Bellapais Monastery Village

You have to visit Bellapais!

by exotique18

Bellapais is one of the most beautiful locations in Kyrenia district. History and natural beauty are blended well. You should definitely see the Bellapais Monastery when you go to Bellapais(Beylerbeyi). It was built during Lusignan period in Cyprus. It's one of the most amazing Gothic style architecture piece you can see in the islanf.

Cyprus Memories

by Arkeolog

"Northern Cyprus and My Daughter Lidya"

Northern Cyprus is a nice place to visit with children. Lidya likes to visit castles and in Northern Cyprus there are four castles ( Kyrenia, Buffavento, St. Hillarion and Kantara )Therefore N.Cyprus is a good place for her. Alsý she likes to swimming at the beaches of N.Cyprus.

"Door knockers of N.Cyprus"

"Monastery of Bellapais"

This monastery is another Gothic architectural sample of Northern Cyprus. It has a stunning Mediterranean view from the terrace

"LIDYA and the Colorful Doors of N.Cyprus"

Doors and doorknockers of Northern Cyprus... I like to take photos of these two. If Lidya is in the photo, that's better :)

"A well-preserved fresco from Bellapais Monastery"

It's good fresco you can see at Bellapais Monastery

"Great Inn /Buyuk Han in Northern Nicosia"

Built in 1572 by ottoman architects. This is one of my favourite place in N.Cyprus. Souvenir shops, a cafe-rest with yummy local dishes and handicrafts. I really like to feel the atmosphere of Buyuk Han.

"Venetian Column in Northern Nicosia"

The square named officialy Ataturk square aka Saryönü Square. It's located in the heart of Nicosia. Good place to start to explore the city.

"Place of Whirling Dervishes"

It's located near Kyrenia Gate in North Nicosia. Built by Ottomans and it was a very important religious place during the centruies.

North and South........

by leics

I've visited Cyprus three times now, always over the Christmas period. Two of my visits have been based in the south (see below) but this year I visited the north.

I have to write about North Cyprus here, because it is not listed on VT. It is not recognised as a separate country, but it certainly feels and behaves like one.

This page is not the place to go into the political details of how the two parts of Cyprus became separated but, basically, since 1974 the Northern part has been Turkish and the southern Greek. The exchange of population which ocurred still causes difficulties with land ownership, and feelings are still raw. Reunification, despite the best efforts of the UN, still seems a long way away.

But the border has been open since 2003, and more crossing points are gradually being opened up (there is now a pedestrian crossing point right in the centre of Nicosia, so northerners can pop over to the south to shop at Marks & Spencers, Next etc). The minefields in the Buffer Zone are gradually being cleared as well.

The North still suffers from embargos, and there are no direct flights from the EU (one must first fly to Turkey, then onward to Ercan airport). There is a massive military presence with many 'forbidden zones'. The currency is the Turkish lira (it's the euro in the south), the religion Muslim (Orthodox in the south). Turkish settlers have come from the mainland to boost the population, but life is not particularly easy.

There has been much development over the past decade or so, for the tourist industry and for retirement homes (although land ownership issues can create massive problems for anyone purchasing property) but the current world economic situation has meant many, many such developments stand half-finished. The money has simply run out, for the moment.

And there is little money for excavation or preservation of the many important archaeological and historical sites which lie in the north. Ancient Salamis, a huge site, still largely lies under its covering of sand and soil.......perhaps just as well, for there would be no funds to conserve what might be revealed if it were excavated. The myriad churches in the old part of Famagusta (one for every day of the year) lie in ruins, with only minimal maintenance to ensure their survival.

Yet these places are, ironically, far more evocative and atmospheric for me than they would be if they were conserved, titivated and 'restored' as those elsewhere too often are. I don't need audio-visual presentations, to see interiors 're-created', to have my visit led by 're-enactors'......I like to use my imagination, based on the knowledge I have acquired beforehand.

I liked the North very much. I took a proper tour (my first one...I was trying it out to see if I could cope with being in a group and not doing my own thing) so managed to visit more places than I usually do:

Kyrenia

Besparak (Pentadactylos range) and the ruined Armenian monastery of Sourp Magar

Kantara castle

St Hilarion castle

Bellapais monastery-abbey

St Barnabas monastery/museum

ancient Salamis

Vouni Palace

the ancient city of Soli

Guzelyurt archaeological museum and the Byzantine/Gothic church of Ayios Mamas

north Nicosia

In 2007 I went back to Cyprus, again over the Christmas period. I wanted to explore more (I even hired a car for a day or so), I wanted to lay some ghosts, I wanted to get a better sense of what this huge island was actually about.

I was amazed at how much development had taken place, even in the two years since I had last visited. Not good.....and even less good in 2009, as the recession has caused many projects to remain half-completed and abandoned.....but understandable, for if there is money to be made from visitors then why should one not make money?

From the 2007 visit (like the proverbial curate's egg, it was good and bad in parts) I made new pages on

Pafos

Kouklia

Tala

Kissonerga

and Kourion.

Cyprus has some sentimental associations for me, so I want to retain some elements of what I wrote the first time round, at Christmas 2005:

'I had no real preconceptions before travelling to Paphos, though never imagined I'd make snowpeople on Christmas Eve........hence the photo above, preserving the moment for posterity! The trip to Troodos (and Kykkos monastery) was worth it just for the snow people, because we get far less snow in the UK than you might think.

But the rest of the week was spent in and around Paphos so, to be honest, I can't say I've really been to Cyprus at all.....just a tiny bit of it.'

This classic (and entirely accidental) postcard pic of palm tree and sunset over the sea is on Kato Pafos harbour front, lined with bars, shops and tavernas. Probably a nightmare for me in high season, but quietly enjoyable in December.

'There are two huge archaeological sites in Kato Pafos, because the ancient capital of Cyprus was here. The excavated town (excellent mosaics) and the rock-cut tombs further out are open to the public (and the beach is absolutely littered with huge pottery sherds, mostly from the Roman period). We visited both, but the small rock-cut tombs and shrines tucked away in other places fascinated me.'

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Cyprus is a lovely island, a divided country but one which is gradually (I hope) finding peace within itself. I do recommend it for anyone who is interested in history and archaeology (and, obviously, for those who wish to sunbathe, engage in watersports, snorkel etc etc). It has its downsides......the over-development and general scruffiness in some areas being my main irritants....but it has much charm, beautiful countryside and clear blue seas.

Try to visit out of season if you can, for summer is both very hot and very crowded. Spring is wonderful for wild flowers in both north and south, there are beautiful walks in the mountains (the Troodos are higher, often snow-capped in winter...with skiing available!), the people are friendly, the food can be superb (Greek or Turkish).....and the whole island is full of historical and archaeological sites. Get away from the tourist bases, avoid the ex-pats (a lot of those in the south) and you will find so very much to explore and enjoy.