North Cyprus History

5 November, 2009
turkish language

Turkish Language

Turkish is spoken by over 63 million people worldwide, and originates from Ottoman Turkish, which dates back nearly 1,200 years. The Ottoman Turkish language was based mainly on Arabic and Persian, but was replaced under one of Ataturk’s reforms in 1928, […]
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 […]
25 October, 2009

Lusignan Round Tower

Lusignan Round Tower | Kyrenia Old Kyrenia was surrounded by walls with fortified towers. The best preserved of these is the only complete tower known as The Round Tower. It is on the right of the high street heading westwards […]
25 October, 2009

The Martinengo Bastion

The Martinengo Bastion | Famagusta Situated on the north west corner of the city this bastion is diamond shaped and was considered by the Ottoman forces to be impregnable. It is constructed on top of solid rock and maybe for […]
26 October, 2009
salamis

Amphitheatre

Walking from the bath house complex down a paved columned street, there is a partially excavated area on the right. This is the site of the amphitheatre where excavations where abandoned in 1974. The outer walls of the theatre are […]
25 October, 2009

Apostolos Andreas Monastery

From Dipkarpaz take the road that is signed for Apostolos Andreas and follow the route along the southern shore of the peninsula. There are many beaches easily accessed from this road, most of them have rudimentary changing facilities and showers, […]
25 October, 2009

Bellapais Abbey

Bellapais Abbey | Kyrenia The Abbey of Bellapais has drawn visitors to the island of Cyprus since medieval times when the abbey was built. From the pilgrims who trod the ancient paths in search of a miracle through to the […]
25 October, 2009

The Twin Churches of the Templars and Hospitallers

The Twin Churches of the Templars and Hospitallers | Famagusta Close to the main square are the two 14th C churches that have undergone several periods of refurbishment yet for the most part stay resolutely closed. The interiors have little […]
25 October, 2009

Yeni Erenkoy

Yeni Erenkoy | Karpaz In Turkish, the word Yeni means new, so this village is New Erenkoy. Once the centre of the thriving and lucrative tobacco industry, it has been administered since 1974 by Turkish Cypriots from Erenkoy (Kokkina) the […]
25 October, 2009

Icon Museum

Icon Museum | Kyrenia At the western end of the harbour is the church of the Archangel Michael. Dating from the end of the 19th C, it was constructed on an eminence upon which one of the original towers of […]