North Cyprus History

25 October, 2009

Church of Chrysopolitissa

This old church is now almost a total ruin, but it is the only church in Kyrenia of any historical interest. It is to be found in the narrow back street immediately behind the harbour almost opposite the rear entrance […]
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 […]
26 October, 2009
St Hilarion Castle

St. Hilarion Castle

Clearly signposted from Kyrenia, this is a castle built on three distinct levels, each one designed to be self-sufficient and self-contained. Although it was not exempt from the ravages of war, and was besieged during the 13th C when an […]
3 December, 2009
Carob Warehouses

Carob Warehouses

Like sentinels along the Cyprus shore, stand the slowly crumbling relics of a wealthy past. These are the remnants of an ancient trade that once helped make Cyprus very rich. Dotted along the coastline, now abandoned and neglected, stand carob […]
3 December, 2009
Mamas Church

Church of St. Mamas

Unless approaching Guzelyurt from the Nicosia road, it is impossible to miss this church as it is built at a central point where roads converge. Constructed during the 18th C AD, on the site of an early Byzantine church, this […]
26 October, 2009
kampanopetra

Kampanopetra Basilica

There is a track from the Temple of Zeus that leads towards the sea and the site of the Kampanopetra basilica or Harbour basilica. This is a serenely peaceful, and probably the most alluring, part of Salamis. Its attraction lies […]
26 October, 2009
Bath houses

Roman Road and Additional Bath Houses

Close to the theatre is an area that has been excavated during the last few years by a team from Ankara University and students from the Eastern Mediterranean University in Famagusta. They have re-excavated the bath house and revealed a […]
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

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

Aphendrika

Aphendrika | Karpaz Clearly signposted, and about four miles from Ayios Philon along the coast road eastwards, is the group of three churches collectively called Aphendrika. This was the site of a major city in the 2nd C BC, rock cut […]