The ancient city of Salamis was founded by Tefkros in the Bronze Age located to the north of Famagusta (Gazimagusa). The earliest findings at the ancient city date back to 11th century BC. The Salamis Ancient City was discovered with excavations carried out between 1952-1974 and is one of North Cyprus' most important sites to visit. The ruins of the gymnasium, the baths, the forum and the agora which one...
The Selimiye Mosque is one of the Cyprus' most important gothic styled buildings. The construction of the building begun in 1208 and was eventually completed and opened to worship in 1326. The Lusignan Kings were crowned in this building. Later on in the Ottoman Era, the Cathedral was converted into a mosque with the addition of two...
The walled city of Nicosia (Lefkoşa) has a well founded history which leads way back into the Lusignan era. Especially the bay windowed single and double storied houses with their flat arched entrances and wooden eaves which are set up in the narrow streets of both the Arabahmet and the Samanbahce neighbourhoods attract a lot of interest from tourists from all over the...
The Kantara Castle is the easternmost of the castles situated on the Kyrenia (Girne) Mountains, at a height of 700 meters from sea level; the castle has a strategic advantage, as it overlooks the northern shoreline, the Mesarya Plains and the Karpaz Peninsula. The castle was believed to have been built by the Byzantines, however it was first mentioned in written records, when Richard the Lionheart...
The main entrance to the Othello Castle which was built in the 14th Century by the Lusignans bears the embossment of the St. Mark Lion above it. The Castle became to be known by its current name in the English Colonial era. Part of Shakespeare's famous play took part in one of Cyprus' port towns, and therefore the castle was named after the hero of the...
The cell’s door opens into the palaces courtyard. The rectangular shaped room is on the top floor.Namik Kemal was exciled to North Cyprus on 9 April 1873 after his play “Vatan yahut Silistre” (fatherland) was performed at “Istanbul Gedik Pasha Theatre” on 5 April 1873. In the beginning, he was locked up in the dungeon on the ground floor but later he was granted permission to live upstairs by...
The building which was built in the Lusignan era between 1298-1312 is one of the most flamboyant examples of gothic architecture throughout the whole Mediterranean. The Lusignan Kings were initially crowned as the Kings of Cyprus in St. Sophia's Cathedral (Lefkosa) and then they were crowned in St. Nicholas Cathedral (Gazimagusa) as the Kings of Jerusalem. The building was converted into a mosque and...
The Kyrenia (Girne) Gate is one of the three gates built into the fortifications built around Nicosia (Lefkoşa) in order to protect the city in the Venetian Era and it is located to the north of the City Walls. It was named 'The Del Proveditore Gate' after the famous Venetian architect Proveditore Francesco Barbaro. The Gate was renovated by the Ottomans in 1821 and a domed room was added on top. The...
The Kyrenia (Girne) Castle which is one of Cyprus' most astonishing historical buildings stands proudly as Girne's symbol. The almost square planned structure has undergone many changes through the years up until it reached its present view. The ship believed to have been made in 3rd century BC, which is being exhibited at the Castle's Museum is thought to be the oldest commercial ship ever to be...
St. Hilarion Castle is one of the three castles set upon the Beşparmak (Five Finger) Mountains and is located towards the west of the mountains at a height of 700 meters from sea level. In the 10th century a monastery and a church were added to the castle, which was named after a saint who migrated from Jerusalem to Cyprus and spent the last years of his life praying there. It is said that, the famous...