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North Cyprus Property RegionsAbout Cyprus 
Regional Info Cyprus is the most easterly of the Mediterranean islands and the third largest in the area after Sicily and Sardinia in the Mediterranean. At the nearest coastal points it is 40 miles from Turkey, 60 miles from Syria, and 250 miles from Egypt. North Cyprus is some 100 miles long, 40 miles across at its widest point and has a total area of 1357 square miles, comprising nearly 36% of the island of Cyprus. The location of Cyprus in the makes it a strategic crossroads between three continents and has been used by travellers in their various journeys throughout history. Traces of ancient peoples are evident: Assyrians, Phoenicians, Macedonians, Hellenists, Persians, Romans and Egyptians among others. These were followed by Byzantines, Crusaders, French Lusignans, Venetians, Ottomans and the British. There was then an unsettled period following independence in 1960, but this was ended with partition in 1974. With such a background, Cyprus has developed a unique character which is a blend of all that has gone before. Part of its unique character is the natural beauty of the northern part of the island. The coastline offers fine, uncrowded beaches; you can still arrive at a beach and enjoy being the only one there. The mountains provide a lovely backdrop to the beaches but are very well worth visiting themselves; the track systems (many of which can be driven along) offer good walking. In the spring there are many wild flowers including some endemic to Cyprus. What makes Northern Cyprus special apart from its beaches, mountains and natural beauty? Well, to these you add a super climate, and the hospitality of the Turkish Cypriots. The other major centres are the tourist resorts of Famagusta (Magusa), Kyrenia (Girne), and the citrus centre of Guzelyurt (Morphou). Kyrenia  With
its 6,000 year long history, unique remains of countless civilisations,
miles of natural beaches, calm sea, and mild climate is an idyllic
Mediterranean town. Bounded to the north by the sea and to the south by
the greenery of the Besparmak (Fivefinger) Mountain range, it offers
the most magnificent scenery on the island. With the backdrop of the jagged mountains behind and the calm sparkling sea in front, the harbour has an intoxicatingly serene atmosphere. yrenia is an easy place to while away any time of the day... exploring shops, markets and local caf?s in late morning, strolling in the narrow cobbled alleys behind the harbour in the afternoon, or stepping out for a brisk walk along the promenade and sea wall in the evening. Overlooking the entrance to the harbour is Kyrenia Castle. Dating from the time of the Byzantines, its massive defences surround a complex mixture of building styles from centuries before and it is likely that there was a Roman fort here originally. Subsequently enlarged and strengthened by the Lusignans and then the Venetians, the castle is now home to many historical artefacts and is the current resting-place of the world's oldest shipwreck. As the sun sets, Kyrenia harbour again becomes the focus of activity as the locals take their evening stroll and the caf?s and bistros that face the sea prepare for their nightly trade. Crisp white linen and small vases of local flowers are lovingly arranged on tabletops to welcome the evening's guests to wine and dine in the cooling breeze. The promenade has been turned into a pedestrian zone, and chic pavement cafes and restaurants conceal their kitchens behind elegant Venetian fa?ades. Memorable evenings can be enjoyed in the restaurants and cafes, with the candlelight reflecting softly on the water and the gentle strumming of guitar music wafting out across the harbour. Why not try Turkish Coffee at a local coffee-house over a chat with the locals. There are several mosques and churches to see in the town, well worth a visit. Karpas peninsula  Karpas
peninsula (or the panhandle) is the easternmost part of the island of
Cyprus, where the land tapers into a thin strip which streches out
towards Turkey. The Karpas peninsula is also almost totally free from
heavy concentration of industry and people, and is one of the least
polluted regions in the European periphery. It has been called the nature reserve of Cyprus for birds, wild flowers and sea fossils are to be found everywhere. Moreover, numerous picturesque beaches, both sandy and rocky, are said to be the best in the whole island. With also pine, cypress and maquis covered hills reaching an altitude of about 1,000 metres makes the Karpas region almost a perfect natural reserve site of the whole island. Nicosia The present day capital of the island, it has a population of around 150,000 and it is divided into Turkish and Greek sectors by a boundary known as the `green line' which runs in an east-west direction. In the old city of Nicosia, beautiful examples of Gothic and Ottoman architecture abound - the Selimiye Mosque, the Bedestan, the Arab Ahmet Mosque, and the Great Han/ Inn, to name but a few. Below are brief descriptions of the popular villages and towns on the north coast: Alsancak This village has something to offer everyone with its spectacular views, authentic village atmosphere and easy access to the beaches and restaurants. There are a couple of wells-stocked mini markets for all your supplies. It is approximately 6 miles west of Kyrenia / Girne with its pretty old harbour and shops. See North Cyprus Property in Kyrenia Alsancak Baspinar Set high above the village of Lapta is Baspinar, well-known for its mountain spring, breathtaking views, sleepy atmosphere and cooling breeze. The ideal place to spend lazy days enjoying the views or a variety of excellent walks in the Besparmak mountains. Bellapais  This
historic village is set approximately 3 miles east of Kyrenia in an
elevated position with wonderful views to Kyrenia and the coast. The
village is dominated by the Bellapais Abbey which was originally
founded in the 12th century by monks of the Augustinian order and is
the most impressive Gothic building in Cyprus. The Abbey is situated on a natural terrace overlooking the village of Ozankoy with a good selection of restaurants offering local and international cuisine. See North Cyprus Property in Kyrenia Bellepais Bellepais is by far the most sought after part of the northern coastline. Bellapais, unchanged and unhurried sin  ce
its colonial days, this enchanting village has been immortalised in the
book "Bitter Lemons" by Lawrence Durrell. The centre piece of the
charming village and its main attraction is Bellepais Abbey.Perched precariously on a natural terrace, the abbey stands guard over the whole of the northern coastline, and is considered to be one of the most beautiful and indeed most important Gothic buildings in the Near East. Here, you
can while away your days exploring the impressive remains of the abbey,
or simply relax with a during under the "Tree of Idleness", an ancient
mulberry made famous in Durrell's Bitter Lemons, and let the world pass
you by.  Ancient folklore suggests that those seated beneath this famous tree, become lazy and unwilling to work! The views from the village are superb, and from every vantage point, the plains of Kyrenia and the azure blue Mediterranean beyond, beckon and invite. Above
the abbey lies the charming village of Bellapais. Tiny lanes and narrow
streets, cris-cross haphazardly away from the main square, and
scattered amongst the whitewashed buildings are many excellent and
surprisingly inexpensive cafes and bistros. Bellapais is an ideal haven
for those seeking a calm and relaxing opportunity to sample the Cyprus
of a bygone era. Catalkoy Another popular village with its well-maintained, whitewashed streets located approximately 5 miles east of Kyrenia. There are a couple of shops, restaurants and sandy beaches in the near vicinity. See North Cyprus Property in Kyrenia Catalkoy Edremit A small village located half way up the hill on the road up to the mountainside village of Karmi / Karaman. Edremit has a small grocery store where daily produce may be bought, plus the popular Hideaway Hotel with pool, bar and restaurant which is open to non-residents. The larger village of Karaoglanoglu is approximately 1 mile down the hill with supermarkets, restaurants and sandy beaches. Esentepe Until the early 90's, a remote village which did not even have a proper road leading to it, however, now a thriving town in itself, Esentepe boasts lovely beaches, dramatic mountain backdrops and evergreens that can be seen on either side of the road connecting Kyrenia to the Karpas Peninsula. Esentepe is also the location of the new golf course and the marina project. This region is currently attracting significant investment in residential developments and infrastructure.  If you’re looking to leave the hustle and bustle of Kyrenia behind and you want to venture out further into the real North Cyprus then head east along the coastal road and you’ll come to pretty Esentepe, your gateway to the Karpas region, the coast and the foothills of the Kyrenia range. Esentepe is just one of the many charming Mediterranean villages of North Cyprus. It has grown over the past few years to become a village of some note be  cause many visitors to the area have sought to establish their own homes in Esentepe. The
scenic town of Esentepe is a short drive, since the new road has been
extended the picturesque town and historic harbour of Girne(Kyrenia) is
just a 25 minute drive away. Access to the deserted beaches with
crystal clear waters is a short walk, with the famous turtle beaches of
Alagadi less than 5 miles away. The drive to the airport of Ercan
near Nicosia is 35 minutes and Larnaca airport is just over an
hour. A new 18 hole golf course is under construction to be
completed in 2007 together with a new marina also under construction,
these have created a lot of interest in this exceptional area.
The price of property in this area is set to increase further giving
investors a significant return on their investments.
See North Cyprus Property in Kyrenia Esentepe Ilgaz A quiet mountainside village with superb scenery and a mixture of Europeans, Turkish and Cypriots. The ideal retreat for those wanting to get away from the hustle and bustle of modern day life, with one restaurant serving the village and many others situated at the bottom of the hill. Karakum A small village located just a mile east of Kyrenia with its own small sandy bay. The village is conveniently located on the bus route and has several restaurants, shops and a large supermarket all within walking distance. See North Cyprus Property in Kyrenia Karakum Karaglanoglu Approximately 3 miles west of Kyrenia is the unpronounceable village of Karaoglanoglu! (Tip - the "g's are not pronounced). There are a few bars, some excellent restaurants and picturesque beaches and coves, in particular, Kervansaray Beach which affords some of the most stunning sunsets due to its westerly outlook. See North Cyprus Property in Kyrenia Karaoglanoglu Karmi / Karaman  The
picturesque village of Karmi is situated approximately 4 miles west of
Kyrenia and is 1,000 ft above sea level giving virtually every house
breathtaking views along the coastline. Karmi is undoubtedly the prettiest and most well-kept village in the north as nearly all the houses have been restored in a traditional manner often with flagged floors, beamed ceilings, stone arches and roof terraces set in an array of flowers, plants and trees. The village has a couple of restaurants, bar, pub and village shop. See North Cyprus Property in Kyrenia Karmi The village of Karmi or Karaman in Northern Cyprus has an interesting history itself. Badly damaged in the fighting of 1974, 
the former Greek village was abandoned and fell into disrepair. In
1983, the whole village was taken over by the TRNC Ministry of Tourism,
who restored the roads and basic infrastructure. The Ministry in turn leased the houses to foreigners, and only foreigners, on 25 year lease periods. The condition was that the foreign residents should restore their houses with their own money, using only local architects and builders. The village has a curiously British feel to it, despite an international population, with street names like Geranium Lane, and the Crow’s Nest pub in the middle of the village. The former Greek Orthadox village church at Karmi is now a North Cyprus museum, and open on Sunday mornings. It’s worth dropping in to view the icon screen, unapologetically assembled by the locals from abandoned churches in the area. It’s also interesting to see how loving care and restoration has brought Karmi back from rack and ruin. Karsiyaka Located west of Kyrenia and approximately 30 minutes by car the area affords stunning views of the highest mountain in the Besparmak mountain range. Karsiyaka has a couple of shops and some good fish restaurants located close to the waters edge. A large sandy bay is a 5 minute drive away and there is many more sandy beaches between Karsiyaka and Kyrenia. See North Cyprus Property in Kyrenia Karsiyaka Lapta Renowned for its fresh water springs and laid back way of life, Lapta is a sprawling village approximately 9 miles west of Kyrenia. It is backed by the Besparmak Mountains and offers spectacular views of both sea and mountains. The village has much to offer in the way of restaurants and has easy access to some good beaches. See North Cyprus Property in Kyrenia Lapta  The sprawling, diffuse hill village, is
spread out over half a dozen levels. A number of springs from the
mountain flow noisily out along irrigation channels to water the
surrounding gardens and groves of citrus and olive. There are half a
dozen attractive whitewashed churched scattered throughout the village,
though none of them dates from before the 18th century. The village itself is much older, founded by refugees from Lambousa seeking safety in the high ground from pirate raids. Lapithos was the seat of an Orthodox bishopric, until it was suppressed by the Catholic Crusader state in the 13th century. Lapta
also contains one of the island's most handsome stone mosques, whose
classical Ottoman silhouette of minaret, square prayer hall, hexagonal
drum and dome can be seen in Dumlupinar street. The cliff face by the
town hall is enlivened by a waterfall fed by a spring at the head of
the valley. A short but still arduous walk begins along a back road, at town hall level, and passes below the old Ayios Varvara church on its way to the smaller village of Karshiyaka, 4 km to the west. A dirt track to the left of Karshiyaka café twists uphill to give an approach for the climb of the summit of Kornos, a distinctive 946m high summit, on the western edge of the Gothic (Kyrenia) Range. Ozankoy A popular village with Europeans and Cypriots alike, conveniently located approximately 2 miles east of Kyrenia, the village has excellent views to Bellapais, the mountains and the Mediterranean and a good selection of restaurants. See North Cyprus Property in Kyrenia Ozankoy Yesiltepe Located between Alsancak and Karaoglanoglu on the lower slopes of the mountain range is the area of Yesiltepe. It is conveniently located close to several sandy beaches, restaurants, bars, hotels and shops and is not far from the main coastal road. Zeytinlik Within easy access of Kyrenia yet set in a tranquil, rural position amongst olive groves and overlooked by the spectacular St Hilarion Castle. A small but good selection of restaurants, a couple of shops and a supermarket are close by. See North Cyprus Property in Kyrenia Zeytinlik Below are brief descriptions of the popular villages and towns on the East coast (Famagusta Region): Salamis Just north of Famagusta at the base of the Karpaz Peninsula lie the remains of the city of Salamis. The capital of Cyprus as far back as 1100 BC, Salamis survived the successive occupations of the Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, and Romans but eventually succumbed to the forces of nature.  The
ancient city of Salamis became the capital of Cyprus as far back as
1100 BC. The city shared the destiny of the rest of the island during
the successive occupations by the various dominant powers of the Near
East, viz. the Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, and Romans. The ancient
site covers an area of one square mile extending along the sea shore.
There is still a large area awaiting excavation and this is forested
with mimosa, pine and eucalyptus trees.The finding of some gold coins bearing the name of Evagoras, 411 to 374 BC, is the first genuine eviden  ce
of the city's importance. A severe earthquake destroyed the city in 76
AD after which the Gymnasium with its colonnaded Palaestra was built by
Trajan and Hadrian. This is the most monumental part of the site but
columns differ in size because after the second great earthquake of 331
AD, the Christians set up new columns which they dragged from the Roman
theatre. The region of Salamis boasts some of the best sandy beaches of Cyprus. North Cyprus Property in Famagusta Salamis would be ideal for beach lovers. North Cyprus Property by Category
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North Cyprus Property Place Overseas Central House, No 1 Ballards Lane, Finchley, London, N3 1LQ, United Kingdom - Show map - Tel: 0800 068 3359 Email: info@propertycyprussales.com Copyright © North Cyprus Property Place Overseas 2008. |