CYPRUS is one of the most magical places in the world and North Cyprus is part of this landscape full of mystery. A journey to this Mediterranean paradise will reward travellers with glimpses of historical sites which have witnessed a 10,000 year history, an impressive cultural heritage and different glorious treasures of the material world at every season of the year.
The island of Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean is 64km from the coast of Turkey, 96km from Syria, and 400km from Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily and Sardinia.
Due to its location, strategically poised at the crossroads of commercial and religious traffic between three continents, Cyprus has hosted a number of civilisations over the centuries.
In North Cyprus, which has an area of 3,355 sq km, you can find the traces of a historic and cultural heritage going back 10,000 years. The first signs of human occupation on the island dates from 8,000 BC.
Gothic structures such as the Bellapais Abbey, the most wonderful example of Eastern Mediterranean art and workmanship, the Saint Sophia Cathedral (Selimiye Mosque), the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas (Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque), the city kingdoms of the classical period such as Salamis and Soli, the three fairytale castles of the Besparmak mountain range, the mediaeval citadel of Gazimagusa, recognised as a world heritage site and the walled city of Nicosia, are just a few of the magical stops on this epic journey.
Travellers will find much to do and see while they are in North Cyprus. If they are interested in the natural world, they can experience ecotourism, its boundless sandy beaches, its places of outstanding natural beauty which are home to rare protected turtles and a wealth of plant species and they can also try village life, which have stood the test of time for centuries.
The island’s accommodation for tourists offers a wide range of choices, exceeding the expectations of even the most seasoned holidaymaker. They can choose from a range of luxury hotels, family hotels, boutique or ecotourism hotels.
These offer the opportunity to bathe in the clear waters of the Mediterranean, fine buffet dining, conference and seminar halls, swimming pools, waterparks, environmentally integrated green spaces, recreation and entertainment activities, gaming and facilities designed for comfort with everything the traveler needs for a comfortable holiday.
From Limnitis (Yeşilırmak in Turkish) village in the west to the Monastery of the Apostolos Andreas in the east, every moment spent in North Cyprus will add up to a comfortable and unforgettable holiday. North Cyprus richly deserves its reputation as the pearl of the Mediterranean.
The hospitable, smiling and friendly people of the island will greet you as if every one of them was a tour guide and will do all they can to help you.
Travellers can see the mark left by civilization over the centuries from the Neolithic period up to the present day, including the Phoenicians, the Assyrians, the Egyptians, the Ptolemaic dynasty, the Persians, the Hellenes, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Lusignans, the Venetians, the Ottoman Empire and the British.
North Cyprus is also home of the Castle of St Hilarion, model for the castle in Walt Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty” and it is also where Leonardo Da Vinci contributed to the plans for the defence of Famagusta (Turkish: Gazimagusa), a city on the east coast of the island. Located east of Nicosia, it possesses the deepest harbour of the island. Famagusta has a walled city popular with tourists, which boasts a vibrant nightlife.
With a population of 300,000, every corner of North Cyprus, with its five districts – Lefkoşa (Nicosia), Gazimağusa (Famagusta), Girne (Kyrenia), Güzelyurt (Morphou), and İskele (Trikomo) – is worth visiting.
North Cyprus has something to offer during every season – with its olive trees, carob trees, cypresses and rolling maquis, the stunning beauty of the plant life of the North, which has rather productive soils, arrays itself in a different colour in each of the four seasons.
The unique climate of Cyprus offers year-round opportunities for a perfect holiday. Rainfall is concentrated in December and January, and the average sea temperature is above 20 degrees for more than half the year. Cyprus is renowned for its wild flowers which carpet the island in spring (there are more than 38 species of orchid alone) and scent of orange, lemon and grapefruit blossom fills the air.
The capital city Nicosia, which over the course of its history, has also been known as Ledra, Lidra and Kermia, is surrounded by 4.5km of city walls furnished with eleven bastions and three city gates.
Kyrenia is the centre of tourism in North Cyprus and bears the unmistakable characteristics of a Mediterranean city and of an island city. Kyrenia Castle bears the marks of the Byzantine, Lusignan and Venetian periods.
St Epiphanius, the largest basilica in Cyprus, the Campanopetra basilica, the Agora, the Salamis Necropolis, and the Royal Tombs, the Monastery of St Barnabas, one of the most important destinations of faith tourism, the Icon and Archaeology Museum, the Othello Tower, a 15th century Venetian structure which was supposedly the scene of William Shakespeare’s tragedy of Othello, the Cathedral of St. Nicholas (Lala Mustafa Pasa Mosque), the list is endless…
The natural beauties and historical treasures of the Trikomo region include: Altm Kumsal (Golden Beach), one of the world’s finest beaches, Panagia Theodokou Church at Karpaz, the Karpaz Museum of the Natural World, and the Church of St James. Kantara Castle, at an altitude of approximately 700m above sea level, is one of the three high castles of the Besparmak range.
The town of Lefke, near Guzelyurt, possesses more important historical riches. The city is a mixture of coastline and vast mountains, lush with citrus groves. It is the only place in Cyprus where the Yafa oranges are grown, and it is also popular for growing soft fruit. Three dams provide constant water all year round, which is why agriculture is so successful in this region. The coastline has a number of restaurants where you can enjoy Turkish cuisine or fresh fish, and make use of their beach facilities.
Working your way up to Lefke’s town centre takes you through mountains overlooked by the Troodos, so close that you can see its snow capped summits in the winter. In the centre of Lefke is Ataturk Park, which is host to events such as cookery competitions, and an annual fair held in the middle of August celebrating the freedom of Lefke during the war.
Fed up with beaches crowded with tourists and fringed by high-rise developments as far as the eye can see? Come to North Cyprus, where golden beaches stretch for miles along the unspoilt coastline. You won’t find crowds on beaches in Northern Cyprus either, just the warm Mediterranean Sea lapping at the sands, and the famous turtles nesting during the summer months.
North Cyprus beaches are simply the way beaches are supposed to be. Whether you base yourself at Kyrenia or on the Karpaz Peninsula, a good beach in North Cyprus is never very far away.
CUISINE
There is no end to the delicacies of North Cyprus. The North offers a large selection of good quality restaurants offering international cuisine to cater for everyone’s taste. The main cuisine served in Northern Cyprus is Turkish orientated.
There are many local restaurants on the island that serve traditional “meze”. This consists of many small dishes of hot and cold food that is brought to your table as a starter, or served with your main course. The foods served include “cacik” (yoghurt and cucumber) humus fried hellim (local cheese) “sigara borek” (cheese and mint wrapped in filo pastry and deep fried) and olives to name a few.
Another specialty is kebabs which can be either chicken or lamb which are served with salad in a pitta pocket or “shish” kebab which are chunks of lamb or chicken and vegetables all skewered together and then cooked over charcoal.
“Kleftico” is lamb slowly cooked in a clay oven, when it is served the meat just falls off the bone and is full of flavor as it has been cooked in its own juices, this a must for meat eaters. Fresh fish restaurants are also extremely popular and most are located around the harbour of Kyrenia were you can watch the boats bring back the catch of the day.
In parallel with growing environmental awareness worldwide, awareness is also increasing in North Cyprus of eco-tourism which is based on a responsible approach which respects the environment.
North Cyprus is ready to offer something splendid whatever season of the year. On the 177km long Besparmak range, which is home to many wild flowers, including a number of endemic species, you can also find three mountain castles (from west to east, St Hilarion Castle, Buffavento Castle and Kantara Castle). There is much to do on the Besparmak range of mountains, with its panoramic views, and walking, bird watching and photography are popular. One of the greenest areas,
Alevkayasi, is the site of the herbarium and definitely worth a visit. Activities for special interest tourism in North Cyprus include: Walking tours, bird-watching tours, village tourism, faith tourism, health tourism, adventure tourism, golf, diving, water-sports, bicycle tours and cultural tours.
Nature treks give the opportunity to see marine turtles, species of birds, plant species endemic to Cyprus, ancient trees, orchid species and other rare species, with the pleasure of knowing that you are taking the environmentally friendly option.
North Cyprus is ideal for diving. The island has one of the longest diving seasons in the world and you can see where the world’s oldest wreck was found. The water temperature, which averages 21.5 degrees Celsius, provides some of the best diving conditions in the Mediterranean. The deep blue sea is perfect for those who want to go underwater. Plunging into the blue depths, in Kyrenia or one of the many fine diving points in other regions, will give you a new perspective on the magic of North Cyprus.
An increasing trend is the growing tradition of holding festivals throughout the year. The Guzelyurt orange festival, the Tepebasi and Avtepe Medos Tulip (Tulipa cypria) festival, the Mehmetcik grape festival, the Tatlisu carob festival, the Bellapais music festival, the Gazimagusa culture festival, the Buyukkonuk Eco Day, the Lefke date and walnut festival, the Yesihrmak strawberry festival and the Kyrenia olive festival all have lovely surprises in store for travellers.
CULTURE
The living representatives of the culture and heart of Cyprus are its continuing traditional handicrafts, including Lefkara and Lapta embroidery, lacework, basketwork chairs, silk embroidery, wicker basketry, woodcarving and ceramics. You can see these handicrafts at the Buyu Han (the Great Khan) and various other points in North Cyprus and buy them as gifts.
Kleftiko or Kup Kebab – lamb cooked with potatoes and laurel leaves in an earthenware jar, is very typical of Cypriot cuisine. While Greek Cypriots call this kebab “kleftiko”, meaning “thief”, the Turkish Cypriots refer to it as “kup Kebab”, meaning “kebab cooked in a jar”. Since it is served with tomatoes names are of no importance.
The glorious natural beauty of North Cyprus awaits you on its beaches, among clear seas, golden sands, and lush green mountains. Take a short break from your rushed and tiring life to discover the most serene bays. While the burnished gold sun smiles down on North Cyprus, you can set your cares aside and cool down in the waters of the Mediterranean. This is North Cyprus, one of the most magical places in the world.
