North Cyprus History

25 October, 2009

The Mevlevi Tekke (Whirling Dervish Museum)

The Mevlevi Tekke (Whirling Dervish Museum) | Nicosia Entering the city through the Girne Kapisi (Kyrenia Gate), the Mevlevi tekke museum is fifty metres on the left. A tekke is a religious base, and this 17th C building was the […]
25 October, 2009

The Great Inn (The Buyuk Han)

The Great Inn (Buyuk Han) | Nicosia This Great Inn is the most important Ottoman structure on the whole of the island. Construction began in 1572 under the guidance of Mustafa Pasha who was the first Ottoman governor of Cyprus […]
25 October, 2009

Palace of the Provveditore

The Venetians, wishing to make their own mark on the palace changed the façade of the entrance, extending it outwards, building basket arches and incorporating massive granite pillars imported from the ruined city of Salamis. Over the central arch are […]
25 October, 2009

Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque (Cathedral of St. Nicholas)

Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque (Cathedral of St. Nicholas) The most impressive edifice in Famagusta, if not the whole of Cyprus, is the beautiful gothic Catholic Cathedral built during the Lusignan period and dedicated to St. Nicholas. Constructed in the 14th […]
1 December, 2009
Evil Eye

Legends – The Evil Eye

Throughout the ages, in many cultures and religions, the evil eye figure has been considered as a powerful symbol to defy and conquer evil forces. It is believed that the evil eye amulet will break and deflect negative and bad […]
22 November, 2009
Sourp Monastery

Sourp Magar Monastery

Access to this ruined monastery is from the same mountain road that leads from The Five Finger Mountain to Alevkaya. After driving for about 4 miles (6.5km) slow down and keep looking down into the valley below. The monastery buildings […]
25 October, 2009

Djamboulat Bastion

This bastion is adjacent to the modern entrance to the harbour, it is named after the Commander of the Ottoman forces who succeeded in effecting a successful entry into the city by riding his horse into the whirling wheel that […]
25 October, 2009

Ayios Philon

Ayios Philon | Karpaz Follow the signs marked “Oasis at Ay Philon” from Dipkarpaz and the route twists through the village eventually emerging above the north coast. Below on the shore can be seen the ruins of the 12thC church […]
25 October, 2009

The Land Gate and Ravelin

The Land Gate and Ravelin | Famagusta The land gate is probably as old a building within the city as the citadel, though the current bridge and gateway entrance are relatively modern. The road now passes through one of the […]
25 October, 2009

The Sea Gate

This was the second of the two main entrances to the city during medieval times, giving access to travellers from the harbour. The sea gate we see today was constructed by the Venetians and was built by Nicolo Prioli in […]