Beautiful natural scenery, unspoilt beaches, hospitable friendly people and a history that spans ver 9,000 years awaits to welcome you... The island of Cyprus is located in the eastern Mediterranean with its nearest neighbour being Turkey, approximately 40 miles away to the north. The mountain range that runs almost the entire length of the north coast, loses height as it tapers away into the narrow finger of land that is called the Karpaz Peninsula. Along the peninsula are to be found the very best beaches in Cyprus, with deserted bays of crystal clear water sand white sandy beaches stretching away far into the distance.

The castle is thought to have been constructed to protect the town against the Arab raids in the 7th century. Like the Kantara Castle, it played an important role in the Lusignan period. In this period the castle underwent a lot of changes due to restoration work. The restoration work was interrupted briefly in 1373, because of the Genoese siege but went on afterwards. When the castle was first built, the fortifications were constructed with the armoured knights and archers in mind. When the Genoese took control of the castle in 1489, they reconstructed the fortifications taking the Ottoman artillery into consideration. They added the northwestern and the southeastern towers as an extra precaution. In spite of all this, however, following the fall of Nicosia in 1570, they surrendered the castle to the Ottomans without putting up any resistance. The entrance to the castle is via a bridge built over a wide ditch. This ditch was full of water until the 14 hundreds. The Lusignan insignia of three lions on the vault of the inner gate has been brought here from another building. Inside the castle there is a Byzantian church (St. George) thought to have been constructed in the 11 hundreds. The tomb of the Ottoman Admiral, Sadik Pasha the Algerian, who was killed during the conquest of Cyprus by the Ottomans in 1570 is also in this castle. The other sections of the castle are: the Venetian Towers of the Northwest, Southwest, and Southeast; the guards’ room, the big hall, various dungeons, and rooms used as depots belonging to the Lusignan period; a tower belonging to the Byzantine period; the Venetian defence platform; a cistern; an arsenal, and a cannon parapet belonging to the Venetian period; and the shipwreck museum. The Department of Antiquities created the atmosphere of an open-air museum in the castle by personifying different historical characters and by using site-animation.

General Information:

Hotel Accomodation:
The latest check-out time in a day is 12 o’clock. Customer’s checking out late will be charged
50% extra-up to 6 pm, and will be charged for an additional day thereafter.

Beaches:
From May till June water temperature is about 24C and all the beaches have restaurants, cafeterias, bars and etc. around. Water-ski, bananas, parachutes are all in the offer.

Driving:
In North Cyprus cars drive on the left side, Traffic signs are all international. Roads are safe and in a good condition.

Shopping:
In TRNC you can find European, homemade and handmade products.

Geography:
Cyprus is 9, 251 km² and is a third biggest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is at north-eastern end of the East Mediterranean basin at a distance of 380 km north of Egypt; 105 km west of Syria and 75 km south of Turkey, 800 km to the west is a Greek mainland, Greek islands Rhodes and Karpathos, 380 km to the west. The Latitude of Cyprus is 34º23’- 35º34’ north and its longitude 32º16’- 34º37’ east.
The Landscape for life on the island is dominated by the mountains and central plain they encompass, the Mesaoria. The Troodos Mountains cover a huge part of the southern and western portions of the island.

Culture:
In the social life traditions appear in different kinds of celebrations such as weddings, festivals, birthdays, etc. Warm hospitality is a characteristic of Turkish Cypriots. Tradition respects older people. First on offer is Turkish coffee and after that sweetened fruit juice.

Folk Dancing:
Whenever there is a celebration in North Cyprus, you can see Cypriot men Folk Dancing, from weddings to coffee shops. Women join in the dancing at weddings. The dance where men and women perform together is called ‘Kartchilamos’. The ‘Syrtos’ is thought to be the oldest dance in Cyprus in which dancers stand in the circle and hold each other’s wrists.

Turkish- Cypriot Handicraft:
The coloured cotton kerchief had been useful for women in the past, decorated by flowers and different colours. In the making process women started from the corners and worked toward the middle. Today the coloured cotton kerchief is called a scarf.
Lefcara Lace work:
This is one of the most famous handicrafts in North Cyprus. It was made in Lefkara village, therefore it has such name. There are two different Lefkara groups. One of them is made in linen and another one is made by needle. Both practices use pillows in the process. In the past Lefkara lace work was used by locals but nowadays lacework is exported.

North Cyprus Cuisine:
North Cyprus cuisine had been influenced by different cultures. Therefore there’s no particular Cypriot meal. However Cypriots use original recipes and add their own way of cooking with different spices and call it Cypriot food. Molohia is originally an Arabic dish, but Cypriots cook in their own way and it had become traditional Cypriot dish. The names of some dishes can vary from one region to another. North Cyprus is one of destinations where people can try different cuisines. Various vegetable meals, grilles meals, savories, fish, soups, Turkish pizza, there are just a few meals from the Turkish cuisine. There is a variety of starters, dessert and cakes that can be eaten before or after the main courses. Apart from the local cuisine there are international cuisines and restaurants such as Chinese, Italian, French or Indian.

Agriculture:
North Cyprus had been an agricultural country in 1980’s. The main farming products are citrus fruits and potatoes. Its share in GDP is decreasing from year to year. Even though, still it is very important for economy as a whole and for export operations, the ratio is about 50%.

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
%Share of GDP 9,1 7,9 9,7 10,9 10,6 
%Share of EAP 17,8 17,1 16,5 15,7 14,5
%Share of Exports 38,4 31,7 35,5 41,6 41,1

The export of the agricultural product accounted for 41,6% of the total domestic export and 15,7% of the working population.

Education:
Education is one of the fastest growing sectors in North Cyprus with five universities country wide. Predicting approximately 40, 000 students in the future. Those students mainly come from Turkey and Middle Eastern countries. The Economy of Northern Cyprus is dominated by the services sector including education. The standards of teaching and facilities within the grounds of the universities are improving as the years go on. This is being recognized by foreign students wishing to further their education within the TRNC’s premises.

Import:
Firms wishing to engage in import business must register with the Chamber of Commerce or with the Chamber of Industry.
Necessary import permission may be obtained on application from the Department of Trade.
Highly developed local banking services are available to meet the needs of both importers and exporters.
Necessary measures have been taken to further simplify import procedures and to minimize any bureaucratic impediments in this area.

Famagusta
Lala Mustafa Pasa Mosque:
LalaMustafaPasa the building which was constructed between the years 1298-1312 in the Lusignan period is one of the most beautiful Gothic structures of the Meditteranean region. The Lusignan kings would be inaugurated as the King of Cyprus at the St. Sophia Cathedral in Nicosia first, and following this they would be crowned as the King of Jerusalem at the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Famagusta.
In the 1571 The Cathedral was turned to the mosque. The western front of the building had been influenced by the architecture of The Reims Cathedral. The 16th century Venetian gallery in the courtyard is today used as a reservoir for ablutions. A Venetian insignia is located above the circular windows at the entrance.

Othello Castle:
The Castle was built in 14th century, by the Lusignans. İt had been used as one of the most important entrances to Famagusta. St. Mark lion in relief lies just above the entrance, under which the name of captain ‘Nicolo Foscari’ -the captain who restored the tower- and the year ‘1492’ is inscribed.
The Castles includes towers and corridors leading to artillery batteries. In the castle yard there are cannons, iron and stone cannon balls, which belong to the Spaniards and Otomans. The Othello Castle takes a part of Shakespeare’s Othello tragedy.

Salamis:
The history of Salamis goes back to the 1 1| h Century BC. When the ‘dark ages’ came to an end in the Mediterranean World, Salamis appeared as a very important trading centre.
Following the unexpected death of Alexander Great near Babylon in 323 BC., his generals divided the lands, of the Hellenistic Empire and Cyprus fell to the share of Ptolemy who established his kingdom in Egypt. During the Hellenistic and Roman Era Salamis received its share of wealth of the period and once again became an important trading centre. Most of the ruins unearthed in excavations date from this recent history of the city.

Nicosia:
Nicosia (Lefkose) is a capital city of Northern Cyprus. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the northern Turkish and southern Greek portions divided by a “Green Line”; a demilitarized zone maintained by UN organization.
The city had been known as a Ledra or Ledrae. This name was changed to Lefkosion after a while. The city served as a seat of the kings of Cyprus from 1192.
Cyprus was taken over by Turks in 1571.
During the Ottomans era the city saw prosperity which is still visible by Gothic architecture of Selemiye Mosque, the Bedestan, the Arab Ahmat Mosque, and the Great Han Inn to name just a few.
Nowadays the capital is divided as a result of Turkish invasion, caused by rebellion against the government of Cyprus.

Selemiye Mosque:
The Cathedral is the largest and finest temple, and the most important Gothic structure in Cyprus. The construction was started by the Latin Archbishop Eustorge de Montaigu in 1208. It was consecrated in 1326 and opened to religious service. As it was the most important church of Cyprus the coronation ceremonies of the Lusignan kings were held here. The cathedral was restored by the Genoese in 1373, and by the Mamluks in 1426; it was damaged in several earthquakes. The eastern section of the cathedral was destroyed in eathquakes in 1491 and as it was being restored by the Venetians, the grave of an old Lusignan king (Hugh II) was uncovered. The corpse was well preserved with a crown on its head, and items made of gold and documents on it. The cathedral was constructed by French architects and craftsmen and it is a beautiful eaxample of medieval French architecture. The cathedral has a monumental entrance. The carved windows above the entrance are examples of unequalled Gothic art. The Ottomans have built minarets over the two unfinished belfries on either side of the entrance. The inside of the cathedral comprises three aisles, six side sections and little chapels. The chapel to the north was dedicated to St. Nicholas, the ones to the south to virgin Mary and St. Thomas Aquinas. The part of the mosque reserved for women used to be the treasury. Many Lusignan nobilities and kings are buried inside the cathedral. The marble grave stones of these graves still constitute part of the floor tiles. The inscriptions and drawings on these have been well preserved since they are covered with rush mats, and people are not allowed in with their shoes on.
The National Struggle Museum:
Is situated in Mucahitler Sitesi near to the Kyrenia Gate, this museum gives you idea about a Tukish Cypriot people struggle for independence. Weapons used during between 1962- 1974 period and those captured from the Greeks can be seen there.
Guzelyurt(Morphou):
Güzelyurt is located in the Northwest sector of the Cyprus island. This region is known as having one of the richest agricultural areas in Northern Cyprus . The reason for this richness is said to be its fertile read soil. From here Northern Cyprus produces oranges, lemons, grapefruits, and strawberries for consumption and export. Güzelyurt has not become as developed as other cities in the TRNC and thus is a great place for those who want to get away from it all. There are many places around Güzelyurt that serve as perfect camping or picnic spots. Here you can enjoy a traditional Sunday of cooking shish kebabs on a grill and passing the day away by the sea, under a tree, or why not both. If you visit in spring you may see white orange blossoms floating through the air and giving the area a lovely scent of orange.
Soli:
Soli is an antique city with beautiful mosaics and theatre. The famous statue of Aphrodite, the Greek Godess of Love, was discovered there. Soli was found in the 6th century BC. It was at its most importance during the Roman occupation of Cyprus, and was destroyed during the Arab invasion in the 7th Century. A Swedish archaeological expedition excavated the Roman amphitheatre in 1930 and an early Christian Basilica and mosaics came to light during the later work by Canadian teams. Much work remains to be done over the huge site.

Mamas Monastery:

The monastic buildings were also erected in 18th century but a number of capitals and columns are from the former church.
St. Mamas church is open to visitors during office hours.

Kyrenia(Girne):
Kyrenia is situated on the north coast of Cyprus. With its 6000 year long history, unique remains of countless civilizations, miles of natural beaches, crystal- clear sea, and mild climate is an idyllic Mediterranean town. Bounded by the Besparmak mountain range, it offers very beautiful scenery. Kyrenia charming harbor is full of yachts and fishing boats. With the backdrop of the mountains behind and the sparkling sea in front, the harbor has an intoxicatingly serene atmosphere.
Kyrenia is an easy place to while away any time of the day, exploring shops, markets and local cafes.

Bellapais:
The beauty of Bellapais is legendary. Set in the mountains, just ten minutes above Kyrenia, a visit to this 14th century Lusignan Abbey with its fabulous location and pervasive atmosphere of calm is a must.
The Abbey comprises of a church, refectory, dormitory and storage rooms grouped around an inner courtyard. It was originally occupied by French brotherhood, the Order of Premontre, and was known to them as the ‘Abbaye de la Paix’.
The Augustinian monk, who came from Jerusalem, had found Bellapais Monastery in 1198. The Lusignan King Hugh III built much of what can be seen today between 1267 and 1284, whilst the courtyard pavilions and magnificent Gothic refectory were added by his success King Hugh IV by 1359.

St. Hilarion Castle

The best preserved of North Cyprus' three castles, this fairytale castle (said by some to have inspired the one in Disneyland) is perched on a steep hilltop with commanding views over Kyrenia and the coast.
The castle is named not after St. Hilarion the Great, the founder of monasticism in Palestine who died near Paphos about A.D. 371, but after a later saint, of whom little is known. He is counted among the three hundred saints who according to local tradition, sought refuge in Cyprus when the Arabs overran the Holy Land. His relics were preserved in the castle and "kept right worshipfully" according to an English visitor in the 14th century. It may be presumed that he retired to this hill-top to live the life of a hermit and that as the hermitage of St. Neophytos near Paphos, a monastery was established to shelter those who should follow his example, as well pilgrims to his tomb. The first certain reference to the castle dates from 1191, when Richard the Lionheart successfully besieged it after conquering Kyrenia.

Kyrenia Castle
The original castle was thought to have been built around the 7th century by the Byzantines as a defense against the invading Arabs and the Lusignan Kings used the castle as a place of refuge and shelter during times of conflict and peace. A large portion of the present site was built by King John D’Ibelin between 1208 and 1211.
The castles moat which was used for protection against attack from the landward side, was once filled with water and used as an inner harbor that serviced the castle until 14th century.
Kyrenia has led a varied and colorful life, changing owners and coming under attack several times during her long and illustrious history. The Venetians first lay siege to the castle in 1373 in which she suffered heavy damage. In 1491, they captured and occupied Kyrenia and began structural improvements of the castle in accordance with their own defensive plans at the time.
Kyrenia castle remained in Venetian hands for the next seventy odd years until 1570 when it was surrendered to the Ottomans without resistance. The Ottomans brought a stability to the castle which lasted three centuries until the 1800’s when British Colonialism took over the island. During this time Kyrenia castle was used as a prison and police school and from 1963 to 1967 it was used as a military headquarters by the Greek National Guard.
Kyrenia castle also contains a 16th century tomb belonging to the Algerian Turkish Admiral Sadik Pasha who took over Kyrenia in 1570 as well as The Church of St. George, which dates from the Early Byzantine period. The church was original built outside the castle walls but when the Venetians began their re-fortification of the castle they extended the wall to encompass the church, protecting it from attack.

Birds:
There are over 250 species of birds to be seen from spring to autumn in North Cyprus while migrating from Europe to Egypt. Some of the birds are just passing through, but others will stay even in the winter time. The best bird watching places are Famagusta Glapsides Beach region, Guzelyurt gulf, Mehmetcik village, Karpaz peninsula and Kanlikoy barrage.

Turtles:
Caretta Caretta and Clelonia Mydos turtles come to North Cyprus coastline and lay their eggs between June and September. If you would like to watch and protect turtles you should contact the Turtle conservation project group.

Flora:
There is a variety of wild flowers all around the island. You may smell orange, lemon, and grapefruit flowers in North Cyprus. There are citrus gardens olives and carob pine trees.

Camping:
There are suitable places for camping in Kyrenia and Famagusta areas. Shower, toilets, restaurants and bars facilities are all available. There are not many strict rules while camping, but picnic fires are forbidden in the forests.

Diving:
Flora and Fauna in the Mediterranean Sea is very rich. There are about 200 different species of fish to be seen, ancient pottery and even an aero plane wreck.

Horse Riding
Çatalköy Riding Club
Situated 45 minutes east of Kyrenia, the riding club in Çatalköy provides fully guided riding holiday. The rides are led by professional team and taken mainly in the Kyrenia Mountain range. One can learn how to ride a horse and walk with horse. Skirting the forest tracks is supplied with picnic activities and reaching historical sights. The riding holiday includes comfortable accommodation and organized catering during rides. Airport pick-up can be arranged.
Tunac Riding Club
It is situated in Karaoglanoglu - Kyrenia. With 42 horses it gives certificated courses to both locals and tourists. During these courses, one can learn how to ride a horse (padoc) and to wander around with horse. The club also arranges guided tours with picnic. To wear a helmet is obligatory during the courses.

Caving
There are several amazing caves in Northern Cyprus. One known as the Hot Cave, north of Agirdag village on the southern slopes of the Kyrenia mountains, is a partially collapsed natural formation. Warm air emanates from the cave, hence the name. Do not attempt to enter the cave. Another natural cave in the Kyrenia area is Güvercinlik cave near Alevkayasi. Access to the cave involves some fairly difficult climbing, therefore proceed with caution. There are three more caves in the Famagusta area. Probably the most beautiful is Incirli cave, a hundered metre long passage which contains an amazing collection of stalatites and stalagmites.Gastro cave between Kuruova and Kaleburnu villages is a man-made cave containing three rooms. Finally, there is the ominously named Execution Cave, near Kaleburnu. There is said to be a golden earthenware jar hidden somewhere in the cave.

Go- Karting
The ZET International Karting Circuit, which exceeds the highest European standards and has one of the best racing surfaces in the region, has become a frequent stop for the fans of the sport since its opening on the 20th of May 2000.
This remarkable structure which is un-matched even in Europe and is expected to contribute immensely to the Karting sport, provides drivers with 5 different racing distances, namely 300, 600, 900, 1100 and 1200 meters.

The Bellapais Monastery is a remarkable piece of religious architecture located in the Kyrenia region of Northern Cyprus, and is a wonderful place to visit if you want to combine sightseeing with some fascinating historical exploration. Located in the majestic Five Finger Mountains in Kyrenia, this monastery is a fine example of Gothic architecture, and is thought to have been started between 1198 and 1205, with more sections being added after 1267 and after 1324.

The Bellapais Monastery is also known as the Peace Monastery, and this is because it takes its name from "Abbaye de la paix", which in French means the Peace Monastery. Visitors to this fascinating attraction will find plenty to explore, and can spend time taking in the Gothic art as well as exploring the monastery and its surroundings. You will find that the church that is located next to the courtyard is in good condition, and is a great place to explore.

One of the most important architectural works of the ottoman period the Buyuk Han (The Great Inn) is located in the traditional market centre within the City Walls . The Han, which was built to provide accommodation for travellers from Anatolia and other parts of Cyprus was originally named "Alanyalilar's Han". Later when a new inn, the Kumarcılar Han (Gamblers' Inn) was built nearby in the 17th century, as a result of the comparison made by the public between the two Hans, it was referred to as the Buyuk Han (Big Inn or Great Inn). The Han is similar to all the other Hans which can be found in the city centres of various Anatolian cities, although the Buyuk Han is unusual in having two entrances. It is worth noting, however, that there is a specially strong resemblance between the Buyuk Han and the Koza (Cacoon) Han in Bursa, Turkey which was built around 1490.
Beside the locals, Buyuk Han plays host to many tourists in Nicosia. Not only the cafes. but also various shops serve the visitors. Shawls, traditional handicrafts, paintings, pottery and carvings are among the many things on offer.
There are many social activities at Buyuk Han, either in daytime or at night. You can sip home made wine while listening to live music, you can listen to classical music within a concert in an authentic atmosphere, or even participate in a traditional wedding ceremony. There are folklore dance shows, piano recitals, drama shows and many others within the walls. Cocktail Prolanges can organize until 500 pax in Büyükhan.

Right at the heart of the old walled city of Famagusta, North Cyprus, lies the Lala Mustafa Pasa Mosque, the former St Nicolas Cathedral. From the 14th century, this imposing building has dominated the square at the heart of the old walled city of Famagusta, Its twin towers can be seen from all over the city, one tower topped with a minaret on one side. Both spires suffered during the Turkish bombardment in the siege of 1571, and from subsequent earthquakes, but they still stand proud on the city skyline today.

The Venetian Palace, built by the Venetians and then destroyed by the Ottoman invaders in 1571, what was left of the palace was used as a prison to house those that opposed the invaders. One of the most famous prisoners kept here was Namik Kemal, the national poet of the Ottoman Empire. He had been exiled to Cyprus by the Sultan and was imprisoned in the converted palace for three years between 1873 and 1876. 

The city of Salamis was founded during the migrations that started towards the end of the Bronze Age by the tribes that came from Anatolia, and Akas who came from Greece and joined them in Kilikya. .The earthquakes of 232 and 342 A.D., however, cause great destruction to the city once again. The Byzantine emperor Konstantinus rebuilds the city on a smaller scale and names it after himself. The city replaces Paphos as the capital of Cyprus. The people of Salamis abandon the city in 647 A.D. because of the raids of Arabs and earhquakes and settle in the area now known as Famagusta. Architectural Remains The city-walls and the harbours In addition to the walls to the West, North and South of the city, a second wall has been discovered surrounding the inner city. These walls are thought to have been built in the 7th century A.D. for protection against the Arab raids. To the South-east of the city lies the oldest harbour of Salamis. The North and South of this harbour was protected by man-made breakwaters. The second harbour used in the late Roman period, on the other hand is to the North of the city. Apart from these two, a third harbour used by Demetius is also mentioned in some sources.