Hidden away in a wooded valley approximately 4 miles (6.5km) from the village of Esentepe is the 12th C church of Antiphonitis, (Christ of the Echo). It is not difficult to find, just follow the signs from Esentepe village centre, […]
North Cyprus If it is possible to put aside the volumes of propaganda that have been written about what is now known generally as “The Cyprus Problem”, and look at the situation from an historical viewpoint rather than an hysterical […]
Kyrenia Castle | Kyrenia The history of Kyrenia castle, shares its origin with the mountain castles and was built by the Byzantines for the same defensive reasons, to repel the Arab raiders of the 7th C. It is possible that […]
The Selimiye Mosque (Cathedral of St. Sophia) | Famagusta The name Sophia means “divine wisdom” and this great Gothic building erected during the Lusignan period was to be the most important church on the island. The foundation stone was laid […]
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 […]
Standing on a slight rise and overlooking the huge necropolis of Salamis is the twin- domed church dedicated to St. Barnabas, patron saint of Cyprus. This church, now used as an icon museum with the ancillary monks’ cells housing an […]
The remains of this copper producing city were first discovered in 1896, but as the first excavations produced evidence of burials, it was thought that this was just an extension of the Salamis necropolis. In the 1930’s it was excavated […]
The Dervish Pasha Konak is so named after a former owner who published the first Turkish newspaper in Cyprus, titled Zaman or “Time”. The house is situated in the Arabahmet district, where there is continuing restoration work being carried out […]
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 […]
Kyrenia, with its picturesque harbour and adjacent castle is called the “Jewel of Cyprus”. It is, quite simply, exquisite! The town was probably founded circa tenth century BC and was one of the original city kingdoms. Its position on the […]