Kyrenia (Girne) NORTH CYPRUS
Historians disagree about how old exactly Girne is, but it goes back to at least 10th Century BC and is one of the nine kingdoms of Cyprus. Its great attraction for visitors lies not only in the Castle and enchanting harbour and ancient city itself, but also in the old villages, castles and monasteries which are to be found in the neighbourhood. Its scenic setting is unmatched throughout the length and breadth of the island. With Kyrenia itself, you can find a variety of cafes, discos, bars, restaurants and casinos.
Kyrenia Castle
Nobody has yet been able to establish the exact date of the construction of the castle. After excavations of the site, archaeologists have concluded that the original castle was build in the 9th Century AD by the Byzantines to defend Girne against Arab raids. Later, the Lusignans made further additions and later the castle was fortified further by the Venetians. An interesting fact about the castle is that in all its history the castle was never taken by assault.
Shipwreck Museum
Opened in 1976, the Shipwreck Museum is housed within Kyrenia Castle itself. You can find an interesting exhibit of the remains of a 4th Century ship salvaged off the coast of Girne. Until recently, it was the oldest shipwreck ever raised from the seabed. Amongst the exhibits are items of her cargo including displays of numerous amphora which contained almonds and some very interesting grain mills used also as ballast.
Ethnographic Museum
Typical Cypriot house of the 18th Century. The house was two storied and shows us how people lived in those days.
Hz. Omer Tekke
Just 6 Km east of Girne on the coast you can find an 8th Century mausoleum containing the tomb of one of the seven matyrs of Islam.
St. Hilarion Castle
St Hilarion Castle is named after a 8th Century AD Holy Man who lived his days in a cave at this site and was later buried here. In the 10th Century a church was founded on his grave and later a monastery was built around it. The Byzantine rulers used the site as part of an early warning system they established on the Five Finger Mountain Range. The Lusignans converted the site into a castle with military and residential purposes and built a Royal Palace in between the two hill tops. The advent of gunpowder and cannon brought the castles usefulness to end and it began to be dismantled.
Buffavento
At a height of 954 metres, Buffavento Castle perches above the village of Catalköy. It is the highest of the three castles on the Five Finger Mountain Range, and the most difficult to reach, least explored and most destroyed. It was built in the 10th Century during the Byzantine period and used in the middle ages by Venetians as a prison, escape and hideaway castle. It was one of the early warning system castles.
Bellapais Abbey
The abbey was founded as a Monastery by the Augustinian order in the reign of Hugh (1324-1358). It is a charming site built on one of the spurs of the Five Finger Mountain Range. It was called the Abbey de la Païx (the Abbey of Peace), and the Abbé Blanche, because of the white habits worn by the monks. It is surrounded by foliage on all sides and commands spectacular views over land and sea. What remains of the abbey consists of an almost intact refectory, an unusual pulpit, gracefully vaulted roofs, and part of the chapter house. The life of the abbey ended in the late 16th Century.
