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Tag-Archive for » Cyprus Kyrenia «
Old Kyrenia Harbour (Girne Antik Liman)
The horse-shoe shaped harbour is the focal point of the town. The historical Kyrenia harbour, with its colorful fishing boats and yachts and its lively bars and cafes is the heart of Kyrenia, both for locals and tourists.
Bellapais Abbey (Bellapais Manastırı)
The remains of an exquisite Gothic building in the beautiful mountain village of Bellapais are what are left of the building built by Augustinian monks in 1025 AD. Originally known as the ”Abbey of Our Lady of the Mountains”, the Franks renamed it ”Lapais”. In time it became known as Abbeye de la Paix. It is now the scene of many wonderful concerts and a vantage point to view countless beautiful sunsets.
Kyrenia Castle (Girne Kalesi)
The impressive Kyrenia Castle on the eastern corner of the harbour was begun in the 7th C by the Byzantines in order to protect the city against Arap raids. Additional construction during the Lusignan and Venetian periods further enlarged and fortified the castle. In order to espace the damage that was visited upon both Nicosia and Famagusta by the raiding Ottomans, Kyrenia surrendered and hence the Castle remains almost as it was then.
St. Hilarion Castle (St. Hilarion Kalesi)
Rumoured to be the inspiration for the Disney film ”Fantasia”, this castle sits atop the mountains overlooking Kyrenia. The site was originally the home of the hermit ”Hilarion”, upon which a monastery was built in his honour. The castle, the third in a protective line, was built on the mountain tops to protect against attacks from the seafaring Arabs.
Buffavento Castle (Buffavento Kalesi)
At an altitude of 954 metres, Buffavento, meaning wind defying, was originally built as a watchtower against Arap raids by the Byzantines. It was later converted into a castle by the Lusignans, who more generally used it as a prison rather than a military stronghold. Although little of the original building remains, a visit is worth it if only for the magnificent vistas from the site.
Antiphonitis Monastery (Antiphonitis Kilisesi)
The fresco-covered walls of the Antiphonitis Monastery, located in the middle of the forest, are very interesting. The church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, was built in the 12th C, however the narthex to its west and the gallery to its south were added later by the Lusignans. A sturdy vehicle is needed in order to visit this outlying Monastery, but it is well worth the visit.
The Shipwreck Museum (Batık Gemi Müzesi)
The shipwreck, 14.75 metres long and 4.4 metres wide and displayed in one of the rooms of the Kyrenia Castle, is the oldest shipwreck ever discovered. The findings suggest that the ship was a Syrian commercial ship which sank off the coast of Kyrenia in the 3rd C BC with a cargo of nearly 400 amphorae of supplies and foodstuffs.
