An Open Air Museum

Famagusta, one of the most important historical ports in the Mediterranean has been an eyewitness for the history of Levant with it is past  dating back to 2500 years of time. Today ,the historical port acts as the host of the biggest university in North Cyprus, Eastern Mediterranean University.

The second largest city of North Cyprus having a local population of 40,000 inhabitants with the students, is belived to have been founded in the 5^th century BC. The ancient  Greek name of the city “Ammochostos” means “ the place concealed in the sands” and it defines the general appearance of the city.

Salamis , the most important city of Cyprus  and entire Eastern Mediterranean  was  set ablaze and destroyed by Arab raiders in mid 7^th century AD, the fleeing inhabitants migrated to Famagusta and expanded the city. The second human  flood took place in late 13^th century; an influx of  Christian refugees fleeing after the downfall of Acre in Plestine during the Crusades , transformed this tiny settlement into one of the richest cities in Christendom Genoesen had seized the city in 1372 and they have been followed by the Venetians in 1489 and it fell to the  Ottomun in 1571 after a siege of one year.

The once so called “city of 365 churches” ravaged by severe wars and earthquakes is now only partially inhabited, but it still contains beautiful examples of medieval and gothic architecture.

Salamis ruins, Necropolis (Kings Tombs), Engomi are archeological sites worth visiting and they are accepted unique because of their distinctive structures.

Land gate (Akkule,Revalin), martinengo(Tophane) bastion, Othello Tower, Sea gate (Porta del Mare),Djanboulat (Arsenal) bastion and museum are very well preserved visiting points of the Venetian city walls.

Charges and other important buildings related with Christian  cultural heritage: Tomb and monastery of St.Barnabas(icon museum), Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque , (St.Peter and St.Poul Church), Nastorian Church (Ayios Georghios Xorinos Church) Ayia Zoni Byzantine Church, St. George of Latins Church, Mustapha Pasha Mosque(Stavros  Chorch), St. George of Greeks  Church, Ayios Yuannis  Church,  (Marash    -Varosha – Icon Museum)

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The Crown of Cyprus

The northern part of the island falling between the Five Finger Mountain range and the Mediterranean  harbours Kyrenia (Girne),  the city that has the biggest tourism potential .having a width of 2,5 km and length of 150 km along side of Five Finger Mountain range the Kyrenia distirict has a vital importance especially in terms of tourism, with numerous accommodation facilities and restaurants.

Having a past of  1500 years, Kyrenia is also known as an active commercial center in the ancient times. It is best- known   spot is it is authentic harbour. Being a very beautiful and charming place, the Kyrenia  Harbour is the spot where the heart of the night of North Cyprus beats. The smells of food spreading  around during the summer nights, laughter, scent of the sea and sound from waves take you to a dreamland.

At the point where the harbour ends, a splendid building, Kyrenia castle, welcomes you with all it is grandeur. It was the Venetians who brought the castle , which was constructed  by the Romans for some and by the Lusignans for other , to it is present shape. Harbouring the shipwreck museum(one of the oldest wrecks of the world saved with it is cargo), the castle is being used nowadays for concerts and exhibitions.

If you wish to get a board view of Kyrenia and the entire region, St.Hilarion Castle is the most suitable location. Situated 850 metres above the sea level, the castle was originally built as a church by the Byzantines and then turned into a castle by the Lusignans in the 10^th century. This unique construction overlooks the entire Kyrenia region.

Besides the shipwreck museum in the castle; museum of folk arts, the Icon museum in the Archangelos Mikail  Church, fine art museum, Krisokava open air museum- rock quarries are nice spots for the enthustiasts.  Chrysopolitissa  Church , Panagia tou Potamu(Dereli mMeryem) church in Ozankoy, Antiphonitis Church near the Esentepe and Sourp Magar Armenia Monastery  are nice examples  of Christian Architecture, but the masterpiece is the Bellapais Abbey which dates back to 12^th century. This extraordinary example of Gothic Art houses the impressive annual classical music festival. Agha Djafer Pasha Mosque behind the harbour, Kazafana(Ozankoy) Mosque and Teke of Hz. Omer are places of Islamic cultural heritage.

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The  capital city

Nicosia has been the capital  of Cyprus since the 11^th century. Encircled  by  strong  fortress walls built by the Venetians in the 16^th century and renowned for it is fabled past, today’s  Nicosia (Lefkosa Turkish name the city) blends it is historic past brilliantly with the bustle of a modern city.

Within the labyrinth of the history, the capital of Cyprus had moved from Salamis to Lapta and than to Larnaka  ; but the longest duration of being the administrational center  possessed by  Nicosia . from ancient times to our present day; the name of this wonderful loom of various civilizations had many alterations: Lidra, Levkonteon, Kermia , I Hora , Seher, Levkosia, Nicosia ,and at last ,Lefkosia or Lefkosa.

Strolling through the narrow streets of the old city is stepping backwards in time. The central part of the city is surrounded by a perfect circular wall with eleven imposing bastions. The length of these walls is about 5000 metres and the radius of the circle is  840 metres.

One of the tree entrances to the city is the Kyrenia Gate(Porta del Proveditore with  it is original name) with it is stone tablets dating back to Venetian Era, Ottoman Reign and British Colonial Period telling us the  rich past of the city. Mevlevi museum (former Tekke of the whirling dervishes of the Mevlevi order ) houses a mausoleum of the old Sheikhs tombs, some artifacts of this  sufic sect and Ottoman  tombstones of artistic value.

Ataturk  square  which was known as Konak and Sarayonu square in lod time has a social and commercial importance. The Venetian column or Dikilitas (obelisk) in the centre of the square  was brought from Salamis  and  erected as a symbol of the Venetian Reign. On top of the 6 metres high column, a bronze globe had been placed by the British for replacing the lost St. Mark’s Lion of the Venetians. Coats of arms of some noble Venetian families are displayed on the base of the column.

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Capital of Cyprus Nicosia is situated on the river Pedieos. Nicosia is also the cultural capital of the island. In the center its old town is surrounded with venetian ramparts in stoneware , marked out by bastions.
Mosques and palm trees give an oriental feeling to the old town. You can walk in the district reserved exclusively for pedestrians, with narrow streets accompanied by suspended balconies and with lined up shops ,cafes and taverns. The cathedral of Saint John with the frescoes is a must see , and the magnificent museum of Byzantine icons, where the relics were fortunately saved from the plunder of the black market of art.
In the evening, you can attend a concert or visit an exhibition at the Famagusta Gate , a cultural centre . Nicosia has also numerous museums, where very often cultural and artistic events take place.

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