On the return from Karpaz to Famagusta you
pass the village Yeni Iskele. The Greek name of the village is
Trikomo. The name Yeni Iskele is a reminder of the relocation
of Turkcypriots from the Turkish district Iskele in the city
of Larnaca on the island’s south coast. The Turkcypriots who
lived there before had to go away after the war. They moved in
1975 to Trikomo, which was renamed to Yeni (new) Iskele. At
the center of the village there’s the 15th century church of
St. Jacob (Avios Iakovos). There’s an odd coincidence in the
fact that the village was the birthplace of the EOKA-colonel
George Grivas. He was a leading spokesman of Cyprus reunion
with Greece. Grivas died six months before the war in 1974.
APHENDRIKA
A castle belonging to the town, rock tombs, a temple, and
a harbour which is now full have been found as a result of
excavations carried out in the region. The town was one of the
six important towns of Cyprus in the 2nd century B.C.. There
are three churches close to Aphendrika: Saint Georgios, Panaya
Chrysiotissa and Panaya Asomatos. Saint Georgios is a
single-domed church with a two-part apsis built in the 10th
century. Panaya Chrysiotissa was constructed in the 6th
century. It was renewed at the end of the 10th century as it
had been destroyed as a result of Arab raids. The wooden
ceiling was replaced with a tunnel-vaulted one. The church was
destroyed once again during the middle ages and was
reconstructed for the last time in the 16th century. The one
in the best condition of these three churches is the Panaya
Asomatos church built in the 6th century. This church too was
reconstructed in the 10th century as it was destroyed during
the Arab raids.
ICON MUSEUM OF
ISKELE
The main church of the village of Trikomo
was built in XII. century on a single platform and a single
dome, the side walls have indented arches. This type of
Cypriot church can be seen from XII. century onwards. A
northern vault and platform was added to the building in XV.
Century, the additions were added at the later date. The
church was completely resorted in 1804. The modern bell-tower
with engraved marble panels situated in the north-east corner,
was most probably taken from ab original iconanststen
banister. Most of the XII. century wall paintings are
presently being preserved, the paintings were restored in
1966, the upper parts of the vaults were replastered, the
indents of the southern wall displaying paintings from XII.
century were discovered in November 1967. After the
restoration by there TRNC Department of Antiquities and
Museums, the church was opened after "World Museum Day" an
23rd May 1991 under the tittle of Icon Museum of Iskele.
THE
APOSTOLOS ANDREAS MONASTERY
The monastery, situated
on the point known as the Cape of Saint Andrea, is dedicated
to Saint Andrew (Apostle Andreas). Information about the saint
whom the monastery has been named after comes from the holy
books. As he was the first person to be called for induction
to priesthood by Christ, his title was "O Protoklitos"
meaning, "the one first called". The room under the modern
church in which there are wells containing drinking water is
thought to have been a chapel belonging to the old monastery
buildings. On the bust in the courtyard of the monastery the
monastery is stated to have been built by Pope Ionnis
Oicoromus. Both Turks and Greeks consider the monastery a holy
place; it is visited by many people for votive prayers. The
contents of the monastery are also noteworthy.
THE AYA TRIAS BASILICA
The
Basilica dates back to the 6th century A.D. Probably because
it was destroyed in mid-7th century, a small church and some
annexes were added to its southern flank. As these buildings
were destroyed in the ninth and tenth centuries A.D., this
settlement was not used any more. The basilica has three
sections: to the west is the exterior, atrium; to the
southeast are the annexes and the baptistery. The floor is
covered with mosaics with motifs of geometric shapes, leaves
and crosses. It is recorded in the inscription on the mosaics
that they were made by Heraclos, one of the assistants of the
priest.
THE AYIOS
PHILON CHURCH
It has been constructed on ruins
dating from the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Philon is the
saint who converted the people of Karpaz to Christianity in
the 4th century. The church comprises a three-part apsis and a
courtyard surrounded with columns. There are colourful mosaics
on the floor. A domed church was built in the 12th century on
the ruins of the old building destroyed by the Arab pirates.
It also has a cistern and a baptising room. The region it is
in, is the vicinity of the town of Karpasia in the Phoenician
period.
THE KANTARA CASTLE
The easternmost of
the three castles on the Kyrenia mountains, the Kantara
castle, is about 700 metres above sea level and is well
positioned to control the entrance to the Karpaz peninsula and
The Mesaria plain. Although it is thought to have been
constructed by the Byzantines following the Arab raids on the
island like the other two castles, St. Hilarion and
Buffavento, the written sources only make a mention of the
castle in the year 1191, when Richard Lion-Heart captured the
island. When the impostor king of Cyprus Isac Comnen is
defeated by the former Palestine King, Guy de Lusignan, who
submits to Richard Lion-Heart, he takes refuge in this castle.
He gets caught while trying to escape in the Karpaz region. In
the Lusignan and Venetian periods frequent mention of the
castle is made. The castle is involved in many battles in this
period. Although the Genoese conquer Nicosia and Famagusta in
1373, the castle stays in the hands of the supporters of the
King of Cyprus, Peter I. It is known that, when the king’s
brother, Prince John, escapes from captivity in the hands of
the Genoese, he takes refuge in the castle. The castle is
surrounded with walls by King James in 1391. After the
Venetians gain control of the island, like other castles away
from the sea, this castle too loses its importance. The castle
has sections like a defence line, dormitories, a cistern,
vaulted rooms, and a signal tower.
THE
APOSTOLOS ANDREAS MONASTERY
THE AYA TRIAS BASILICA
THE AYIOS
PHILON CHURCH
THE KANTARA CASTLE