About Cyprus North
Kyrenia * Famagusta * Bafra * Bogaz
North Cyprus is proud of the crystal clear beaches that one can not find anywhere else in the Mediterranean , it has varied coastline and amenities for swimmers, luxurious beaches of large hotels or remote ones lost behind dunes. On the east coast between famagusta and Bogaz, a golden beach stretches for about 15miles. By contrast on the north coast on either side of kyrenia, there are sandy beaches with bars and sports facilities. Further more isolated creeks decorate the landscape for nearly 20 miles. It is possible for water lovers to enjoy swimming for about 8 months of the year, and also enjoying diving, sailing, snorkeling, windsurfing, waterskiing.
Beaches to visit
* Escape - Alsancak - Mare Monte - Alsancak.
* Acapulco - Catalkoy - Deniz Kizi - Alsancak.
* Salamis - Magosa - Golden Beach - Karpaz.
Places of Interest
Bellapais
Here you can sit under Durrells Tree of Idleness and watch the world go by.
The abbey was founded by Augustine monks around 1250ad and represents some of the finest medieval gothic architecture in the eastern Mediterranean. The sleepy village of Bellapais was home to Lawrence Durrell and has been immortalized in his classic novel `bitter lemons`.
Located three miles to the east of Kyrenia, built on a rocky outcrop on the slopes of the five-finger mountain range, Bellapais Abbey was a great importance to a people for whom peace was elusive. In North Cyprus, where several monuments to the Gothic period still remain, Bellapais Abbey stands to the fore.
Kantara Castle
Kantara stands at the gateway of the Karpaz peninsula. Although only 1900ft above sea level in the mountains, it affords marvelous views of both the northern and southern coastlines.
Mosaic Pilgrims Sandals
Sipilna Mosaics - If you put your feet on the pilgrims sandals - you will return to North Cyprus!
St Hilarion Castle
This spectacular fairytale castle is the best preserved of all three. A wild and dramatic maze of fortifications, it was built around 1100AD and conquered by Richard the Lionheart in 1191AD. Besides its enchanting historical background, the wonderful views from St Hilarion castle are not to be missed.
Buffavento Castle
Buffavento is the highest of the three crusader castles found in Cyprus. Situated 2500ft above sea level in the mountains, a system of flares linked the castle by night to St Hilarion and Kantara.
Roman Ruins at Salamis
Dating back to 1100BC, these ruins are Northern Cyprus most impressive historical site. The best preserved remains are the gymnasium, baths and the spectacular amphitheatre, which is one of the largest in the Mediterranean.
Kyrenia Castle
Founded by the Byzantines in the 10th century, this huge castle with its thick walls and massive bastions, dominates the harbour of Kyrenia. It also houses a museum with the remains of one of the world¡¦s oldest shipwrecks.
Soli
Dating mainly from Roman times, the main attractions are the 3500 seat amphitheatre and the beautifully preserved mosaics of the basilica.
Some other places to visit in North Cyprus
Kyrenia
* Folk art museum
* Kyrenia Archangelos icon museum
* Cafer Pasha Mosque
* Omer Dervish Lodge
* Lambousa Kings Tombs
* Peace and Freedom Museum
Lefkosa
* Dervis pasha museum
* Ethnographical museum
* Mevlevi Tekke museum
* Selimiye mosque
* Bedesten-old market place
* Nicosia walls and the gates Buyuk Khan-the great inn
* Kumarcilar-gamblers inn
* Sacakli-eaved house
* Lusignan mansion
* Arabahmet mosque
* Haydarpasha mosque
* Lapidary museum
* The Sultan Mahmut II library
* The museum of national struggle
* Guzelyurt
* Guzelyurt archaeology and nature museum
* St mamas monastery and icon museum
* Palace of Vouni
* Toumba tou skourr pre historical settlement
* Pigadhes temple
Famagusta
* St Barnabas icon and Archaeological museum
* Lala Mustafa Pasha mosque
* Othellos tower
* Enkomi ruins
* Venitian palace
* Famagusta walls and the walled city
* Canbulat shrine
* Namik Kemals dungeon
* The Akkule mosque
Iskele
* Apostolos Andreas monastery
* Kanakaria church and monastery
* Philon church and monastery
* Iskele icon museum
There are also a range of festivals throughout the year
* During April and May held at Bellapais Abbey is the international spring concert.
* The Guzelyurt Orange Festival held in May.
* International bellapais Music Festival takes place between May and June.
* Famagusta International Festival held between June and July, claims to be the best festival in the Mediterranean.
* North Cyprus International Music Festival takes place between September and October preformed in historical settings all around North Cyprus
CLIMATE
Thankfully the climate in Northern Cyprus is full of long dry hot sunny summers and short rainy winters.
The average annual temp is 19 degrees (60 farenheight) The temp in midsummer can soar over 40 degrees (105 farenheight) With the warmest sea temperature in the Mediterranean, averaging 21 degrees (75) The winter weather is very mild with an average annual rainfall of 500mm.
Pure Nature
It is well known fact that North Cyprus is a wonderful place in every season. Every season is different on our island. Almost everyday of the year you awake to blue skies and sunshine, despite its rich and diverse historical and culture heritage North Cyprus has magnificent natural beauty. There are around 1900 kinds of flowering plants including gramineae grasses and herbal plants growing wild in North Cyprus. There are 19 different types of flora which grow here and no where else in the world.
Orchids
Nature has formed orchid flowers in a way that must either make us laugh or excite our admiration, wrote a 17th century German botanist. Out of 20,000 or so orchids known, Cyprus has about 45 kinds and North Cyprus 30 of these.
Presses and preserved specimens, drawings and photographs of all these species can be seen at the North Cyprus herbarium. There are also arranged walks to see Orchids. Below are some details, www.walksnorchidsnorthcyprus.com Tel:7213013.
The famous North Cyprus Turtles - Caretta carettas and Chelonia mydas.
For about one hundred million years, our waters have been visited by the green (chelonia mydas) and the logger head (caretta carettas) turtles. The green turtle only nests in Cyprus, south east turkey and sometimes in Israel.
These fascinating creatures come ashore on the deserted beaches of North Cyprus between May and August to nest and Aligadi beach is classified as a special protected area. After sunset, when it is dark, the adult females, sometimes with a carapace of more than 100cm long, make their way up the beach to find suitable nesting place. There, they lay between 65 and 110 eggs, depending on the species. This can be repeated three to five times for each, 10-15 days apart. When the nesting is complete, the exhausted female returns to the sea. She will perhaps reappear on the same beach again a couple of years later. Up to thirty percent of all green turtles nest on the coast line of North Cyprus. Group of ecologists and students have been observing and helping to protect these rare animals from extinction for a number of years. Visitors are welcome to observe this exciting experience and the local papers always advertise the times of organized tours.
Cyprus Life
The Green Island or the jewel in the Mediterranean is just how North Cyprus is best described. These simple phrases, sum up the serenity, tranquility and sheer natural beauty of this almost most forgotten corner of the Mediterranean. Whilst most, if not all, of this region has succumbed to the demands of mass tourism and over development, Northern Cyprus stands proud as one of the few remaining holiday destinations where tourism fits in with the environment, rather than the other way round.
North Cyprus makes an ideal holiday destination, with activities to suit everyone young and old, with glorious sandy beaches along the picturesque Kyrenia Coastline set alongside the stunning Kyrenia Mountains, There are many ancient historical sites to visit and explore and of course you have the opportunity to go turtle watching. Northern Cyprus is unique as it is the only mating ground still remaining in the Mediterranean waters for the Green Turtles and there are organised excursions to watch them
Surprisingly enough, amongst all this serenity and natural beauty, Northern Cyprus has another, more lively side. There are over 300 restaurants, tavernas and bistros on the island. For the more adventurous, there is surprisingly good choice of activities, attractions and organized tours. It is worth noting that there is a new golf course under construction in Esentepe, which will be open summer 2006. A North Cyprus holiday can be as diverse as you want it to be or you can just relax, uninterrupted in the beautiful Kyrenia Harbour and watch the world go by.
North Cyprus is a virtually crime free island and is very safe for all ages, you can still leave your car door open and not have to worry. The locals in North Cyprus are of a very hospitable and genuine nature and would not think twice before offering a stranger a cup of local tea or coffee, in the comfort of their home.
The island is famously known as a corner of earth touched by heaven, an unspoilt jewel in the Mediterranean and that¡¦s exactly what it is. Once you visit North Cyprus, believe us its like an aphrodisiac, you just want to keep coming back for more.
Cyprus History
For centuries Cyprus has been influenced by the cultures of many different nations, which has led to an island with a rich and diverse historical and architectural heritage. From soli and vouni in the west, Arabahmet Pasha mosque in Lefkosa to Salamis and the site of Apostolos Andreas in the east there is much to reflect 9,000 years of civilization.
The island has been occupied by succession of peoples from Europe and Asia. In the 8th Century BC it was part of the Assyrian empire, then the Babylonian, Egytian and Persian. In 58BC the island was seized by the romans. Richard the lionheart settled on the island in 1191 during the third crusade and after selling it to the Knights Templar permitted Guy de Lusignan to buy the island. Cyprus remained in Lusignan possession until captured by the Venetians in 1489. From 1571 to 1878 the island was ruled by the Ottomans until they leased its administration to Britain. Independence was granted in 1960.
