Kyrenia - a piece of earth from heaven

Kyrenia - famous historic town of Cyprus.
The most beautiful holiday paradise in the island is GIRNE, according to a tale it
was established by Achaeans coming from Peloponnese in the 10th century BC.
Its founders gave it the name of Kyrenia, the name of a mountain in their homeland.

Another tale says it was first inhabited by Phoenicians, who formed coastal commercial colonies in mid 9th century BC.

The name of the city in Roman sources is Corenium, when travellers visited Cyprus in 1211, King Hugh I mentioned Schernae (Kyrenia) as a "small beach town having a city wall and towers. The charming name changed to Kyrenia (Girne).

Geographic Position & Natural Life

The surface area of Cyprus, 9,250 sq km ( 3,571 sq miles) the third largest island of the Mediterranean.

The northern coast is backed by the long limestone mountain range of kyrenia with it's beautiful coastline and fertile plains. 

There are three mountain passages along the shore. These are Gecitkoy passage, Girne passage, Mersinlik Tatlisu passage and Kantara.

The Servili Hill is the highest point at 1023 meters. There are partly plains among these mountains until Karpas Peninsula. The north skirts of the Girne Mountains are full of Aleppo Pines.

There are citrus fruit, olive and carob trees growing on these fertile lands. The seas off this coast are extraordinary with Turquoise waters and beautiful beaches.

Culture
Between the sea and the Besparmak mountains on the northern coast of the island, Girne has a different way of life and culture that has developed over many years and is influenced by the sea. This culture is reflected in its cuisine, arts and traditions.

The most important of these is Hellim cheese. This cheese is specially made from goat's milk, it is very delicious if grilled and served hot.

Homemade yoghurt is served with delicious honey. The municipal open market is held on Wednesday and sells various goods like vegetables, fruits, cheese and hand crafts, and gives a different activity to the city. Hand-made cane baskets sold are made from wheat, barley stems. The motifs reflect the feelings, emotions, joys, and longings of the person who made the baskets. Trousseaus, embroideries, laceworks, and carved trousseau chests made of olive wood reflect their traditions.

Foods a speciality to Girne are molehiya, kolokas, pirahu, potatoes oven baked, macaroni , stuffed flower leaves and herbs. there is  also a dish with wheat and chicken offered to guests in traditional weddings in Cyprus. Also Hirsiz kebap, cooked peach, cubed kebap are among the specials, most types of fish is available.

The clay found in Girne is used  to make bowls, pots and manufacture cups, there are 74 ceramic studios making these items on the way to Lapta from Girne.

Economy & Tourism
Girne is a coastal Town. with it's carefully preserved history of 9,000 years, it is a tourism paradise with a lovely climate, the economy of the city is based on tourism. The historical port of Girne in the shape of a horse shoe is full of fishing boats and yachts day and night. In the past carob was the black gold and most popular export product of the island.

Now the carob warehouses around the harbour bay have been restored and become restaurants, hotels and bars and with the advance of the tourism and holiday resort hotels Girne as been re-discovered.

Social Situation
The population of Girne changes according to seasons. Local population of 18,000 increases to 35,000 in summer months. Education level of the city is at high level. Primary and middle school attendance is obligatory. There are about 2,350 students in 23 Nisan Primary School, Karaolan Primary School, Anafartalar High School, 19 Mayýs Maarif College, Maarif Nursery School and the Practical Arts School for girls. There are 1,100 students in Girne American University founded in 1985, and 145 students in middle and high school sections. There are 1,200 students in International American University founded in 1992, and 104 students in college section. The Public Hospital, Dr. Akçiçek Hospital is the best medical service. There is also a private hospital, various private polyclinics and maternity hospitals.

The Kyrenia Castle
The castle is thought to have been constructed to protect the town against the Arab raids in the 7th century and like the Kantara Castle, it played an important role in the Lusignan period. In this period the castle underwent a lot of changes due to restoration work. The restoration work was interrupted briefly in 1373, because of the Genoese siege but went on afterwards.
When the castle was first built, the fortifications were constructed with the armoured knights and archers in mind. When the Genoese took control of the castle in 1489, they reconstructed the fortifications taking the Ottoman artillery into consideration. They added the north-western and the south-eastern towers as an extra precaution. In spite of all this, however, following the fall of Nicosia in 1570, they surrendered the castle to the Ottomans without putting up any resistance.

The entrance to the castle is via a bridge built over a wide moat and was full of water until the 14th century, the Lusignan insignia of three lions on the vault of the inner gate was brought here from another building. Inside the castle there is a Byzantian church of (St. George) thought to have been constructed in the 11th century. The tomb of the Ottoman Admiral, Sadýk Pasha the Algerian, who was killed during the conquest of Cyprus by the Ottomans in 1570 is also in this castle.
The other sections of the castle are: the Venetian Towers of the Northwest, Southwest, and Southeast; the guards' room, the big hall, various dungeons, and rooms use belong to the Lusignan period; a tower belonging to the Byzantine period; the Venetian platform; an arsenal, and a cannon parapet belonging to the Venetian period; and the shipwreck museum.

 

Touristic Places