Kyrenia

The castle at Kyrenia

Kyrenia (Κερύνεια in Greek), (Girne in Turkish) is a town in northern Cyprus, part of the de facto unrecognized (TRNC)(Turkish occupied side of Cyprus). It is a busy little town with a harbour appreciated for its beauty. In its heyday it was lined with warehouses in which were stored the fruits of the countryside whilst they awaited export. The buildings are now mostly all restaurants, all of which have tables and chairs lining the water. The castle at the east end of the harbour is a very spectacular site and within its walls there is a 12th century chapel showing reused late Roman capitals. The inner courtyard is vast (with a small cafe) and in one of the rooms leading off it is the Shipwreck Museum, exhibiting the remains of a 4th century Greek ship, discovered by a Greek-Cypriot diver in 1967, salvaged not far from Kyrenia together with its cargo. There is much of interest to be seen within these ancient walls.

The town has an icon museum housed in a church which was dedicated to the Archangel Michael, not far from it there are some tombs cut into the rock dating from about the 4th century, there is a ruined small Christian church behind the harbour and in the harbour is a small tower from which a chain could be slung to close the harbour to any enemies.

In 1974, Kyrenia was the first town that was captured during the invasion of the island by Turkey. Its Greek Cypriot inhabitants fled at the time to the south of the Island, where the recognized ethnically Greek government of Cyprus was still in power. Since then it has been under occupation by the de-facto TRNC. Kyrenia at present is populated by Turkish Cypriots and Turkish settlers.

The town is a very beautiful place.

External links

Travel guide to Kyrenia from Wikitravel

Categories: Cyprus | Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus | Towns in Cyprus