterns beneath the floors with some still containing water. Winter rains were the only supply of water for drinking and cooking and it was stored in deep underground reservoirs were it stayed fresh for many years. Climb the steps built into the rock face for another 75 feet to get to the upper level and the final few steps lead you into a completely waterproof barrel-vaulted room. From this there’s a passage with ruined rooms on both sides and a splendid view at the far end. If you return to the entrance, you can climb to where the lightning conductor marks the highest point. Looking down to the south west you’ll see the huge flag of the TRNC that’s painted on the hillside. Just to stand at 3,100ft and feel the wind blowing off the sea; to watch mares-tail clouds drifting across the sky; to turn 360 degrees and gaze at the spectacular panorama; and maybe hear the call of buzzards and ravens in flight as they circle the castle top, will make the climb completely rewarding. History Originally built in the 11th century and rebuilt by the Lusignans in the 14th century, Buffavento is thought to have been built with St Hilarion castle as part of a major programme of works after the Seljuk advance, although it was also used as a prison and lookout post, and it’s easy to see why. The name may have been borrowed from a monastery in the Koutzoventi village. It was certainly visited by Richard the Lionheart in 1191, and one theory suggests it was built as a countermeasure for the spread of Crusader states. In medieval chronicles it was called the “Castle of the Lion ” and a Lusignan period legend claims that the castle was built by a Cypriot noblewoman who was seeking shelter from the Knights Templar and that’s why the castle was known as Leonne (Lion's Castle) or Queen's Castle. The castle saw next to no fighting. In 1191, it was surrendered to Richard the Lionheart after Kantara and St Hilarion fell. Richard sold the island to the Knights Templar then resold it to Guy of Lusignan, of the House of Lusignan. The Lusignans continued their reign interrupted only by occasional palace coups and was used as a prison. In 1308, a knight named Anseau of Brie was imprisoned at the castle when he heard of the accusations levelled against the Knights Templar in their trial. In the 14th century, the island came under the control of the Republic of Venice, at which time it fell into disuse. Architecture Buffavento has approximately 600 steps leading up to it and steep crags surrounding it, making it inaccessible from west, east and north. Many of the castle's buildings are irregular in shape, as the limited available space forced its builders to economize space. The main building material was dressed limestone from the island's coasts and stones taken directly from the mountain on which it stands. The architecture carries no signs of decoration. The upper level faces the sea (north) and the lower one the plain (south). The levels were connected by a long staircase, which was later destroyed by the Venetians who deemed the fortifications redundant. Outbuildings consist of a water cistern and a stable, which would have been useless in the event of a siege. The castle's gates were located inside a 2-storey rectangular tower with a Frankish style pointed arch. 3-barrel vaulted buildings and recess are again Frankish in origin. The main stairway leads to a 2-storey, unvaulted Byzantine building, which is divided into 3 large chambers, interconnected with water pipes. The eastern side was guarded by a short, Frankish, groin vaulted tower with a cistern and a building that may have served as a church. At the extreme west of the castle stands a ruined, isolated tower. The lack of a kitchen or a food storage, points to the fact that rooms were multi-functional in their nature. Top Sightseeing > Büyük Hamam From olden days, Hamam’s have played a definitive role in the structure of cultures, a meeting place for social gatherings, body and soul purification and general relaxation. The first buildings that Ottoman Turks built in any city were the baths, a prime facility used in the everyday life of its inhabitants, also serving as a practical sanitary service for the many that didn't have the same comfort in their homes. Buyuk Hamam is the oldest Turkish bathhouse in the city, in the Iplik Bazaar quarter, erected on the Lusignan site of the 14th century St George de Poulains Church. The only real identifiable element that remains from the former Latin church is the main entrance, which also bears similarities to the porch of the Bedesten. As the new city was built on the ruins of the former, with the rise of the ground of surrounding areas over time, the Hamam’s door is now about 2 metres below ground level with the bathrooms further below. Buyuk Hamam is one of the most stunning remains of the Ottoman period in Nicosia. The building was rebuilt as a Turkish bath between 1571 and 1590 during the first years of Ottoman rule, and belonged to the Pious Foundation of Lala Mustafa Pasha, generating a healthy income to this institution. The venue was a popular public centre, where women especially would meet to socialise and exchange gossip. It was renovated in 2008 all while the original qualities of the bathhouse were maintained, and today consists of three sections: ‘Soyunmalik’ which is the changing room, ‘Iliklik’ where visitors warm up or warm down and the ‘Sicaklik’ being the main hot feature, exhibiting a large cupola (dome) with glass-covered holes inviting sunlight over the central massage podium. The changing room also bears the original remnants of the Latin church, especially that of the large windowsills. The Buyuk Hamam is the only original Turkish bath still active in North Cyprus and an important attraction for tourists, who use it to experience hundreds of years of traditional methods of peeling and massage with aromatic oils and foam. The baths are generally open daily, and arrangements can usually be made for sex segregated and/or family sessions. Top Sightseeing > Büyükkonuk Village Formerly called Komi Kebir, Büyükkonuk nestles on the foothills of the Five Finger Mountain Range and is the gateway to Karpaz. The geography here is a combination of hilly terrain and fertile flat lands, close to seashores north and south, as here Northern Cyprus narrows to less than 10 miles. The northern coast is rocky with pebbled beaches, while the southern shoreline boasts some of the best sandy beaches in the Mediterranean. This part of Northern Cyprus is famous for its natural and man-made landscapes, the biodiversity of the plants and wildlife and its rich cultural heritage. Traditional crops include carob, olive, wheat, barley and some vegetable farming. Dairy cows, sheep and goats are kept. Forested hills border the village, filling the air with scented pine and wild herbs. Many species of trees, including Cypress, juniper and almond, as well as ancient olive groves, dot the landscape. Orchids and other wild flowers abound in season. Plenty of field roads and narrow tracks are found on the hills and flats areas, and as there's a conspicuous absence of fences, the surrounding area is attractive for walking and cycling. At the borders of the village, there are the churches of Saint George, Saint Afksentios and Saint Loukas. There are also the ancient churches of Panagia Kira, Saint George Parouzos, Saint Vasilios (in ruins), Saint Photiou (in ruins) and Saint Katherine (in ruins). Buyukkonuk was selected as a pilot village in the Karpaz for the development of eco tourism. It started with a craft shop for locally made handicrafts, then expanded to B&B, activity centre, meeting place and a start for tours, with the aim of saving traditional village life as part of the cultural heritage. Village activity tours and employing local traditions of food and crafts encourage sustainable development, letting visitors have a unique insight into village life while traditional culture is reinforced and maintained. The European Union and United States Agency for International Development (USAID ) assisted in the enlargement and refurbishment of facilities. Now there are 10 beds available in the B&B in 4 different self-contained, air-conditioned rooms, some with disabled access. Activities that you can join in: Walk with shepherds behind their flocks of fat tailed sheep. Take joy in gambolling Try milking a goat, filling a bucket with warm frothy milk. Collecting eggs fresh from the nest for your breakfast. Firing a large village oven to bake sesame covered breads filled with cheese and olives. Harvest olives & pour them into a milling trough under giant stones to extract the golden oil. Explore earthy tracts between stone walled fields. Walk through nature’s colourful pallet during the wild flower season. Enjoy the scent of pine and carob forested foothills, lush green valleys and chequered fields. See grass turn into "Van Gogh" yellow sheaves that have inspired artists for generations. Sample healthy village fare such as bread dipped in olive oil, fall-off-the-bone meats of "firin kebab" or the unique delicacy of pumpkin flowers filled with rice and herbs. Basket or broom making Spinning Brick making Top Sightseeing > Cafer Pasha Hammam Baths The main square in Famagusta, today known as Namik Kemal Square , was the busiest part of the city in Ottoman and Latin times. The most important mosque in the city, the Lala Mustafa Pasha , along with the historic medrese and the Cafer Pasha Fountain and Hammam (bath), comprised the buildings that surrounded this square. The fountain can be seen to the right of the entrance to the Venetian Palace. It was built in 1597 and named after an Ottoman general. Across from the fountain is the Cafer Pasha Bath . Although the bath dates to 1605, the dressing rooms are much older, originally part of the 14th century St Francis Church. The rest of the baths are typically Ottoman Turkish, with domed hot and cold rooms. Top Sightseeing > Cengiz Topel Monument Towards the end of 1963, Greek Cypriots on the island initiated ethnic cleansing of Turkish Cypriots. Over the following months, 100+ villages were evacuated and the villagers moved into enclaves, including Erenkoy on the northwest coast of the island. In August 1964, the Greek Cypriot National Guard started action against Erenkoy. It was one of the last ports under Turkish Cypriot control and the Greeks believed that militia were landing supplies and weapons from Türkiye. A land and sea operation was carried out by thousands of professionally trained soldiers under the command of the retired Greek General and leader of EOKA, Georgios Grivas. EOKA was a Greek Cypriot organisation that fought a campaign for the end of British rule in Cyprus, for the island’s self-determination and for eventual union with Greece. The defenders of Erenkoy, which mainly consisted of 750 university students, managed to hold their positions till the 8th August, when the Turkish Air Force intervened through its right as a Guarantor Power of Cyprus. Erenkoy Resistance Against this backdrop on August 8, 1964, Cengiz Topel, a fighter pilot of the Turkish Air Force, was part of a combat mission in what is known today as the “Erenkoy Resistance ”, which supported the besieged villagers. He led a four-fighter flight of the 112th Air Squadron but his Topel F-100 Super Sabre was hit by 40mm anti-aircraft fire from a Greek Cypriot gun emplacement and shot-down as he was strafing a Greek Cypriot patrol boat. Cengiz Topel managed to eject from his aircraft and made a safe parachute jump over land, but was promptly captured by Greek Cypriot villagers and taken to the British hospital. Members of the Cyprus National Guard removed Topel from his hospital bed and took him to their headquarters. An autopsy of his body showed that there he was heavily tortured and eventually murdered, his corpse shot at several times. The 29-year-old’s corpse was returned on August 12, 1964 to the Turkish authorities. On August 14, 1964, he was laid to rest at the Edirnekapı Martyr’s Cemetery in Istanbul. Erenkoy Today, Erenkoy, also known by its Greek name Kokkina, is an exclave of Northern Cyprus. Greek Cypriot sanctions mean that the exclave can only be accessed from the rest of North Cyprus by sea, as the coastal road is impeded. Visitors to the now uninhabited village of Erenkoy, will find caves in the nearby mountains, which were dug during the conflict so Turkish Cypriots could escape fierce shelling they regularly had to endure during the conflict. Aftermath Topel’s bravery together with those of the outnumbered students saved the village and following the end of hostilities, UN forces returned to the area, bringing humanitarian aid to Turkish Cypriots. But the war for Erenkoy villagers, like Turkish Cypriots in other enclaves, wasn’t over. For over a decade, they continued to endure harsh conditions as they remained encircled by Greek Cypriots who would mount occasional attacks. It was not until 1974 that the conflict would finally end. Legacy Cengiz Topel was the first Turkish pilot to die in action. To recognise his heroic efforts, a hospital in Yesilyurt, near Lefke, was renamed the Cengiz Topel Hospital in 1975. A monument was also erected on the coastal road in the village of Gemikonagi near Lefke, where he had landed by parachute, in commemoration of his heroics, and is open to the public. In Türkiye, a former Turkish Air Force base located near İzmit, currently in use as Cengiz Topel Naval Air Station, is named after him. A bronze statue erected in his honour in Eskisehir depicts him in flight suit. Several sites, schools and hospitals in Northern Cyprus and Türkiye are named after him. Erenkoy Today, Erenkoy, also known by its Greek name Kokkina, is an exclave of Northern Cyprus. Greek Cypriot sanctions mean that the exclave can only be accessed from the rest of North Cyprus by sea, as the coastal road is impeded. Visitors to the now uninhabited village of Erenkoy, will find caves in the nearby mountains, which were dug during the conflict so Turkish Cypriots could escape fierce shelling they regularly had to endure during the conflict. Top Sightseeing > Chain Tower In the Middle Ages a chain suspended between two towers defended the entrance of Kyrenia’s harbour, like the chain across the Golden Horn in Constantinople. William de Oldenburg, who visited Cyprus in 1211 during the reign of King Hugh I, referred to Kyrenia as “a small town well-fortified, which has a castle with walls and towers”. He perceived the chain tower as part of Kyrenia’s fortification system in that time. The Byzantines had already fortified the city, but in the 13th century, during the Longobard war, before the siege of the city, Frederick II’s party, under the direction of Captain Philippo Genardo, improved the defences of the city. The chain tower is still visible today on the north side of the old Kyrenia harbour. It consists of an 8.15 m diameter cylindrical tower and a 1.5 m diameter pillar on top of it. Often mistaken for a lighthouse, the iron chain was stretched across the entrance of Kyrenia Harbour between two towers, the other being the old Customs House located at the urban entrance of the harbour. The chain was suspended across the harbour entrance to block hostile shipping and defend the city against threats. Top Sightseeing > Dervis Pasha Mansion Dervis Pasha Mansion (Derviş Paşa Konağı ) is an historical mansion and ethnographic museum in the Arab Ahmet quarter of Nicosia, and considered to be one of the finest examples of Ottoman architecture in Cyprus. It lies on Beliğ Paşa Street , has two floors, and was built on an earlier Gothic building on the same site. Built in 1801, it was repaired in 1869 with ornate wood carvings. It belonged at the end of the 19th century to Hacı Ahmet Derviş Efendi, who owned large swathes of land outside Nicosia and was the editor of Zaman newspaper, the first Turkish periodical in Cyprus published between 1891 – 1900. He was a leading figure in the Turkish Cypriot community and also a member of the assembly that ratified decisions of the British colonial administration. The lower floor is made of stone, while the upper floor is adobe (mud brick). Its architecture is heavily Ottoman and reflects the lifestyle of the time. It has two entrance doors, one for men (selamlik) and one for women (harem). It has a large inner courtyard, which was used by household members for relaxation without exposure to the outside. It's considered to be one of the finest examples of Ottoman architecture with whitewashed walls, plain yellow-stoned arches, terracotta roof and blue woodwork. The main room, which is an extension expanding over the street, is ‘Baghdadi ’ style, timber-framed with stone filling and a roof displaying eaves, like a bay window. In 1979, the mansion was in the danger of collapse and was purchased by the Turkish Cypriot state in 1981. Following renovation, it opened to visitors as an ethnographic museum on 21 March 1988. It was notable as the first significant renovation project in Northern Cyprus. Inside, examples of traditional Cypriot lifestyle, such as kitchen utensils, instruments for needlework, as well as old swords and historical clothes, are on display, while the furnishings of the bridal room, dining hall and living area, illustrate the household rituals of the time. The large inner courtyard was once used by the household for private recreation. The inhabitants of the mansion lived on the upper floor whilst the ground floor was allocated as servants’ quarters and used for storage. Top Sightseeing > Enkomi Village This acient city is thought to have been the first capital of Cyprus and dates back over 4,000 years. Also referred to as Alasiya, it's located near to the present-day village of Tuzla, north of Famagusta. Excavations have revealed the city was initially under Egypt and later Mycenae influence. It was a large orderly city with a prosperous trade and surrounded by fortified walls. It was originally built on a rocky plateau west of Tuzla, on the river Pedieos, the longest waterway in Cyprus. Copper ore was transported to Enkomi, where it was smelted and shipped for export as the river was navigable and had an inland harbour. The metal trade continued into the Late Bronze Age and was recorded in correspondence between the Pharaoh and the King of Alasiya. It's unclear if "Alasiya" referred to just Enkomi, the region, or to Cyprus as a whole but the exchange confirms Alasiya as a major supplier of copper to Syria and Anatolia. Excavations have discovered several areas where metallurgy took place and the name is found on texts written in Egyptian, Hittite, Akkadian, Mycenean and Ugaritic. . Much of what you see today is the remains of reconstruction after it was devastated by the “Sea People ” who invaded eastern Anatolia, Syria, Palestine, Cyprus, and Egypt toward the end of the Bronze Age. around 1200 BCE. The earlier town was built ad hoc, but the new town was rebuilt on a grid system, with long east-west avenues and a north-south main street. In 1075 BCE, it was hit by an earthquake, then around 1000 BCE, the inland harbour silted up and decline set in. As Enkomi declined, nearby Salamis began to thrive, and the last inhabitants of Enkomi migrated there. Most of today's ruins are from the rebuilt city, which never recovered its ancient grandeur. In 1896 as part of the Turner Bequest expedition to Cyprus, the first excavations on the island were conducted by the British Museum. Two bronze statues of gods were found on what was thought to be ceremonial buildings. The “horned god ” is a bronze statuette which reveals the influence of Hittite art, depicting a God, possibly Apollo , wearing a horned helmet. The “ingot god ”, is wearing a horned conical hat and greaves, shield and spear, and stands on a miniature hide-shaped ingot. Other notable finds include the “Enkomi Cup” which used niello decoration making it one of the earliest uses of this technique – a black mix of sulphur, copper, silver, and lead, used as an inlay on engraved or etched metal, especially silver. Most of the discoveries are in a collection of 1,800 objects or fragments in the British Museum in London Top Sightseeing > Gambler's Inn The Kumarcilar Han, also called the Gambler’s Inn, is a caravansarai (an Inn with a central courtyard) located in Nicosia. Thought to be built around the end of the 17th century, it's much smaller and modest when compared with Büyük Han , but nonetheless typical of an Ottoman inner city commercial inn. In the middle ages, merchants used to group themselves together according to their trades. When travelling, merchants from the same town or trade would favour certain hans, which would tend to assume the name of that town or trade. The Gambler’s Inn was originally known as the Violinist’s or Fiddler’s Inn and it's not known when or why the name changed. Similar to all caravansarai, the entrance leads to an open-air courtyard, which is surrounded by a two-storey building, originally containing 56 rooms. Upper floors were used by travellers, ground floor for their animals and belongings. The ground floor rooms have stone floors and an external window. A stair leads to the upper storey, where the floor is marble and some rooms contain fireplaces. A monumental carved gate at the entrance dates to before the Ottoman conquest, and experts believe the structure stands on a much earlier building, possibly the ruins of a monastery. This Han has been fully restored and is used as an attraction with cafes, restaurants, arts and craft shops. Top Sightseeing > Geçitköy Dam Geçitköy Dam is a rock-fill dam on the Mandara River about 5 miles west of Lapithos. It was originally completed as the Dağdere Dam in 1989, but between 2012 and 2014 it was raised and expanded from 1.8 million cubic metres to 35 million cubic metres. The dam receives water from the river and via an undersea pipeline from the Alaköprü Dam , in the Mersin Province of Türkiye, topped-up by by an underground aquifer and hundreds of small shallow wells. Water from Türkiye first entered the reservoir on 17 October 2015. From there it’s transferred via pumps to Girne which lies to the east. Getting There To get there, follow the main coastal road towards Camlibel and Mavi Kosk house (The Blue House). You can view the dam from the road but probably the best place for a photo would be The Blue House . The Views You can’t go on top of the dam, but the view from the road above is still amazing and the panoramic view of the water reservoir is stunning. Picnic areas abound, as do car shade ports and viewing galleries. The Walks If you fancy walking round the reservoir be aware it’s at least 3 or 4 hours and if you take your time for lots of photos, it could be more. The pathways have lots of trees and wild flowers beside them and there's a number of viewing towers along the way. You’ll even find some nice places to fish, if that takes your fancy. Top Sightseeing > George VI Monument This cylindrical monument is in the centre of Lefke . It takes the form of a water storage tank, and was built to commemorate the coronation of George VI who was crowned in 1937 following the abdication of his brother King Edward VIII. Top Sightseeing > Greco-Roman Rock Tombs Kyrenia has around 70 known tombs, a few of which are especially distinctive. Romans built cemeteries outside towns. Kyrenia town was East of the Castle, which means graves were west. Nowadays, the modern town is further west than that of the Romans, so the area that was rich with catacombs has been largely built on in recent years, although some are still found in cellars of buildings. When one is found, it's excavated, and any finds removed for study. Some tombs were carved into rock face in the town centre and can be found within the car park on the ‘Turgut Tahsin ’ road. In the old part of town, opposite the Icon Museum, are the remains of catacombs dating to 400AD but they can sometimes be concealed beneath overgrown plants. Along from the Chrysopolitissa Church , you'll find the entrance to a steep passage taking you to an underground chamber. This tomb, unlike others is entirely subterranean and is only open by arrangement with the custodian of Kyrenia Castle. Top Sightseeing > Güzelyurt Archaeology & Nature Museum This petite site opened as a museum in 1979 after restoration. The building was originally the palace of the Bishop of the region and housed town offices up to 1974. It consists of a natural history section , where flora and fauna of North Cyprus are displayed, and an archaeological floor which exhibits the island’s rich historical past from the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. A further room offers a display of finds from the Tumba Tou Skuru settlement. The courtyard serves as an open-air museum, exhibiting pieces from Classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods. Since their discovery in 2005, the ‘Golden Leaves of Soli ’ have been on display at this museum and are of great archaeological importance and aesthetics. The most breath-taking of all artefacts are the ethereal tiara of gold leaves, artfully and delicately intertwined. Another important work is the 2nd century AD statue of the Anatolian Goddess Artemis of Ephesus , discovered at the Salamis ruins in 1980. This plain museum is around the corner from the major tourist attraction of St Mamas Church and Icon Museum. If you have some time, stroll over to this little museum and you’ll be richly rewarded. Top Sightseeing > Hz. Omer Tomb For centuries, tombs have held great significance for Turkish Muslims. They may visit tombs to pray for healing, or to seek relief for pain in their life, particularly during Ramadan. 6km east of Kyrenia, on the coast near Çatalköy , lies the tomb of Hazreti (Saint) Omer , a holy place according to Islamic belief. Completely out of sight, with spectacular views of the Five Finger Mountains and the Mediterranean, the tomb is an exquisite and peaceful location. It's the final resting place of Commander Omer, and 6 others. It dates from the Arab raids of the 7th century, although there was almost certainly a local pagan shrine before then. The small mosque and Mausoleum were built by the Ottomans and the bodies were exhumed and buried again. In typical Cypriot fashion, the tekke or Dervish convent which grew up around the tombs was venerated by both Orthodox and Muslim communities over the years. It was also renovated in the 1950s, and today you'll find fascinating tapestries and rugs within the tomb. Top Sightseeing > Iskele Archaeology Museum After 18 months of work, this new building was completed and opened in Iskele in 2018. The Iskele-Karpaz region is where evidence of the first human settlements in Cyprus were discovered and this museum houses over 2,000 artefacts that were previously stored in St Barnabas museum. The exhibits are from 8 historical periods, from Neolithic through to the Roman era. The cultural heritage of many civilisations has been carried through to this new gallery, displaying over 10,000 years of history. The artefacts on show have been collected, preserved and brought together from various local excavations. Modern as it is, this museum was designed to serve all ages. The relics and delicate pieces include jewellery, fine pottery, large sculptures and antiques. Top Sightseeing > Kantara Castle Of the 3 crusader castles on the Five Finger Mountains, Kantara is furthest east. At 700m, it’s the lowest of the 3 but commands the Mesaoria Plains and Karpaz Peninsula . The first time Kantara is mentioned in written records is when Richard the Lionheart conquered Cyprus in 1191. In 1391, the castle was re-fortified by King James, when it had extensive walls built around it. When the Venetians took over the island in 1489, the castle continued as an important garrison but gradually fell into ruin. A visit to Kantara today reveals the ruins of old defensive emplacements, soldiers accommodation, water cisterns, vaulted rooms, watch towers and breath-taking views. The documented history of Kantara coincides with that of St Hilarion and Buffavento . The castles were all built during the Byzantine period, after the coast was overrun by the Seljuk Empire or as a countermeasure to the First Crusade. The name of the castle apparently derives from the Cypriot Maronite Arabic word “kandak ” which means stone bridge. It saw military action when the Genoese attempted to take the island in 1372 and proved adamant in defence against the forces of James I King of Cyprus, as it had a birds eye view along the Karpaz peninsula, and an unequalled vantage point over opposing forces from Famagusta. In common with the other two castles. it was deemed of no further military use by the Venetians who partially dismantled it and it’s very much as it was hundreds of years ago. Getting to the highest point is not too strenuous a climb and only takes a few minutes. A gravel path winds upwards and passes a cistern on the right. The gate house that once was protected by a portcullis, has a guard house to the right, while the path continues up into the barbican of the lower ward. The north east and south east towers are evident, and a further short climb leads into the upper ward. At this level Kantara reveals its completeness. Although the upper floors were removed hundreds of years ago, there’s still the lower rooms of the guard house, Castellan’s apartments, barrack rooms, vast storerooms and deep cisterns. Following the line of the perimeter walls will show remains of further dwellings and breath-taking views at every turn. The north east tower contains a long room, equipped with tall arrow slits that allowed archers to fire on the enemy below but remain protected. A walk around Kantara shouldn’t be hurried. This is the castle of 101 rooms and, according to legend, anyone who finds the 101st will enter Paradise! Serving as a watchtower for pirate raids, an administrative centre and a prison, the castle saw next to no fighting. In 1191, it was taken by Richard the Lionheart, who sold the island to the Knights Templar, then resold it to Guy of Lusignan, the former king of Jerusalem, who became the first king of Cyprus in 1192. The Lusignans continued their reign interrupted only by occasional palace coups. In 1373, Cyprus was invaded by the Republic of Genoa, who imprisoned the local nobility. According to Philip of Novara's chronicle, Prince John of Antioch managed to escape from Famagusta after disguising himself as the valet of his cook. He fled to Kantara, from where he organised a successful counter offensive that expelled the Genoese. Recognizing the importance of the three Kyrenian castles, James I of Cyprus and Peter II of Cyprus vastly expanded their fortifications. During their reign Kantara was transformed into a garrison castle, barracks and an enormous cistern was erected. Another cistern located at the basement of the castle was converted into a prison and later made into rooms for the captain of garrison. In 1489, the Republic of Venice acquired the island, and by 1519 Italian engineers branded the castle as obsolete, which led to the Kyrenian mountain castles falling into disuse. In 1905, the castle was classified as historic heritage and in 1914, underwent restoration in an effort to attract sightseers. In 1939, the foundation of the horseshoe tower was refurbished in order to prevent it from collapsing. Architecture Kantara is around 2,000 feet above sea level, surrounded by ridges of barren granite and sandstone bedrock which were used as the main building materials. Most of the buildings are coated with thick layers of plaster to cover the poor quality of the materials, while doors, windows and quoins were transported from elsewhere. Lack of water led to the collection of rainwater via flat roofs connected to cisterns through a drainage system. Among the six cisterns used, the largest stood outside the walls. Buildings contained bread ovens and perhaps even a mill. The surrounding 120 by 70 metres (390 ft × 230 ft) wall contained ten garrison rooms, which were constructed in the late 14th century, connected with a latrine. A concealed postern, guarded by two towers, lies on the south–west corner of the castle. To the south of the main gate, a rectangular, barrel vaulted keep was used as a prison but later converted into a cistern. The centre of its northern wall has a late 14th century Frankish window built from what once was an embrasure. The shape of the embrasures indicate they were mainly used by crossbowmen. At the top of the castle stand the ruins of "The Queen's Chamber ", an alleged fortified chapel destroyed in a Turkish naval bombardment in 1525 and looted in the 19th century. Top Sightseeing > Karaoğlanoğlu Memorial To understand the significance of this memorial site and museum, a brief overview of Cyprus history is required. When the Ottoman empire took control in 1461 of what we today know as Greece, the Greeks preserved their culture through the Orthodox church . When the Ottomans arrived in Cyprus in 1571, they freed the Orthodox church from Latin control, allowing Greeks to influence and control the Orthodox church to such an extent there was eventually little difference between religious activities and political activities. In 1832, after a long and bitter war, Greece was granted independence from the Ottomans although Cyprus wasn't part of the agreement. When the British arrived in 1878, Greek Cypriots hoped they'd grant Cyprus Enosis , union with Greece. That wasn't to be the case and from the 1930’s a gradual escalation of civil unrest was seen, largely instigated by the church. In 1955, EOKA was formed as a terrorist organisation with the sole aim of getting the British out and absorbing Cyprus into Greece. Little thought was given to what Turkish Cypriots, living peacefully on the island, would think of this. EOKA violence escalated against not only the British, but anybody that didn't support Enosis, resulting in more frequent atacks against Turkish villages. In 1959, the London and Zurich agreements resulted in the independence of Cyprus , and Greek Cypriots saw this as a stepping stone to Enosis. In 1963, a secret plan was drawn up which discarded the 1960 constitution that had enshrined power sharing. As part of this plan, Turkish Cypriots were gradually displaced from their villages and placed in enclaves. In December 1963, violence against Turkish Cypriots erupted, and continued for several years, gradually separating the island into Greek and Turkish community areas. In 1974, a Greek sponsored coup overthrew Archbishop Makarios with the intention of forcing Enosis onto the island. To prevent this, Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit , invoked Turkey's rights to intervene under the Treaty of Guarantee, and on 20 July 1974 launched what is known as the 1st Peace Operation. “We are actually going to the island for peace, not for war, and not just for the Turkish Cypriots but for the Greek Cypriots as well,” Mr Ecevit told reporters at the time. This operation came 5 days after the Greek junta-engineered coup saw EOKA terrorist Nicos Sampson installed as the island’s leader. Scores of Greek Cypriots were killed by fellow Greek Cypriots during the violence. Sampson would later say in an interview with a Greek newspaper, printed in 1981, that had Turkey not intervened “I would not only have proclaimed Enosis, I would have annihilated the Turks in Cyprus”. A ceasefire was agreed at 4pm on 22 July 1974, leaving the Turkish Army in control of land, including the main road between Kyrenia and Nicosia. Attacks on Turkish Cypriots continued and the precarious situation of its own troops prompted Turkey to launch the second phase of its operation in August of the same year, eventually extending the safe haven for Turkish Cypriots to today’s boundaries. Turkish Cyprus declared its independence on 15 November 1983 as the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus. The Karaoğlanoğlu Memorial was built in memory of soldiers who gave their lives during the Peace Operations of 1974, and takes it name after the regiment Commander Colonel Halil İbrahim Karaoğlanoğlu , one of the first casualties in the first hours of operations. The story of the conflict is represented at the memorial as a factual presentation, with displays in English and Turkish. English speaking servicemen from the Turkish Army are also on hand as guides. The two columns that greet visitors at the entrance symbolise the door to Türkiye. Further in, a small military graveyard holds remains of casualties, including Colonel Karaoglanoglu, whose name was also given to the nearby village in his memory. The group of statues symbolise the Republic of Turkey and Turkish Republic of North Cyprus, built on four columns, representing the four-day duration of the first Peace Operation. The Peace & Freedom Museum next to the memorial has an indoor and outdoor area. The open air part is a display of vehicles and arms left by fleeing Greek soldiers, while indoors there's a display of photographs of the military action, artillery, as well as possessions and uniforms of some of the combatants. A short distance from the museum is the Peace & Freedom Icon at the actual point of the landings of the Turkish Army. The memorial is on the main road a 15-minute drive from Kyrenia Town Centre and is a a sombre yet interesting experience. Top Sightseeing > Karmi Village Inhabited mostly by British and German expatriates, lies a village on the mountain slope west of Kyrenia. Karmi, also known as Karaman , was abandoned by its Greek-Cypriot inhabitants in 1974 and in time, the old houses became derelict and the area turned into almost a ghost town. In 1979, the Council of Ministers decided to rejuvenate this small scenic village, while developing resident tourism. Great importance was placed on keeping the character of the village, while catering for the needs of modern accommodations. Traditional constructions were kept alive by using wooden rafters and rush mats for ceilings, restrictions were placed on roof placements so as not to spoil the village atmosphere, and each house had its own name written at its entrance. Archaeological excavations carried out in the area produced chamber tombs from the Middle Bronze Age, including blue ceramic beads and pots from the Cretan Minoan civilisation. It’s believed these may be tombs of mariners who sailed ships from Lapithos, and the evidence and confirm the island's commercial relations with surrounding lands during that time. The village holds the church of Virgin Mary in the central square and hosts visitors throughout the year, who can stroll along picturesque winding lanes and relax in one of the pubs and bistros, admiring the seasonal floras and fresh aura surroundings. Top Sightseeing > Kyrenia Castle & Harbour Kyrenia Castle & Harbour Kyrenia Castle lies at the entrance to the town's famous harbour, and stands majestic guard over the port. The Castle and Harbour are the most visited place in Northern Cyprus due to a remarkable state of preservation and being fully accessible to the public. The horse-shoe shaped harbour is one of the prettiest to be seen in the whole of the Mediterranean. The Castle offers a fascinating glimpse into Cyprus history, provides stunning views to visitors and is home to a shipwreck museum, which is one of the world's most important and well-preserved pieces of marine history. The Castle Kyrenia has existed since the 10th century BC, but the first evidence of the castle is from Roman times and was subsequently fortified by the Byzantines with four towers linked by walls. It provided refuge for the Isaac Comnenos family, then despotic ruler of Cyprus, against Richard the Lionheart. It was strengthened and enlarged by the French Lusignans, but the current appearance of the Castle mostly dates back to Venetian rule from around 1489. The Venetians were concerned about invasion by the Ottomans, so set about fortifying Cyprus. The walls of Kyrenia Castle were enlarged, thickened and reinforced to defeat artillery attacks and to resist any siege. The Venetians replaced the original drawbridge at the castle's entrance, with the protected gatehouse that still exists today. They also kept the 12th-century Byzantine church of St George the Castle, safely within the walls. When the Ottoman invasion finally occurred in 1571, the Venetians seem to have given up without a fight! Very Italian. The exterior fortifications are in remarkable condition and look like they were constructed fairly recently. The entrance leads you to a central parade ground area, on the way passing a tomb of an Ottoman admiral. The central area is lined with guardrooms, living quarters and stables and ramps leading to defences on the upper sections of the walls. You can climb steps that take you to the Lusignan royal apartments and the small Byzantine chapel. In the depths of the castle, you’ll discover dungeons, storage rooms and the all-important ' magazines', where gunpowder was stored clean and dry, ready for use. The battlements of Kyrenia Castle are worth the climb for the view alone, and you can walk around the whole extent of the castle's walls. The Castle is also home to one of the world's most important pieces of marine archaeology. In 1965, divers off the coast of Northern Cyprus discovered what has been found to be the oldest recorded shipwreck. Dating back to 300 BC it was a trade ship, carrying cargo that included jars of almonds and wine and sank in about 100 feet of water just offshore. It was brought to the surface and is kept in a specially-controlled atmosphere to ensure its continued preservation and is shown with part of its final cargo. The shipwreck features on 3 Cypriot euro coins. The Harbour Kyrenia is now a major tourist attraction with a relaxed, inviting and calming atmosphere. Pleasure boats and luxury yachts crowd around the quayside and diners fill waterfront tables from which it takes only a moment to recognise that many of the older buildings surrounding the harbour were once warehouses. These now bustle with new life as shops, bars or restaurants, but they once stored carob beans and powder for export, a trade for which the island was famous until recent times. Due to its strategic location, Kyrenia has always been involved in commerce and maritime. Ships would ply their trade down the Aegean coast of Turkey, taking in islands like Samos and Rhodes, before calling in to Kyrenia on the way to Egypt. With commercial shipping confined to the new harbour further east, Kyrenia harbour is now left for pleasure and for the romantics. Top Sightseeing > Kyrenia Gate One of the 3 gates in the Venetian wall that encircle old Nicosia, it provides access to the city from the north. For over 1,000 years, Nicosia was a walled city, from the Lusignans through to the Ottomans . During the Renaissance era, the Venetians reconstructed great walls around the capital, threatened by the Ottomans. The 3 original gates were the Famagusta Gate in the east, Paphos Gate in the west and the arched Kyrenia Gate which is one of the old city’s primary entrance points. Built by the Venetians in 1562, it used to be known as “Porta del Provveditore ”, after Italian governor Francesco Barbaro . It had a portcullis and a lion of St Mark which is still visible. The Ottomans added inscriptions to the north wall with verses of the Holy Quran , praising Allah as the “Opener of Gates”. The gate would open with the dawn call to prayer and close with the night prayer. In 1821, the Ottomans added a guard chamber with a domed roof and renamed it the “Edirne Gate ”. The south facing wall has a marble plaque bearing the tughra, a calligraphic monogram of Sultan Mahmut II also dated 1821. Still in perfect condition it's one of the most attractive historic monuments in Nicosia. The roads on either side of the gate, built by the British in 1931, are still main entry points into the old walled city, maintaining its significance to this day. Top Sightseeing > Lapidary Museum To the east of the Selimiye Mosque , this gallery is housed in a Venetian style, stone-built two-story building dating back to the mid-15th century. Lapidary is the engraving, cutting, or polishing of stones and gems. Researchers believe it was originally built within the courtyard of St Sophia Cathedral and used as a guesthouse for pilgrims and travellers. During British colonial rule, many stone works and pieces from the medieval period were housed here which included insignias, tombs and columns, all under the supervision of George Everett Jeffery , the curator of ancient monuments in Cyprus. The collection was consequently catalogued and turned into a Lapidary museum which was refurbished and opened to visitors in 2003. Other notable features in this museum are a sarcophagus belonging to the Dampierre family, remote descendants of the celebrated Crusader John of Ibelin , the Old Lord of Beirut; the tombstone of Adam de Gaures of Antioch, Marshal of Cyprus dating to the 13th century; and a marble lion of St Mark, the symbol of the Venetians. A unique Gothic carved stone window with elegant tracery of a style common to cathedrals in the 15th century, now stands opposite the main entrance to the museum. This was moved from the Lusignan Palace in Sarayonu Square, when the British demolished it in 1901. Sadly, this is the only trace remaining of this Lusignan palace. Top Sightseeing > Lefke Aqueduct With long and hot summer periods, in the past Cyprus has always had a significant shortage of water. Clean water supply to urban residential areas was always one of the most important concerns of Cyprus governors. Throughout the centuries, water generally depended on rain fall, snow fall on the mountains and natural springs, the main one located in Lefke. Since the Roman era, water supply to cities was handled from the fresh springs via aqueducts, the water carrying systems consisting of chains of wells, underground water channels and bridges. During sieges however, most of the conduits were demolished which created more shortages. At the beginning of the Ottoman administration, the existing water systems were inspected and repaired, and new ones added. The Lefke aqueduct was built around 1609 . With its bridge of 10 arches , it's considered one of the best Ottoman monuments of Lefke and is still used today for irrigating orchards and fields. Lefke, which has fertile fields leading up to the sea, also produced grain during the Ottoman periods so mills and water stretches were built for grinding. English explorer Sir Samuel White Baker , commenting on Cyprus in 1879, wrote that the stonework in the waterways that pour water into the mills that returned with water in Lefke was "elegant and braided". 10 of these arches have survived to this day. Top Sightseeing > Martinengo Bastion Part of Famagusta City Walls, Martinengo is a superb example of renaissance military architecture. Also known as Tophane , it's in the north west corner of the walled city, in a peaceful and secluded setting. Cyprus was a Crusader state from 1192 to 1489 and ruled by the French Lusignans. Then it was ruled by Venice until 1571 when the Ottomans conquered. When the Venetians arrived they realised the walls of cities weren't capable of modern defence, so started modifications and renovations. In Famagusta, the weak spot was the north west corner so in 1550, Venetian architect Giovanni San Michelle arrived to redesign and strengthen this area. While works were still ongoing, he died in 1559 and was buried in St Nicholas Cathedral in the town centre. Reconstruction was continued by Luigi Brugnoli and finished in 1562. The only arrowhead shaped bastion, pointing inland, it's one of the Middle Age’s great examples of military architecture. The arrowhead shape gave it a large field of fire away from the walls, as well as allowing it to cover any breach of the moat area. The design was inspired by fortifications in Florence designed by Michelangelo , and dominated battlefields for 300 years even taking into account cannons and artillery fire to improve both defence and offence. Walls were 6m thick in places and used Earth to absorb any impact. Surrounded by ditches, it covered a huge area allowing it to house the largest Venetian cannons, so that fire could be pointed pretty much anywhere. Some lower sections were built into the bedrock to prevent tunneling and Dual ramps provided quick access for horses and heavy munitions to supply the cannons. Covering one square mile, an internal curved passageway allowed movement from one side to the other, chimneys ventilated gunpowder smoke, and gunpowder barrels and cannon balls were stored. During the Ottoman siege, Venetians under the command of Hiernino Martinengo were despatched to help the city but he died on route, and his body was taken to Famagusta. A popular commander, the bastion was named after him. By any standard, the bastion is a formidable piece of construction with every stone corner, angle and tunnel crafted with smooth precision. It's easy to imagine the fire power it contained and see why it took Ottoman forces 10 months to conquer. The nearby churches of the Armenians and the Carmelites are also worth a visit. Top Sightseeing > Mevlevi Tekki Museum Sitting immediately inside the Girne Gate within the Ibrahimpasa quarter of Nicosia, the Mevlevi Tekke is one of the most important historical and religious buildings on the island. A building designed specifically for gatherings of a Sufi brotherhood or Islamic mysticism, the Tekke was a place for spiritual retreat and character reformation. It has historically been used by the Mevlevi Order and now serves as a museum, distinguished by six grand domes surmounting a rectangular building. Early History and Background A Sufi order that originated in Konya in modern day Türkiye, the Mevlevi Order was founded by the followers of the 13th-century Persian poet, Sufi mystic, and Islamic theologian known as Celaleddin Rumi, or more commonly Mevlana. The mystical philosophy that he expressed in his poetry and bequeathed to the Mevlevi order spread east from Konya, as far as India, and then throughout the entire Islamic world. His teachings emphasised the individual soul’s separation from God during earthly existence, and the power of divine love to draw it back to the infinite on death. Rumi stressed music and dance as an expression of this mutual love and yearning, and so the Mevlevi followers became commonly known as the ‘whirling dervishes ’ due to their famous practice of continuously revolving as a form of remembrance of God. It's traditionally held that the present building or ‘mevlevihane’ is an enlarged continuation of previously established tekkes known as the Arab Ahmed Pasha and Ferhad Pasha Tekkes, constructed in 1593 and 1607. The Mevlevi Tekke was built in the early 17th century, on a piece of land donated by a landlady called Emine Hatun. When tekkes in Türkiye were closed as a part of Ataturk’s Reforms in 1925, some in the Turkish Cypriot community demanded the closure of the tekke. However this call was disregarded by the British administration of the time, and since the centre of the Mevlevi Order had moved from Konya to Aleppo, it decided to appoint a sheikh from Syria. The first such sheikh was Muhammed Selim Dede from Damascus, appointed in 1933 and who remained in position until his death in 1953. This however marked the beginning of the end of an era in which the whirling dervishes performed their sacred dance the “sema”, and the tekke finally ceased operation in 1954, the Mevlevi Order in Cyprus itself officially ceasing to exist from April 1956. After remaining closed for several years, the Tekke was reopened in 1963 as the ‘Turkish Cypriot Museum of Ethnography ”. On 17 December 2002, after extensive repairs, it became the Mevlana Museum, opened on the anniversary of his death, or “union with the beloved” as is the case in Sufi tradition. Visit Today When it was first built, the Mevlevihane included a complex of buildings and extensive grounds. A kitchen provided food for the poor of the city, permanent accommodation was made available for dervishes and guest rooms for visitors. The inner courtyard was an area for contemplation, surrounded by an orchard in which almonds, pomegranates and figs offered fruit. An ancient well dated to the Venetians and a reservoir provided water to a fountain for ablutions. Today, the Mevlevihane has an arched doorway, above which an Ottoman inscription informs visitors they have arrived at the house of Mevlana. Behind the entrance is a courtyard with Ottoman tombstones collected from various locations in Cyprus, dating from the 18th century onwards. One of the buildings is the semahane, the auditorium used for the whirling sema rituals, the mihrapor niche in the wall indicating the direction of Mecca. Along the northern wall is a wooden balcony where accompanying musicians once performed. The beams of the wooden ceiling of the semahane rest on two square columns and a series of arches divide the room into two sections. The first contains an exhibition of Rumi’s greatest poem the Mesnevi, alongside a display of musical instruments, costumes worn by the dervishes when they danced, and various other reproductions and illustrations. The other is an exhibit of the only remaining dervish cell, in which cooking utensils, a table and other objects are displayed. The southwest doorway of the semahane next to the mihrab, leads to the chamber in which the sheiks of the Mevlevihane lie buried. A total of sixteen unmarked tombs rest beneath six glorious domes, extending south along Kyrenia Street. Photographs of some of the sheiks, manuscripts and various other items are displayed on the walls, while the tombs themselves are covered in embroidered textiles. Traditionally, as part of Turkish Cypriot heritage, a ceremony of the whirling dervishes is performed here around the 17th of December each year. Top Sightseeing > Minia Cyprus Museum Located in Tatlisu, about 50km/30 miles east of Kyrenia. in an archaeological area dating back over 1,000 years. It contains miniature models, usually on a scale of 1:25, of famous historical Cypriot monuments, displayed in the courtyard of a millennial church which belongs to the Byzantine period, with more artefacts planned. The miniatures include: 18th Century Clock Tower 18th Century Ulu Mosque Apostolos Andreas Monastery Arab Ahmet Mosque Bekir Pasha Aqueduct Bellapais Monastery Büyük Han Carob Store Castle of Gaziantep Cyprus House Derviş Paşa Mansion Flour Mill Gönendere Mosque Hala Sultan Mosque Harnup Ambari Tatlisu Hatuniye Medresseh of Erzurum House of Veli Passa Hz. Omer Tomb Kyrenia Castle Kyrenia Gate Lefke CMC Bath Lusignan House Morphou Culture House Mosque of Hersekzade Ahmet Pasa Namik Kemal Dungeon Salamis Ruins Selimiye Mosque Sphink Gate St Hilarion Castle St Barnabas Monastery Statue of Artemis Tatlisu Settlement Venetian Column Yusuf bin Osman Mescit and Mosque The museum has been popular with tourists since it opened in 2015, and the number of models has consistently grown. It was inspired by the famous “Minia Turk” garden in Istanbul. Top Sightseeing > Namik Kemal Dungeon An historical building in Famagusta, famous for being the temporary abode of influential Turkish writer Namik Kemal . Known as the Shakespeare of Turkish literature, Kemal spent 38 months imprisoned here, between 1873 and 1876. Seen as a potential revolutionary and threat, he was exiled by Sultan Abdulaziz in 1873 after the first performance of his play ‘Vatan yahut Silistre ’ (Fatherland or Silistria) a drama centred on the Siege of Silistria. The play was considered dangerous by the government as it promoted nationalism and liberalism. The building Kemal was exiled to was originally part of the Venetian Palazzo del Proveditore but the jail building as it currently stands was built during the Ottoman era, in a corner of the ruined palace. The building has two floors. The lower displays pre-Ottoman Lusignan architecture and the upper is distinctly Ottoman in style. The building is L-shape with the lower floor made of ashlar stone, and the upper floor built using lath and plaster. The ground floor, with only one vaulted cell is rectangular shaped and has a low arched entrance door and barred window which opens onto the courtyard of the Venetian Palace. Although described as a dungeon, it's not underground. When Namik Kemal came to Famagusta, he first stayed on the ground floor. Notes found described his initial cell as too dark and unsuitable for living. It was just over 10 squares metres with no furnishings (where would you put them?!) . He was transferred to the floor above with permission of the Cyprus Governor, Veysi Pasha. Steep stone stairs at the side of the building lead to this storey which has two large windows, a landing at the front and marbled flooring. When Abdulaziz was dethroned, Namik Kemal was pardoned by Murad V and returned to Constantinople in 1876. He penned his plays ‘Gulnihal’ and ‘Akif Bey’ while imprisoned here. Restoration of the dungeon in the 1990's into a museum contains many of his belongings and documents. The same dungeon was also reportedly used by the British during the First World War. A bronze bust of Namik Kemal faces the square named after him, across from the dungeon. The founder of the Republic of Türkiye, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, referred to Namik Kemal’s works as a major source of inspiration, and today he still enjoys the status of a literary hero for many in Türkiye and North Cyprus alike. Top Sightseeing > Nicosia Venetian Walls During the Renaissance, Venetians constructed great walls around cities in Cyprus to protect against the Ottomans. Among the finest examples of these are the walled cities of Famagusta and Nicosia for which fortifications commenced in 1567. The Venetians commissioned military engineers Giulio Savorgnano and Francesco Barbaro to design the plans after the Great Siege of Malta in 1565, by the Ottomans increased fear of them. New walls replaced medieval fortifications built by the Lusignans, which were demolished. The Venetians destroyed palaces, including the King’s Palace , churches and monasteries to acquire building materials and get a clearer perspective for the defence of the city. The Venetian fortifications had a circumference of 5km, with 11 pentagon-shaped bastions and 3 gates, all named after noblemen who sponsored the construction, including Rochas, Loredano and Barbaro. Nicosia, like Palmanova in Italy and Valletta in Malta, became a practical example of an ideal city of the Renaissance, with its fortifications and urban life inside city walls. Gates to the side of bastions allowed the city to be better protected from siege, while leaving the upper wall unlined with masonry increased its ability to absorb the impact from cannons. Nonetheless, the Venetians surrendered to the Ottoman Admiral Lala Mustafa Pasha in 1570. The Ottomans captured the bastions almost intact and they remained pretty much unchanged until the British era. A major tourist attraction, the walls and gates have undergone restoration and are recognised among the best-preserved Renaissance fortifications in the Eastern Mediterranean. Of the 11 bastions, 5 remain in Northern Cyprus and one is under the control of the United Nations. Top Sightseeing > Othello's Tower Othello's Tower in Famagusta is the ancient fortress which guards the harbour, built during the Lusignan period in the 14th Century. It used to be called "impenetrable fortress" due to it being nearly impossible to attack because of very deep ditches surrounding it. Also known as the Harbour Citadel , members of the royal family and their servants are believed to have lived there during the Lusignan period. Later, the Venetians took over the tower and turned it into a fort, which then provided residence for soldiers. Christoforo Moro, the governor upon whom it is generally believed Shakespeare based his tragic hero Othello, would more likely have lived in the Palace of the Provveditore. The tower was constructed around a central oblong courtyard with a square tower at each corner. On the ground floor, the kitchens, great hall, storerooms and servants quarters were situated, whereas the reception rooms and bedrooms were situated on the second floor. After Cyprus was sold to the Republic of Venice, the castle's square towers were replaced with circular ones to suit more modern artillery. After these modifications, a relief of the Lion of St Mark was engraved above the castle's main entrance. The name of Captain Nicolo Foscari , who directed the alterations to the castle, and the date 1492 are inscribed near the relief. Apparently Leonardo da Vinci advised the refurbishment in 1481. The tower was renamed Othello's Tower after Giovanni San Michele, the Venetian civil engineer who was responsible for remodelling much of the city of Famagusta. You can still gain access to the round towers, with the gun ports and smoke holes still clearly visible. It contains a refectory and a dormitory, which were constructed during the Lusignan period. The castle's yard contains cannonballs left behind by the Spaniards and Ottomans, relics of its turbulent history. One of the larger parts of the tower is the Great Hall , measuring 92ft by 25ft, which in size, easily competes with the refectory at the Bellapais Abbey near Kyrenia. In 1900, the castle's ditch was drained of water to reduce the risk of malaria. The castle began to be restored in 2014 and reopened to the public on 3 July 2015. Othello's Tower is well worth a visit if you’re sightseeing in Famagusta, as apart from the architectural wonder of the tower itself, there’s magnificent views to be had from the top of the tower over the city of Famagusta, with clear views of the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque in the centre of the city. Top Sightseeing > Petra tou Limnidi From the Palace of Vouni in Lefke, you can see this small, yet immense, island. The Petra tou Limnidi, a small rock just across the water, is the site of the first settlement in Cyprus . This is one of the oldest places in Cyprus to be inhabited, and was excavated at the same time as Vouni, with artifacts found from the pre-pottery Neolithic Period. An excavation team swam to this small rocky island and excavated for 2 weeks in 1929. At the top of the island, which is only accessible from the east, remains were found of two rather primitive huts from the Neolithic period, one clearly divided into a living room and a kitchen with a hearth placed against the wall. Archaeologists revealed objects of flint, bone and stones including needles, utensils, farming tools as well as sculptures. Petra tou Limnidi is believed to have been an island even in those times, though the sea level was probably much lower than it is now, since no Neolithic remains have been found on the adjacent headland. It probably served as a very exposed temporary camp for fishermen from time to time. The islet today is an important nesting place for the Yellow-Legged Gull and also used by the European Shag . If you’re visiting Lefke, the Palace of Vouni will be at the top of your list but you’ll have an opportunity to stare and just imagine the thousands of years of mankind this island has carried to this day. For the more curious, journey to the shoreline for a close up. Top Sightseeing > Porta Del Mare Gate One of two original entrances to the old walled city of Famagusta, this gate is remarkably well-preserved. When the Venetians took control of Famagusta in 1489, they started strengthening city walls in line with modern warfare and this program continued for over 70 years. The Sea Gate, or Porta del Mare, was one of the earliest projects to be completed, in 1496. Built in Italian Renaissance style by Venetian Commander Niccolo Prioli, it protected entrance to the city from the port. Built at an angle, enemies would see its superiority from far out at sea. Dominating the entrance is a large marble sculpture, sourced from the ancient ruins of Salamis, of the winged lion of St Mark , the patron saint of Venice. The lion has a book in one of its paws with the Latin inscription, “Peace to you Mark, the Evangelist ”. The iron portcullis that opens towards the sea is from the Venetian era, while the iron-clad wooden door that opens land side, was built by the Ottomans. On the land side, to the right of the Porta del Mare, you'll see another statue of a lion, again brought from Salamis . Legend has it this lion will open its mouth on one occasion only and anyone brave enough to put their hand inside will receive a very generous fortune, which may be a reference to treasures rumoured to be hidden by Venetian merchants below the Othello Citadel during the Ottoman Siege. To date, nobody has seen the lion open its mouth - yet. The port side of the gate is better seen from the Othello Tower, which you'll no doubt want to visit at the same time. Top Sightseeing > Railways of North Cyprus In Northern Cyprus you won't find any railway, metro or tram systems. You'll need to hire a car, get a dolmus (local small bus) or hire a taxi to get around. The only “train” is a distinctive yellow road train which runs from Oscar’s Resort to Kyrenia town centre. However, Cyprus did have an active railway for over 45 years. The Cyprus Railway was a narrow gauge (2’ 6”) railway network, which operated from October 1905 to December 1951 and was called the Cyprus Government Railway (CGR). It had 39 stations, stops and halts along the 37-mile route from Famagusta in the east to Evrychou in the west. It was built in 4 sections, with the original railway running from Famagusta Port to Nicosia, section II from Nicosia to Guzelyurt opening in 1907, and sections III and IV as an extension to the railway from Guzelyurt to Evrychou opening in 1915 to serve the Cyprus Mining Corporation (CMC) . When the Cyprus Railway opened in 1905, there were 12 steam trains which used the line during its operational years, all of which were made in England by either the Hunslet Engine Company or Nasmyth Wilson and Company . Some of these trains can still be seen scattered around the island, with the most well-preserved, Locomotive Number 1 , still standing outside Famagusta Station to this day. The trains travelled at 20-30 miles an hour and ran on coal brought in from England via Famagusta Port. The railway network was used for various operations, including passenger travel, with stations located every two miles along the route, with signs in Turkish, Greek and English. There were only two trains per day for passenger use, one in the morning and one in the evening. The government also used the railway for transporting mail, carrying timber from the Troodos Mountains and freight from Famagusta port. The CMC used the railway for transporting freight, ore and minerals across Cyprus. Interestingly, some of the stations along the route also served as telephone exchanges and post offices/telegram offices as well as train stations. During both World Wars, the railway was also used to transport troops from Famagusta, Denizli and the airport. You can see the train as you go through Denizli by the old CMC Bar (now called Yakamoz Night Club ) as well as an old CMC steam tug and the abandoned jetty. Further up the road, again on the sea side, you'll find lots of mining equipment and conveyors used by the CMC Mining Corp. There’s also another abandoned CMC jetty called “CMC Maden Yükleme İskelesi” on Google maps. The ancient city of Soli nearby is also well worth a visit if you're in the area. The railway stations themselves were either knocked down or turned into Police Stations or warehouses, with the exception of Famagusta Station which is the Land Registry Office , and Evrychou which was turned into a dormitory for forest workers and which recently became the Cyprus Railway Museum . The museum is home to the restored Wagon 152 which sits under a shelter with the original hand-powered trolley, 100 metres of track and lots of information about the old railway. So next time you're driving from Famagusta to Nicosia along the motorway, spare a thought that you're actually driving on a large part of where the Cyprus railway tracks used to be all those years ago. Top Sightseeing > Rivettina Bastion Originally named the Ravelin by the Lusignans who built it to protect the main entry to the city, the name reflects its half-moon shape. Venetians took control of Cyprus in 1489 and decided they had to strengthen the walls of cities to withstand threats posed by the Ottomans and their large cannons. In 1492 they began 70 years of fortifications, some inspired by Michelangelo. The two gated entrances into the wall were the Land Gate and the Sea Gate or Porta del Mare. 3km of sea walls up to 18m high were built and the Martinengo Bastion and Land Gate, later known as Rivettina Bastion, were redesigned at great cost. Tours of the Famagusta Walls usually start at the southern end near the Rivettina Bastion which is the second oldest part of the walls after Othello’s Tower. It became part of huge defences laden with cannon, connected passages and chambers and configured to divide any assault force. In 1570-71, the Ottomans besieged the city. Although the walls were never breached, the Venetians surrendered after 10 months. The Ottomans renamed it Akkule, ("white tower"), after the white flag of surrender that was hoisted there. Entrance to the city continued through Akkule, over a drawbridge and portcullis the Ottomans built. If you enter through this gate, you'll see frescoes and coats of arms dating to Venetian times and the Akkule mosque built by the Ottomans in 1619. Stairs lead to the top of the walls, from where you can walk across the Arsenal and continue until you reach the original Sea Gate, Porta del Mare. Top Sightseeing > Round Tower Kyrenia Castle was originally built in the 7th century by the Byzantines to protect the town from Arab raids. It was extended by the Lusignan’s and the round tower was built around 1300 using recycled Roman stones and was joined to other round towers by a curtain wall. The Venetians widened the original Byzantine walls making the Lusignan fortification largely redundant. The Lusignan walls gradually fell down, and by 1600 the Ottomans were so established they deemed it safe to build houses outside the walls. The round tower stood derelict for several hundred years becoming a roofless shell, until in 1987, a local businessman received permission to restore it. A fibre glass dome was added, a wooden gallery erected, and during excavation work a rough “shelf” was revealed. This and the floor were covered in natural stone flags. Since 1988, it's been open as a gift shop and art gallery displaying works by local painters. Although this round tower is the best preserved, there are remnants of others you can see. One is on the street leading from the Bandabuliya towards the harbour, and the another overlooks the harbour itself. Top Sightseeing > Salamis Ruins Salamis is an ancient Greek city-state, 6 km north of Famagusta. According to tradition, the founder of Salamis was Teucer, son of Telamon , king of the Greek island of Salamis, who couldn’t return home after the Trojan war because he’d failed to avenge his brother Ajax. Earliest archaeological finds go back to 11th century BC, when copper made Cyprus an important trading partner. Children's burials in Canaanite jars indicate a Phoenician presence, and a harbour and cemetery from this period have also been excavated. The town is mentioned in Assyrian inscriptions as one of the kingdoms of Cyprus. Although under Assyrian control, city-states enjoyed relative independence provided they paid their tribute to the Assyrian king. This allowed kings of the various cities to accumulate wealth and power. Certain burial customs observed in the "royal tombs" of Salamis relate directly to Homeric rites, such as the sacrifice of horses in honour of the dead and the offering of jars of olive oil. Most of the grave goods come from the Levant or Egypt. Originally, the town was confined to a small area around the harbour but expanded west to occupy an area which is now forest. The cemetery of Salamis extends from the western limits of the forest to the Monastery of St Barnabas to the west, to the outskirts of the village of Ayios Serghios to the north, and to the outskirts of Enkomi village to the south. It contains tombs dating from the 9th century BC down to the Early Christian period. The earlier tombs are within the forest area, near the boundary of the early town. Salamis had links with the Near East and the Aegean during the 8th and 7th centuries BC. One royal tomb contained a large amount of Greek Geometric pottery, the dowry of a Greek princess who married into the royal family of Salamis. In 450 BC, Salamis was the site of a simultaneous land and sea battle between Athens and the Persians. Under King Evagoras I (411-374 BC) Greek culture and art flourished in the city. A monument which illustrates the end of the Classical period in Salamis is the tumulus, which covered the cenotaph of Nicocreon, one of the last kings of Salamis, who died in 311 BC. On its monumental platform were several clay heads, some of which are portraits, perhaps members of the royal family who were honoured after their death on the pyre. After Alexander the Great conquered the Persian Empire, Ptolemy I of Egypt ruled Cyprus. He forced Nicocreon, the Ptolemaic governor, to commit suicide in 311 BC, because he didn’t trust him anymore. In his place came King Menelaus, who was the brother of the first Ptolemy. Nicocreon is supposed to be buried in one of the big tumuli near Enkomi. Salamis remained the seat of the governor. In 306 BC, It was the site of a naval battle between the fleets of Demetrius I of Macedon and Ptolemy I of Egypt won by Demetrius who captured the island. In 58 BC, the Roman Republic annexed Cyprus and Ptolemy of Cyprus, the last Cypriotic king, committed suicide rather than surrender to Rome. Salamis became part of the Roman province of Cilicia governed from Paphos. Salamis suffered heavily during the Jewish rising of AD 116–117. Although itt ceased to be the capital of Cyprus from the Hellenistic period onwards when it was replaced by Paphos, its wealth and importance didn’t diminish. The city was particularly favoured by the Roman emperors Trajan and Hadrian, who restored and established public buildings. The "cultural centre" of Salamis during the Roman period was situated at the northernmost part of the city, where a gymnasium, theatre, amphitheatre, stadium and public baths have been revealed. There are baths, public latrines (for 44 users), various bits of mosaic, a harbour wall, a Hellenistic and Roman agora. and a temple of Zeus that had the right to grant asylum. Byzantine remains include the basilica of Bishop Epiphanos (AD 367–403). It served as the metropolitan church of Salamis. St Epiphanios is buried at the southern apse. The church contains a baptistry heated by hypocausts. The church was destroyed in the 7th century and replaced by a smaller building to the south. There are very extensive ruins, with the theatre and gymnasium extensively restored. Numerous statues are displayed in the central court of the gymnasium, most of which are headless. A statue of Augustus originally belonged here. The theatre is of Augustean date and could house up to 15.000 spectators before it was destroyed in the 4th century. Water came via an aqueduct from Kythrea, destroyed in the 7th century. The water was collected in a large cistern near the Agora. The necropolis of Salamis is west of the town and contains a museum showing some of the finds. The best-known burials are the so-called Royal-Tombs , containing chariots and extremely rich grave gifts, including imports from Egypt and Syria. A tomb excavated in 1965 brought to light an extraordinary wealth of tomb-gifts, which show trade relations with the Near East. The "First Missionary Journey", was made by Paul the apostle and the Cypriot-born Barnabas, landing in Salamis after heading out from Antioch of Syria. There they proclaimed Christ in the Jewish synagogues before proceeding through the rest of the island (Acts 13:1-5). Tradition says that Barnabas preached in Alexandria and Rome , and was stoned to death at Salamis in about 61 CE. He is considered the founder of the Church of Cyprus. His bones are believed to be located in the nearby monastery named after him. Several earthquakes led to the destruction of Salamis at the beginning of the 4th century. The town was rebuilt and became an Episcopal seat, the most famous occupant of which was Saint Epiphanius. Emperor Constantius II helped Salamis with reconstruction and tax exemptions, and the town was named Constantia after him. The silting of the harbour led to a gradual decline of the town. Salamis was finally abandoned during the Arab invasions of the 7th century. Archaeological excavations began in the late 19th century and are now in the British Museum in London. Excavations started again in 1952 and were in progress until 1974 when international embargo prevented continuation. The site and the museums are maintained by the antiquities service, with important archaeological collections kept in the St Barnabas monastery. In the District Archaeological Museum there are marble statues from the gymnasium and the theatre of Salamis, Mycenaean pottery and jewellery from Enkomi. Several of the statues and sculptures from antiquity are disfigured, headless or mutilated, likely by Christian zealots in late antiquity, during the persecution of pagans in the late Roman Empire. Buildings uncovered show The Temple of Zeus Salaminios must have existed since the foundation of the city. Early excavators discovered in the esplanade of the Temple of Zeus an enormous marble capital carved on each side with a caryatid figure standing between the foreparts of winged bulls. Now in the British Museum's collection, the function of the capital remains unclear, although it does indicate influence from Achaemenid art and is consequently dated to between 300 and 250 BC. Top Sightseeing > Seyyid Emin Efendi Water Cistern You'll probably come across this site if you're heading to Kyrenia Harbour. It dates back to Ottoman rule, who built public water taps for passer-by’s. Made of hewn stone and with an arched roof, it's located northeast of St Andrew’s Church . A marble inscription written in old Turkish reveals the water cistern was constructed by Es-Seyid Mehmed Emin Efendi , who was a clerk to the tax collector between 1816 and 1821 and later Governor of Cyprus in 1834. Collect it then spend it, so to speak. He also initiated the building in 1817 of one of the holiest places for Muslims in the world, Hala Sultan Tekke which is in Larnaca and is a listed Ancient Monument with thousands of pilgrims visiting each year. Top Sightseeing > Soli Ruins Soli is one of the ten ancient kingdoms of Cyprus dating to the 6th century BC. Near Lefke and southwest of Guzelyurt, what remains today at the coastal site of Soli dates mainly to the Roman era. It’s believed to have been founded by the Athenians returning from the Trojan Wars in the 13th century BCE and the region was first known as ‘Aipeia ’. A Greek statesman, Solon, advised that the city be moved nearer the shore to facilitate export of copper ore. The ruler of the town King Philocypros, who was also a pupil of Solon, duly obliged and the relocated city was renamed Soli. Rich in copper deposits, Soli had a good water supply, fertile soil and a protected harbour, making it one of the most important capitals of Cyprus. The city fell under the successive influence of the Hellenistic, Roman and Early Byzantine periods. In 498 BC, the people of Soli joined the other kingdoms in the Ionian Revolution against the Persians, who took the city. It was only in 449 BC and during the Roman period, that Soli became a prosperous city. By the 4th century AD, the copper mines were almost exhausted and its harbour silted up, leading to a period of stagnation for the city which gradually lost its importance. The city was destroyed during Arab raids of the 7th century and later by earthquakes and was finally left abandoned after a millennium of continuous occupation. What remains today is an impressive collection of structures and findings. Roman Theatre Excavations in 1929 discovered The Roman Theatre, which dates to the 2nd century AD. It occupies the site of the original Greek amphitheatre, on the northern slope of a hill overlooking the sea below. It holds an auditorium of 17 rows of seats, carved in a semicircle out of the hillside rocks with some 4,000 capacity, restored though to only half of its original height. After the theatres of Salamis and Kurion, it is the third largest theatre in Cyprus. A grand semi-circular orchestra with great acoustics has also since been restored. the theatre consists of the skene (stage building), orchestra (middle section) and auditorium, The stage building is comprised of a number of rooms and corridors and would have provided space for the performers to get changed as wellas providing a backdrop for their performances.The middle semi-circular section, the orchestra, is the section wehre religious celebrations and plays would have taken place. The seats at the bottom of the theatre are made from carved rocks from the hillside, covered with cut stone. The upper tiers of seats have not survived. Admission to this area alongside the auditorium was gained through two side entrances, the audience separated from the orchestra through a limestone wall. As with many ancient ruins, the stones of Soli were recycled, those of the theatre used by the British for the construction of Port Said in Egypt in the second half of the 19th century. The former limestone wall is now part of this harbour. The original stage was made up of two levels, covered with marble panelling and decorated with statues. Some of the original masonry can be seen in the orchestra section. The theatre today is occasionally used for atmospheric concerts and plays. St Auxibus Basilica An ancient coin found during excavations dates the basilica to the latter part of the 4th century AD, one of the first Christian churches on the island. According to Christian tradition, Soli is believed to be the place where Saint Mark baptised St Auxibus, a Roman Christian who later became the first bishop of the Church of Soli. When the first basilica was destroyed in the 6th century, a new basilica was built with two rows of columns. The mosaics in the narthex of the basilica date from this time. Built over several different stages, the initial build was a five-naved church, later modified into a three aisled structure in the 6th century near to 200 metres in length, separated by twelve columns some of which are still standing today. The small church has three doors and a courtyard that boasts a fountain ringed with further columns. Mosaics One of the most prestigious finds at the basilica are its’ mosaics, found in the flooring, most of which have survived to the present day. Cyprus church mosaics were originally of geometric design, and gradually animal figures such as birds and bulls were incorporated and decoration from small coloured stone tiles were later created. The goose-like swan mosaic in the floor of the nave, surrounded by floral and four small dolphins, is the most recognisable and immediately catches visitor’s attention. The inscription in the mosaic set reads, “Christ! Mercy to those who have created this mosaic”. The narthex and the northern part of the basilica floor is decorated in art opus sectile mosaic, a type using geometrically tailored stones which originate from the 6th century. Temples After the excavation of the theatre building, the Isis, Aphrodite and Serapis temples were unearthed. The Aphrodite temple is situated on a hill above the theatre but not accessible to the public. A famous sculpture of Aphrodite dating back to the 1st century was also discovered at this site, and the palace buildings from the Hellenistic period are also on this hill. Tombs Recent excavations by archaeologists have unearthed many tombs from Geometric and Roman periods. One which was carved into the rocks is of a majestic three-tomb structure and is believed to have belonged to a noble. Valuable artifacts discovered include a golden throne, diadem and gold jewellery, as well as other metal cups, which are today exhibited at the Guzelyurt Museum of Archaeology and Natural History. The findings indicate a high level of wealth and power. Excavations have also uncovered a Hellenistic Period colonnaded avenue leading to the Agora, the local public gathering and market space, which holds the remains of a monumental marble fountain or nymphaeum which dates to the 3rd century. Corinthian pillars were used in its building. AN inscription records that it was dedicated to the Roman Emperor Caracalla. Generally, such buildings have a façade decorated with statues with the cistern behind. The traces of the ancient city stretch over a wide area and have still not been fully uncovered which just adds to the mystery when discovering this archaic site. Top Sightseeing > St Hilarion Castle St Hilarion Castle (Girne) To reach St Hilarion castle from Kyrenia, drive south toward Nicosia. As the road climbs into the mountains, and just before it gets to the top of the pass and begins it’s descent, follow the signpost off to the right. A side road snakes up through a military camp for about 3km past a large statue of a soldier in battledress at its entrance. The firing range on the left was once the site for medieval tournaments. Go up the sharp hill and you arrive at a small car park outside the castle gate. It takes about 20 minutes to get there from Kyrenia, but remember you’re in a restricted military area so don’t stop or take photos. Setting Of the three magnificent castles in the Kyrenia mountains, by far the most accessible, popular and most complete is St Hilarion, one of the best- preserved Crusader Castles. Dramatically sited on a rocky crag with elegantly ruined turrets, towers and windows, writer Dame Rose Macaulay described it as a “picture-book castle for elf kings” and it inspired the fairy-tale castles of King Ludwig in Bavaria and Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom . In spring when the wild flowers bloom, the views from the snack bar are to die for. St Hilarion appeals to those with an interest in history and those seeking spectacular views, because on a clear day you can see all the way to the Turkish mainland. Stout shoes and refreshments are definitely required. Brief history The castle was named after St Hilarion, an obscure 4th century Syrian hermit monk, who fled from persecution in the Holy Land and lived and died in a cave on Mount Didymus (“Twin peaks”). Extremely self-disciplined, Hilarion reputedly never washed and built a following by banishing demons and performing miracles. The monastery’s strategic position, commanding the pass through the Kyrenia mountains and overlooking the northern coastal plain, was not lost on the Byzantines, who built a church and monastery here. Facing repeated Arab raids, they converted it into a castle, probably sometime in the 8th century AD and The French Lusignans improved and strengthened it in the 13th century. Along with Kantara and Buffavento castles, it was built as a watchtower to warn of pirates who raided Cyprus and the coasts of Anatolia. The first references to the castle are found in 1191 records and it remained strategically important for a while. until it became the summer resort of the French Lusignan nobility. Most of what you see today was built in 1228 by John d’Ibelin and it became not only a military stronghold but also a palace for the Lusignans nicknamed “Dieu d’Amour ”, loosely translated as Cupid’s Castle. This was the castle’s heyday with tournaments, knights and courtly intrigue, especially under the rule of King Peter I and Queen Eleanor of Aragon. It continued to be a castle of importance during the latter Lusignan period, but when the Venetians took over in 1489 it fell into disrepair and became the ruin it is now. The Castle The castle has three parts. Parapets for the defence of the main entrance were fortified by the Byzantines in the 11th century; the lower section of the castle was used to billet soldiers and their horses; and the middle section contained the royal palace, kitchen, church and a big cistern. At the entrance to the castle in the upper section, there’s a Lusignan Gate with a courtyard in the middle. The panoramic view of Northern Cyprus from the Queen’s Gothic style window on the second floor of the royal apartments is superb and well worth the climb. Inside The castle entrance includes a barbican leading to a large outer bailey, originally built by the Byzantines. Go right for the first of the spectacular views, then continue upwards along the “Main Road” . You’ll see as you climb a watchtower and to your left an impressive curtain wall that rises steeply to the upper parts of the castle. This outer bailey was where peasants and livestock could be withdrawn when the castle was under attack. The castle stables are now used as a small visitor centre, offering sketches and information about the Lusignans. Beyond the stables, the path winds steeply upwards to the tunnel-like gate of what is described as the “second section”. It’s a warren of alleys, buildings and rooms opening off a central tunnel, some of which were part of the original 10th century monastery. To the right is the monastery church now open to the elements, but with a well-preserved apse. North of here is the Great Hall, now home to the Café Lusignan. Along one side of the hall is a wooden balcony hanging over a staggering view of the coast below. On a clear day you can see Turkey, some 100km away. Beyond the hall are a group of rooms which serviced it – kitchen, buttery and privies – and a belvedere, a shaded vaulted terrace with picnic tables and arches and more of those superb views. Left of the hall are more workaday rooms and the castle governor’s quarters, which contain displays with mannequins, illustrating medieval life. Continuing along the path which tunnels through these rooms, right takes you to the barracks and Royal Apartments and left goes up to the third section. A very large cistern appears to have been built rather than carved out of the rock and then a path, partly steps, partly rock-strewn tracks, soars upwards. Just before you reach the top, a left fork leads to the isolated Prince John’s Tower, where several of John’s Bulgarian mercenaries were murdered. Turning right instead of following the path to Prince John’s Tower brings you to the main gate of the Upper Ward. Through the gate are a Byzantine tower, a kitchen, a cistern and a group of subsidiary buildings. Beyond them are a further set of Royal Apartments and the famous Queen’s Window, at which Queen Eleanor is said to have sat. From here glorious views to the west open out, with, in the foreground, the village of Karmi. All that remains to be seen is the Western Tower and the Zirve (summit) of the mountain, marked with a sign: “732m – Congratulations! You are at the peak”. Prince John On January 17, 1369, Peter I, King of Cyprus was stabbed to death as he slept in his palace in Nicosia, supposedly by three of his own knights. He was succeeded by his son, Peter II. Queen Eleanor, now the Queen Mother, became convinced that her husband had been killed on the orders of Peter’s brother, Prince John. Despite rumours of her infidelity in the king’s absence, she vowed to avenge his murder. John had taken up residence in St Hilarion Castle, which he held with a force of Bulgarian mercenaries, while Peter’s other brother James, held Kyrenia. A Genoese invasion, possibly at Eleanor’s instigation, led, in 1374, to the surrender of Kyrenia, and James ended up as a prisoner in Genoa. Eleanor now turned her attention to John. Having persuaded him that all was forgiven, she warned the prince that his Bulgarian forces were planning to overthrow him. John responded by throwing several of them to their deaths from Prince John’s Tower. Eleanor’s accusations were almost certainly untrue and a Machiavellian-type plan aimed at bringing him closer and weakening him. The drama concluded when Eleanor invited John to dine with her and the young king in Nicosia. They ate in the very room where Peter I was murdered and, when the final dish arrived, she dramatically flung back the cloth to reveal her dead husband’s blood-stained shirt. This was the signal for retainers to appear and stab Prince John to death in his turn. Unmissable St Hilarion Castle often features in publicity for North Cyprus and it’s really easy to see why. As you wind your way up the mountain pass, the castle stays hidden but as you approach the car park the castle suddenly reveals itself, merged almost impossibly into the side of the mountain in the most dramatic fashion. Visiting St Hilarion is absolutely unmissable. Despite the best efforts of the Venetians, much of the castle is intact and it is a truly breath-taking sight to behold from every single angle. Thanks to its mountaintop location, the views of the Mediterranean coastline, Kyrenia, and beyond, are jaw-dropping. Top Sightseeing > The Great Inn (Büyük Han) The Great Inn is considered to be one of the finest buildings on the island. Known locally as Büyük Han , it's the best-preserved example of Ottoman caravanserai (an inn with a central courtyard) architecture, and the largest in Cyprus. Located in the traditional market centre within the City Walls of Nicosia, it was built by the Ottomans in 1572, the year after they had seized Cyprus from the Venetians. Under the guidance and patronage of Muzaffer Pasha, the first Ottoman governor of Cyprus, Büyük Han was modelled after the Koza Han in Bursa. It was built to provide accommodation for travellers from Anatolia and other parts of Cyprus and originally named “Alanyalilar’s Han ”. Later when a new inn, the Kumarcilar Han was built nearby in the 17th century, as a result of the comparison made by the public between the two Hans, it was referred to as the Büyük Han (Big Inn or Great Inn). Square shaped, with 68 rooms over two floors, the ground floor rooms rimming the courtyard functioned as stables for horses, storage areas and shops, where traders could carry out their business, and the floor above was for accommodation. The rooms on the ground floor each have a low-arched door, arched window and a hearth. The windows of Hans were always high up, partially to deter thieves who saw rich merchants staying as a source of easy riches, and also because glass was very expensive at the time. In the centre of the inner courtyard is a mescit (Muslim prayer room), built with stones from other buildings and balanced on six pillars over a şadırvan (Ablution fountain). A grave that lies to the southwest of the masjid is thought to belong to a high-standing person who died while worshipping in the masjid. With two entrances to the Han, this design is rare and similar only to two others located in Turkey. Externally, the Han resembles a fortress, and when the British took over in 1878, the inn was restored for use as the Central Prison of Nicosia. Between 1903 and 1947, the building was used as an inn, after which it became a refuge for poor families where they could rent rooms cheaply until 1962. After spending most of the 1990s being restored, the inn has been revived as a thriving arts centre, consisting of several galleries and workshops, and has once again become the hub of North Nicosia’s Old City bustle . Folklore dance shows, piano recitals, drama displays are common nowadays. Top Sightseeing > The Royal Tombs The Royal Tombs, sometimes called the Kings Tombs given their scale and splendour, are located between Tuzla and Salamis, with the entrance to the complex close to St Barnabas' Monastery . It’s divided into two sections, yet has never been fully excavated since its exact boundaries are still unknown. One area contains high-ranking inhabitants of Salamis, and a second was for ordinary citizens. This site became famous in the 1950s because of the rich finds here. Treasure hunters did cause damage previously but entrances (dromos) were undisturbed, and it was in this area the richest discoveries were made. The tombs date to the 8th and 7th centuries BC. Some go back to the 11th century BC , suggesting that for some time, Salamis coexisted with Enkomi. In all, at least one pair of yoked horses has been sacrificed in the dromos, with or without a chariot. The wooden parts of these chariots had decayed, but left impressions in the soil with the metal parts still in place. The horses were likely to have been sacrificed as grave goods, to ensure their owners were able to ride their favourite mount in the afterlife. There were also human sacrifices, most likely servants, who could continue to serve their masters in the afterlife. The burial customs evident from these tombs are similar to those described by Homer in The Iliad . The horse-drawn hearse would be driven down the sloping dromos (ramp) to the entrance, along with other horse-drawn chariots, before the body was raised onto a funeral pyre and cremated. The ashes were then stored in a bronze cauldron inside the chamber, along with other grave goods, and horses and servants would be sacrificed. Tomb 1 Two burials from different periods. The first had a bronze cauldron containing the cremated bones of a dead woman wrapped in cloth, with a necklace of gold, rock crystal beads and several thin sheets of gold. The shape of the tomb and the richness of the material suggests it belonged to a noble lady or princess. The skeletons of two horses were found on the floor of the dromos, with traces of the wooden parts of a chariot. These date to middle of the 8th century BC. The second burial, around 100 years later, was disturbed badly, but four horses' skeletons, traces of a two-poled chariot, as well as some metal parts of horses' gear and a chariot's metal parts were found. Tomb 3 This wonderfully impressive tomb, which contained only a single burial, is marked by a tumulus (man-made hill) which reaches a height of around 10 metres, although it's thought to have been even higher originally. It's now protected by a modern roof, and it's possible to see how the hill was constructed, with walls of rubble, supported by mud bricks. It contains one chariot with armour; a silver studied sword; bronze and iron-headed arrows; bronze shield; iron-headed spear and offerings of food and honey placed in amphora. The weapons and richly decorated tack suggest this was the burial site of a rich and important warrior around 600 BC, based on pottery found buried in the floor of the dromos. Looking down the dromos (sloping ramp approaching the tomb) towards the entrance, the construction of the overlying tumulus can clearly be seen. Tomb 47 The largest tomb, alongside the Royal Tombs Museum. It has a spacious cemented dromos leading to a monumental temple in front of a chamber built of enormous well-dressed stones. This tomb was used twice for burials. In the first, two horses of a hearse were sacrificed. One of the horses had tried to escape when its companion was killed, but had twisted round the chariot pole and was found with its neck broken. The iron bits of the horses were still in their mouths, and the remains of leather frontlets and blinkers covered with sheets of gold on their heads. There was no trace of the chariot in this burial, and it was probably used as a hearse and placed with the body. At a later burial, six horses were sacrificed, yoked in pairs, with ornamental coverings, iron bits and blinkers and frontlets of ivory and bronze with relief decorations of lotus flowers. Tomb 50 - St Catherine’s Prison This is perhaps both the most interesting and also the least typical of the Royal Tombs, with a domed roof that can be seen from the road as you approach the site. Originally the site of a tomb dating to the same period as the other tombs on site, around the 8th or 7th century BCE. A small chapel was built above this tomb in Roman times, and dedicated to St Catherine of Alexandria who, according to legend, was imprisoned here. As a result, its appearance differs significantly from the other tombs, although it does have a characteristic dromos leading down to it and the skeletal remains of two sacrificed horses were found during excavation. Some of the stones used in its construction were taken from other tombs, and a section of cornice used in the chapel matches that in nearby Tomb 47. It has two chambers, a large vaulted chamber, which was added in Roman times, and a smaller chamber, lying to the west, which is much older. It was used as a chapel from approximately the 14th century onwards with an altar in the smaller chamber, and an ikon of St Catherine in the larger chamber. Tomb 79 Houses many of the richest finds. Had two burials in a short space of time towards the end of the 8th century BC. A four-horse chariot had its wheels held by magnificent lynch pins nearly 2 ft long, with a bronze sphinx head at one end, and a hollow bronze figure of a warrior at the other, wearing a crested helmet, body armour inlaid with blue glass, and a long sword hanging from a baldric. A two-horse hearse had bronze lion heads on the corners and on the front. The bronze gear of the horses lay piled in a corner, including breast plates with embossed designs of oriental animals and myths, and two side pendants showing the goddess Ishtar as mistress of the wild beasts. Also of oriental design was a bronze tripod cauldron, decorated with illustrations of griffins and bird-men round the rim. The principal find at this tomb was a number of ivories, including a gold and ivory throne and an ivory-veneered bed. Of the ornaments discovered, the finest was probably an openwork, two-sided plaque of a winged sphinx wearing the crowns of Egypt. Some of the horse skeletons have been left in situ, and there is a small museum on site showing some of the finds, although most are now elsewhere, the bed for example being in the Cyprus Museum in south Nicosia. When the second burial took place, it seems that the remains from the first were simply pushed further back in the burial chamber to allow the later, richer burial to take place. It was later re-used for burials during the Roman period, with niches for sarcophagi being carved into its walls during this time. When Tomb 79 was excavated, Roman pottery, lamps and the remains of clay sarcophagi were found inside the chamber. There’s no evidence to show that the Royal Tombs belonged to the Kings of Salamis, but with the precious death gifts, and the monumental architecture of the tombs, there's no doubt they belonged to noble or rich persons. And the less noble or rich? They were buried at the Necropolis of Cellarka, which is to be found within this complex, as is Tomb 50 - St Catherine's prison. Necropolis of Cellarka About 400 metres away from the Royal Tombs, and was used to bury common town people. A set of much smaller tombs, these were cut into rock with staircase access. Finds here indicate that sacrifices and feast ceremonies also took place in the dromos before the burials, however revealing more modest grave goods. Top Sightseeing > Varosha Ghost Town Varosha is 6.19 square kilometres in the southern quarter of Famagusta. It gets its name from the Turkish word varoş meaning 'suburb '. The place where Varosha is located now was originally empty fields where animals grazed. In the early 1970s, Famagusta was the top tourist destination in Cyprus with new high-rise buildings and hotels and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the whole world, attracting celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Raquel Welch, and Brigitte Bardot. In 1974 Varosha came under Turkish control, and has remained abandoned ever since. In 2004, The Annan Plan to reunify the island provided for the return of Varosha to the original residents, but this was rejected by Greek Cypriots in a referendum. Buildings continue to decay with parts of the city have being reclaimed by nature as metal corrodes, windows are broken, and plants work their roots into the walls and pavements, and grow wild in old window boxes. In 2014, the BBC reported that sea turtles were observed nesting on the beaches in the city. The main features of Varosha included John F. Kennedy Avenue , a street which ran from close to the port of Famagusta, through Varosha and parallel to Glossa beach . Along JFK Avenue, there were many well-known high-rise hotels including the King George Hotel, The Asterias Hotel, The Grecian Hotel, The Florida Hotel, and The Argo Hotel, which was the favourite hotel of Elizabeth Taylor . The Argo Hotel is located near the end of JFK Avenue, looking towards Protaras and Fig Tree Bay. Another major street in Varosha was Leonidas , that came off JFK Avenue and headed west towards Vienna Corner . Leonidas was a major shopping and leisure street in Varosha, consisting of bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and a Toyota car dealership. In a show of good faith, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) recently opened two of Varosha's streets to visitors. It has become a tourist attraction, with bike rentals, cafes, playgrounds and a beach volley court at the foot of empty buildings on the verge of collapse. Since the partial reopening of Varosha, apparently more than 400,000 visitors have walked its streets. On 19 May 2022, Northern Cyprus opened a 600m long X 400m wide stretch of beach on the Golden Sands beach (from the King George Hotel to the Oceania Building) in Varosha for commercial use . Sun beds and umbrellas were installed. Top Sightseeing > Venetian Column In the centre of Ataturk square in Lefkosa is the Venetian Column, locally known as Sarayonu . The granite column was originally at the temple of Zeus in Salamis, but was moved in 1489 to Nicosia, as a tribute to Venetian rule, which is why many think it was built by the Venetians although it wasn't. On top was the Lion of St Mark to symbolise Venetian dominance, and at the bottom, coats of arms of 6 noble Venetian families. The Ottomans removed the lion and toppled the column in 1550, leaving it in the courtyard of the Sarayonu Mosque. In 1915 it was re-erected by the British who replaced the lost St. Mark lion with a bronze orb and decorated the plinth with the dates of the demolishing and re-erection, 1550 and 1915. Where it stands today was occupied by raspberry trees when the Lusignan Palace was constructed. If you visit the walled city you'll pass this column. In the same square, at the corner of the Law Courts, there's also a fountain built during the Ottoman period and a platform built by the British to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953 , the announcement of which was made to Cyprus from this platform. Top Sightseeing > Venetian Palace Commonly known as the Venetian Palace, it was a royal palace in Famagusta built around 1300 by the Lusignan Kings of Cyprus across from St Nicholas Cathedral. It was used as living accommodation until the reign of Peter II in 1369, when it was partially destroyed by earthquakes, the central sections of the palace completely demolished, and only its grand façade and back courtyard walls surviving. The Venetians moved the capital of Cyprus from Nicosia to Famagusta and greatly renovated the palace ruins in 1552 – 1554, transforming the Gothic style features and replacing them with Italian Renaissance architecture. It was then used as the residence of the Venetian Military Governor, the Proveditore . The palace was an immense building and stood to remind the population of Venetian power and influence. The door to the palace opened up onto what was once the largest central square in all of Europe. The final inhabitant of the Palazzo del Proveditore in 1569 was the appointed Captain General of Famagusta, Marco Antonio Bragadin , who led the Venetian resistance to the Ottoman conquest that began in 1570. He was famously killed in August 1571, enduring a slow death, starting with the carving of his ears, after the Ottomans took the city, the fall of which signalled the end of Western presence in Cyprus for the next 300 years. During Ottoman rule, structures of the palace were used as military barracks, a prison and as a site for military drills. Under British rule, the building was used for similar policing purposes. Amongst the Ottoman prisoners was Namik Kemal , the Shakespeare of Turkish literature, who was held here between 1873 and 1876, having been exiled to Cyprus after criticising the Ottoman Sultan Abdulaziz. There is a bronze bust of the novelist facing the square named after him, by the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque across from the Palazzo. In mid-20th century, the remaining structures from the palace were evacuate,d and parts were moved into the Namik Kemal Dungeon Museum, displaying the late writer’s life and works. Architecture The Venetian Palace was largely destroyed by the Ottomans, but what little remains is impressive, and is a rare example of Renaissance architecture in Cyprus, at the time of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci . The most noticeable surviving parts are the front façade, with its three arches, mirroring the triumphal archways of ancient Rome, supported by four genuine Roman columns raided from the ruins of the old nearby city of Salamis. Behind the façade are several arches that run parallel, much plainer in comparison, potential remnants of the original Lusignan palace. Above the central arch a coat of arms can be seen, those of Giovanni Renier , the Italian Governor of Cyprus at the time in 1557. Further in you’ll find a chapel and L-shaped wall that dates to the Venetian era. Small rooms facing the courtyard have been used as prisons or arsenals. The courtyard exhibits military equipment including modern cannons and cannonballs as well as ancient columns and sculptures, a delightful scenic spot to have a break when touring Famagusta. Top Sightseeing > Vouni Palace Vouni Palace is 9 kilometres west of Gemikonagi , past the town of Lefke. The site is reached by taking the signposted turn from the main road and following a narrow, steeply winding road all the way up the hill. The ruins may seem sparse, but the 360° views from the hilltop are glorious, and well worth the trip as they're some of the best in Northern Cyprus. Visitors during late winter and early spring will be met by orchids and other rare flowers that bloom and bathe the palace surroundings with colour. History Located on steep slopes of a conical hill, Vouni Palace overlooked the city kingdom of Soli for over a century. In 500 BC, Phoenician and Greek city kingdoms were warring with battles on land and sea. Marion , a pro-Persian city of the kingdom, besieged the city of Soli and established a guarding settlement on an overlooking nearby hill. King Doxandros of Marion built Vouni Palace 250m above sea level, towering over the city of Soli, allowing both sea traffic and the city’s activities to be monitored without hindrance from afar. The structure was a military settlement until 449 BC, when Greek rule was established and the ruler of Marion was replaced by a pro-Greek prince making Vouni a Royal Palace . In 380 BC the palace, which had been a continuous threat to Soli, was mysteriously destroyed by a fire, so the history of Vouni Palace only lasted for over a century. Later documents reveal its foundations were further destroyed by Soli inhabitants. The palace resembles a typical Hellenic house, but with qualities and features which connect it to the more oriental middle eastern world. Structure and Architecture Excavations have shown different construction periods. In 500 BC the core of the palace was built with strong eastern features, such as the tripartite division of official buildings into living quarters, large storage rooms and bathrooms. During the Persian period, further modifications were made to the structure and the number of rooms increased. During Greek rule, eastern architectural features were replaced, major alterations were made and the palace adopted its final character. The tripartite division was altered, the central area resembled a Mycenaean megaron (central hall), and a second floor was added. What you see today is made up of three terraces. The highest holds the remains of the Athena shrine . The middle terrace holds the palace which is believed to have had 137 rooms in total, surrounded by smaller religious buildings. The lower terrace faces the sea and contains housing with stone foundations and mud brick upper storeys which housed most of the residents. The site consists of the megaron , a large rectangular room with a central throne, rooms mainly on the eastern wing and a 7-step stairway leading down to the courtyard and cistern. These steps, at 16 metres, are the widest of their kind on the whole island. Column heads in the courtyard made of limestone, show the face of the ancient Egyptian goddess Hathor , although natural erosion has meant the facial features of the goddess of the sky, fertility and love have not made it prominently to the present day. The palace and the smaller surrounding buildings mainly comprised of temples, were surrounded by a wall, creating the impression of a fort. Temple of Athena Outside the Palace there were several temples which were simple rectangular buildings with open yards and a variety of altars. The most important shrine is the one devoted to Athena , who was the goddess allied with wisdom, handicraft and warfare. Greek mythology says she was born from the head of her father Zeus , the first of the Gods. The temple is dated 5th century BC and has a courtyard, forecourt, and a large two storey rectangular enclosure built to hold two main entrances. Sculptures stood in the forecourt and a semi-circular altar was to the right of the entrance. The Temple’s main room was behind the enclosure and held a statuette of the goddess. Water Works Vouni had a really sophisticated plumbing system. Cisterns were vital since Vouni had no natural water sources, so storage was created by digging out rocks to create natural wells. The large stone standing by the cistern in the courtyard was designed to hold a windlass which would have been used to lift water from the cistern. This stone has become the symbol of Vouni. If you look closely at the centre of the stone, you’ll see an unfinished carved face, thought to be a goddess. Channels were also made to link rooms to a constant supply of water. You can see remains of an elaborate bathhouse with evidence of a furnace below – one of the earliest examples of a fully equipped Roman hot tub. Excavations The palace was evidently a building of great wealth and luxury, containing sculptures, works of art, and ‘Vouni Treasures’. Excavations in the 1920’s unearthed a baked clay cup, blackened by the fire, which destroyed the palace. Ornamented silver cups and bowls, as well as two magnificent gold bracelets, rank among the finest known examples of Persian gold work. Hundreds of coins bearing the stamps of the City Kingdoms of Cyprus including Marion, are also among the valuable findings. The temple has unearthed various offerings and several bronze statues, one of a cow and two identical groups in relief, each with two lions attacking a bull. Soli & Petra Tou Limnidi Because Soli is so close, you may want to visit it on the same day, considering Vouni’s sole reason for being built in the first place was to spy on Soli. From the palace you can also see the small island of Petra Tou Limnidi, which was the first settlement in Cyprus. It was excavated at the same time as Vouni and where Archaeologists discovered Neolithic findings. These excavations were together described as the “Awakening of the Island ”. Visitors during the late winter and early spring months will be met by a rich array of orchids and other rare flowers that bloom and adorn the palace surroundings with colour. Top