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Arab
Ahmet Mosque:
This mosque was constructed on the foundations
of a medieval church in 1845. There are said to
be tombstones from the 14th century under its
stone floor. |
Atatürk
Square and the Venetian Column:
Atatürk Square is an open area in the center
of the old walled city and is surrounded by buildings
of the British administration on the island. In
the center of the square is a twenty-foot column
originally erected by the Venetians upon which
once stood the Lion of St. Mark. After the Ottoman
conquest of Lefkosa, the column was removed only
to be put back in its place by the British. The
British, however, were unable to locate the Lion,
and so replaced it with a copper globe. |
Büyük
Hamam (Big Turkish Bath):
The inn is thought to have been built by
Muzaffer Pasha in 1572 and is typical of
inns built in Anatolia around the same time.
This example is a two story building around
a courtyard in which can be found a small
mosque and a foundation for absolutions.
Open during working hours Monday to Friday.
Closed at weekends and on public holidays. |
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Church
of St. Nicolas:
The church was originally built in the Byzantine
period (12th century) but was abed to in Lusignan
times. Interest in the building is derived from
its mixture of styles. Open during working hours
Monday to Friday. Closed at weekends and on public
holidays.
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Dervish
Pasha's Mansion:
Dervish Pasha was the first editor of a Turkish
Cypriot newspaper. His house, built in the mid
19th century, is typical of Turkish urban architecture. |
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Kyrenia
Gate:
This is the enterance to the walled city
from the Girne direction. The fortified
walls were built by the Venetians to keep
out the (eventually successful) Ottoman
invaders. Today roads, built by the British,
run through the gate.
Kumarcilar Ham (The
Gamblers' Inn):
This inn is a simpler version of the Büyük
Han but does not have a mosque in the courtyard.
Open during working hours Monday to Friday.
Closed at weekends and on public holidays.
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Lapidary
Museum:
In this old Venetian building, stones and other
fragments from destroyed medieval buildings have
been collected together to form this interesting
muesum. Open during working hours from Monday
to Friday, closed at weekends and public holidays. |
The
Bandabiilya (Covered Market):
Here you can find an interesting array of fresh
food produce and other items. There are butchers, coffee shop and Cypriot arts and crafts. Open from 8-5 . There are
also stalls selling anything from olive oil to
plastic toys. The market was opened by the British
colonial administration in 1938. Open during working
hours from Monday to Saturday, closed on Sundays
and public holidays.
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Selimiye
Mosque (St. Sofia Cathedral):
This is an outstanding example of Gothic
architecture officially consecrated in 1326
and contains all the hallmarks of the great
French cathedrals of the time. In 1570,
following the Ottoman conquest of city,
it was converted into a mosque. Open during
working hours from Monday to Friday, closed
at weekends and public holidays. |
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Sultan
Mahmoud II Library:
The library was founded in 1829 by Sultan Mahmoud
the second. The building is big, square and has
a large dome on top, and inside can be found rare
Turkish, Arabic and Persian texts. Open during
working hours from Monday to Saturday, closed
on Sundays and public holidays. Open from 8-5.
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Antiphonitis
Monastery:
This beautiful and remote
monastery built in the twelfth century is worth
visiting not only out of historical interest,
but also for its impressive forest location. The
church within the monastery is in particularly
good condition, although some of the Byzantine
murals have been removed or demaged. Please be
aware that a sturdy vehicle is needed on the road
to the monastery. |
Bellapais
Abbey:
The exquisite Gothic building in the beautiful
mountain village of Bellapais was built
by Augustinian monks in 1205 AD. and was
known as 'Abbey of Our Lady of the Mountain'.
The name Bellapais comes from the Greek
word Episkopia (meaning bishopric). The
Franks, unable to pronounce the word accurately
referred to the building as "Lapais" . In
time the Abbey came to be known as "Abbeye
de la Paix". |
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Buffavento
Castle:
At an altitude of 954 meters, Buffavento, which
means "wind defying", has an apt name. Along with
St. Hillarion and Kantara the castle was built
by the Byzantines to ward off Arab attacks. The
Lusignans, during their rule, extended and further
fortified the castle, but tended to use the castle
as a prison rather than a military stronghold.
The Venetians, finding they had little use for
the castle dismantled and abandoned it. Although
there is relatively little left of the castle
structure, a walk to the castle from the road
below is a rewarding experience giving amazing
views of the Girne mountain range to the east
and west, the sea to the north, and the central
plain to the south. |
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Girne
Castle:
This breathtaking castle sits at one end of
the picturesque Girne Harbour. The orginal
foundations were lain in the seventh century
A.D., although the castle was further extended
and fortified by both the Lusignans and the
Venetians. As a defensive structure Girne
Castle was highly effective in preventing
invasion of the town, that is. Until the Ottomans
invaded in 1571 when the town, not wishing
to suffer as Lefkosa and Gazimagusa had, surrendered. |
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Lambusa
and Lapta:
At the ruins of the ancient city of Lambusa remains
have been found proving inhabitance as far back
as Neolithic times. There is also evidence of
continued settelement during Phoenician and Prolemy
ascedance in Cyprus. But it seems that the town
developed and grew in terms of wealth and stature
during Roman and early Byzantine times. That is
at least partly suggested by the Byzantine name
lambusa, which means lighter shining.
During the seventh century A.D. repeated Arab
raids forced the inhabitants to abondon the town
and relocate further inland in Lapta. |
St.
Hillarion Castle:
This fairytale castle, said to be Walt Disney's
inspiration for the film "Fantasia", occupies
the mountain-top that overlooks Girne. Originnally
the site of the castle was the abode of
a hermit name Hillarion upon which a monastery
was later built in his honour. The building
was later fortified by the Byzantines and
castle existed in conjunction with Kantara
and Buffavento, along the northern coast,
with the aim of deterring attacks from seafaring
Arabs. |
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Ancient City of Alasia:
The partially excavated ruins of the city can
be found strewn across fields just outside the
town of Gazimagusa. Archeological findings at
Alasia show that there was settlement in the area
during the Middle Bronze Age.
Alasia's wealth and subsequent growth was based
on trade in Cypriot cooper which during the sixteenth
century B.C. was being exported to Anatolia, Syria
and Egypt. Alasia's heyday came in the fifteenth
century B.C. when Mycenaean trade in cooper with
both eastern and western lands was on the increase. |
Gazimagusa
City Walls:
The defensive walls surrounding Gazimagusa
were built by the Venetians primarily to
keep the Ottomans out of the city-something
which they managed to delay, but not prevent.
The walls are almost completely intact today
and vary in height from 15-17 meters and
are up 9 meters thick. The total circumference
of approximately 3.5 kilometers is fortified
with towers and bastions. |
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Lala
Mustafa Pasha Mosque (St. Nicolas Cathedral):
The construction of the cathedral began around 1300 A.D.
and was completed in 1336. It was used by the
Lusignans for the coronation of the Kings of Jerusalem
and was later used as a mosque by the Ottomans
who renamed it after the general who led the 1571
invasion of the city. |
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St.
Barnabas Monastery and Icon Museum:
The monastery was built close to the site
of St. Barnabas tomb. St. Barnabas was stoned
to death by the citizens of Salamis to whom
he attempted to preach the gospel, and his
tomb and monastery are of great religious
significance to the Greek Orthodox Church
and now houses a museum of icons which depict
the events which led to the establishment
of the independent Church of Cyprus. |
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Royal
Tombs:
These incredible structures built during the seventh
and eight centuries B.C. can be found a short
distance outside Gazimagusa and are the burial
grounds of the ancient Kings of Cyprus. The tombs
generally show influences of Assyrian and Agyptian
cultures. Some of them, however, were opened and
reused in Roman times. |
Salamis
Ruins:
According to Greek mythology, the city of
Salamis was founded by Teucer on his return
from Trojan wars, but it is perhaps more
likely that the city was established early
in the eleventh century B.C. after the abandonment
of the nearby city of Alasia. Salamis is
said to have been a highly developed, urban
centre blending the cultures of the Orient
and the Phoenicias while having its own
distinctively Cypriot character. By the
eighth century B.C. Salamis was Cyprus leading
city in terms of culture, wealth and size.
During Roman times a number of severe earthquakes
destroyed much of the city and repeated
Arab raids during the seventh century A.D.
resulted in its abandonment. |
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Sinan
Pasha Mosque(The Church of Saints Peer and Paul):
This church is said to have been built during
Gazimagusa's heyday from the profits of a single
business venture by the merchant Simone Nostrano.
Due to its conversion into a mosque by the Ottomans
it remains in very good condition and today houses
the city library. |
St.
Andrew's Monastery:
The monastery is dedicated to St. Andrew, the
protector of travellers who, it is told, landed
covered fresh water with healing properties. The
site has become a popular place for pilgrimages. |
Othello
Tower:
This structure was built by the Lusignans for
defense of the city and is said to be the setting
for Shakespeare's Othello. |
Palazzo
de Provveditorre:
Orginally the palace of the Lusignan kings of
Cyprus, the building later became the residence
of the Venetian military commander. |
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