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Founded by Ptolemy Philadelphus of Egypt in the 3rd
Century BC. Originally a fishing village Famagusta was
grown by the influx of refugees first from Salamis in
648 then by the Christian Refugees after the invasion
of the Holy Lands.(1291 AD.) It soon became one of the
most important and wealthy cities in the region. At
one time (early 14th Century) about 350 churches and
many trading posts were built within the area later
fortified with impressive defensive walls by the Venetians.
In 1372 The Genoese invaded the island and the City
sacking most of its wealth.
In 1571 under the long siege by the Ottoman Turks many
buildings were damaged by the cannon balls. The British
used the stones to build the Suez Canal and the Quays
of Port Said. In 1974 the City was again under siege
by Greek Cypriots, with 11,000 Turkish Cypriots defending
the City until it was ended by the arrival of the Turkish
Troops. The important Historical monuments worth visiting
are: The Walls and Bastions, Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque
(St. Nicholas Cathedral) Othello Tower, Remains of Countless
Mediaeval Churches. Salamis, Kings Tombs, St. Barnabas
Monastery, The Ruins of Enkomi. The visitor will enjoy
many fine beaches stretching miles along the coast of
ancient Salamis.
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| Girne |
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Kyrenia is founded in the 10th Century BC. , by Achaean
settlers and was for many Centuries one of the 10 Kingdoms
of Cyprus. In the 7th Century it was fortified by Byzantine
who built the original Castle later expanded first by
the Lusignans and then by the Venetians. Under Ottomans
the town had remained a minor port. The British built
a harbour and a Quay. Under British Empire the Town
was an en-route resting place for officers, captains
and their families for its picturesque situation, its
beautiful harbour and leisurely and romantic atmosphere.
The Town still retains its character with many restaurants
and bars by the Harbour and small hotels spreading east
and west of the town, along the coastline which raises
to form an impressive backdrop with the mountains behind.
The region now an attractive holiday resort boasts many
historic sites worth visiting. Among these the Harbour
Castle and the Shipwreck Museum, The St. Hilarion Castle,
The Bellapais Abbey, the Folk Art and the Icon Museums
are the most important.
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| Guzelyurt |
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Situated in the Northwest of Cyprus, Guzelyurt is one
of the richest agricultural areas in Cyprus, famous
particulary for the Citrus (Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit)
and strawberries from the area which thrive in its fertile
red soil. Guzelyurt is an ideal picnic spot for those
who want to escape from the noise and rush of the city
life and spend the day in the peace and quiet of natural
surroundings. In spring the light breezes scatter the
white orange blossoms from which you can smell the fragrance
around the town, while in other seasons the golden oranges
and lemons shine on the trees. A large proportion of
the citrus fruits are exported, and the remaining are
made into fruit juice and canned for local consumption
and export. Visit the former Monastery of St. Mamas,
originally Byzantine with Gothic establishments. Some
of the carvings date from c. 1500. The Ruins of Soli
(600 BC) and the Palace of Vouni, from the 5th century
BC, are a must for archeologists or those interested
in antiquities.
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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.
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| Lefkoža |
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The foundation of the city dates back around 2250 years
and it is now the capital of the island with a population
of around 110000 and was developed mainly during the
Lusignan period. The city is divided into Turkish and
Greek sectors by a boundary known as the green line
which runs in an east - west direction. The ramparts,
which were built by the Venetians in 1570 to protect
the city from the Turks, are thick and high. They encircle
the city and are 4.5km in length with 11 towers. Inside
the city walls are numerous remains of the Middle Ages
and later periods. Outside the walls are no remains
whatsoever of the Middle Ages since materials from building
outside of the walls have been used in the restoration
of the ramparts at various times.
Inside the city walls are beautiful examples of Gothic
and Ottoman architectural forms, among which are the
Selimiye Mosque (St.Sophia Cathedral), Bedesten (covered
bazaar - St. George Cathedral), a Lapidary Museum set
in an old Venetian house and an obelisk, while belonging
to the Ottoman period are the Arabahmet Mosque, the
Buyuk Han (Grand Inn), the Kumarcilar Han (Gamblers'
Inn), the Sultan Mahmut II Library, and countless other
monuments. Like the other towns of Cyprus which remained
under Ottoman rule for more than 300 years, Lefkosa
too is typically Turkish in character.
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