Regions

Lefkoşa (Nicosia)

Lefkoşa (Nicosia)It has been continuously inhabited for over 4,500 years and has been the capital of Cyprus since the 10th century. It takes you back in time as you walk around the city and visit historical places, showing you all the history from the beginning to the present. The city’s most well-known feature is perhaps the 4.5 km Venetian Wall that was built to encircle the city, furnished with eleven bastions and three city gates. Constructed in the 16th century, and still in excellent condition, the walls surrounding the Old Town keep the contents preserved like a time capsule. Little has changed in the Old Town for many years and a stroll through its narrow, meandering streets will see you appreciate the calm and relaxed atmosphere as you admire the wonderful architectural treasures.

Girne (Kyrenia)

An amazing city on the west coast filled with luxury accommodations and a multitude of leisure spots and events. There is no doubt that early residents were attracted to this beautiful port because of its idyllic location. Miles of gorgeous sandy beaches overlook the warm, clear waters of the Mediterranean, backed by the verdant slopes of the nearby Five Finger Mountains. Set as a jewel within the crown of this stunning location is the historic city of Kyrenia itself, bursting with trendy villages and historical sites. Throughout its history, Kyrenia has attracted great civilisations to enjoy and add their stamp to its rich tapestry of culture. Vestiges of Greek, Roman, French, Ottoman and British settlers’ architecture and customs remain, all tightly packed within the town’s cobbled streets, a small harbour and a magnificent castle. This epic castle of Byzantine origin sits spectacularly opposite the harbour wall. Once guarding the small bustling port, it now provides a splendid backdrop to the beautiful quayside cafes, bars and restaurants. The citadel is packed with artefacts from its past – to be appreciated by the visitors within and by those who gaze at its magnificence from afar, perhaps from a table at one of those fabulous harbour-side restaurants.

İskele

Formerly called Trikomo, legend has it is the very town that the Goddess Aphrodite brought the first fruit to in Cyprus. Trikomo contains the Panagia Theotokos Church, which hosts an icon museum showcasing rare examples of medieval iconography in Cyprus. The church is a twin church consisting of Orthodox and Catholic sections. Its older Catholic section dates to the Byzantine era while the Catholic section was built in the 12th century during the Lusignan period. The town also annually hosts the İskele Festival, which takes place for ten days in the summer, and is the oldest annual festival in Cyprus, first held in Larnaca in 1968. In 1974, the festival was moved to Trikomo along with the move of the Turkish Cypriot inhabitants. It features an international folk dance festival, concerts by Turkish Cypriot and mainland Turkish musicians, various sports tournaments, food stalls, and competitions, as well as other shows and contests highlighting the cultural heritage of the town.

Famagusta

The naturally deep Harbour attracted ships, merchants, and traders from all over the eastern Mediterranean and further. Famagusta came to be known as “the district of churches” – it has been said that Famagusta had a church for every day of the year, each one paid for by a man or woman intent on buying their place in heaven every turn in this enigmatic city will reveal churches each with a different story to tell. Today the area boasts some of the most impressive medieval ruins anywhere in the world. The contrasting Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque is fascinating for its gothic cathedral exterior as it was once a church, which has since been transformed into a mosque on the inside. A three-kilometer walk along and through the Venetian walls which encircle the entire ancient city offers a wonderful insight into its history, like a crumbling postcard to the past. One of the ancient City Kingdoms of Cyprus, Salamis is home to some fantastically preserved Roman ruins, including statues, standing columns, theatre, and baths. Impenetrable fortresses that inspired William Shakespeare, defense models drawn by Michelangelo, Venetian Palaces inhabited by royals, hidden treasures yet to be discovered, excavated tombs with miraculous revelations, and much more.

Lefke

The first settlement in the Lefka area dates from the Neolithic period. According to one hypothesis, the town was founded in the 3rd century BC by Lefkos, the son of the Ptolemy king of Egypt, who is also said to have founded Nicosia (known as Lefkosia), and named after him. Another hypothesis states that a sick Christian girl named "Lefka", meaning poplar in Greek, came to the town to be healed by the clean air from the mountains. According to the legend, she lived in Lefka for a long time and died in the town, and the town was named after her to honor her memory. It was in a ruinous condition by the 1571 Ottoman conquest of Cyprus. Ebubekir Bey, an Ottoman officer and the grandson of the former Ottoman grand vizier Piri Mehmed Pasha, had the building repaired and established a foundation with his grandfather's name to maintain the mosque. Lefka contains numerous historical houses that are in the Cypriot-Ottoman architectural style. Most of these houses were built between 1900 and 1930, and while they are mainly in the Ottoman architectural style, they feature elements of Greek architecture, such as Ionian columns, as well. This indicates the fact that many of these houses were built by Greek Cypriot builders. The houses have characteristic bay windows and arches in the interior. They all have inner courtyards, reflecting the conservative, closed Islamic family life of the early 20th century. They lie along narrow, unspoiled streets.

Güzelyurt

The trip to Güzelyurt, located in the center of the citrus growing area, will take you through kilometers of the unspoiled countryside from Nicosia or Kyrenia. Its translation to “Beautiful Place” naturally implicates Güzelyurt and its’ surrounding villages as stunning, rich, and fertile. A fertile agricultural area, the Town of Troodos is known as the "Fruit Basket" of Cyprus because it is near the foothills of the Troodos Mountains. In addition to being called Morphou in Greek, Güzelyurt was also a major copper mining center during its history and has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. Also under British rule, the town was connected by rail to Nicosia and Famagusta, contributing significantly to the transportation network. It’s certainly worth visiting to see the Archaeology and Nature Museum and the Church of St. Mamas, the patron saint of tax avoiders! Built-in the late 18th century, this church reveals a combination of Gothic and Byzantine architectural styles and contains an exquisitely beautiful glass chandelier. The museum situated in the ecclesiastical buildings adjacent to the church holds displays of historical Cypriot artifacts including some pieces of ornate gold jewellery.