Cyprus
and
Kyrenia
Historical interest abounds: three Crusader castles perch atop the mountain range overlooking the north coast, and the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Salamis extend for miles near Famagusta, on the east coast, 40 miles from Kyrenia.
The three major towns are Kyrenia, Famagusta and the capital, which is the divided city of Nicosia (or Lefkosa inTurkish). The island is divided by the ‘Green Line’ - the ceasefire line after the 1974 conflict - which runs through the centre of Lefkosa. Border restrictions are easing and it is now possible to easily cross from the Turkish to the Greek side of the island - although you may not take a hire car through.
The ancient town of Kyrenia is centred around a Venetian harbour which has been described as one of the most picturesque in the Mediterranean. Kyrenia is a bustling cosmopolitan town with a great selection of restaurants offering a variety of cuisine, including traditional Cypriot mezes, Italian, French, Indian and Chinese.
There is a wide variety of shops, both for day-to-day provisions and also for clothes, watches, leather and other goods. Tailor-made clothes are a particular speciality.
Every Wednesday there is a huge open air market in Kyrenia’s main shopping area which sells fruit and vegetables, oils, nuts, sweetmeats, household goods, clothes and shoes - a real traditional market.
The beaches are claimed to be the cleanest in the Mediterranean as there is no industrial discharge into the sea around the northern half of the island. The best beaches charge a modest entrance fee, but this includes sunbeds and parasols.
The Karpaz peninsula - or the panhandle - is totally unspoilt and offers deserted beaches and mile after mile of breathtaking scenery.
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