Kyrenia (Girne)
Northern Cyprus is home to the City of Kyrenia and is the perfect holiday destination for those looking to enjoy a relaxing break. Kyrenia is packed full of history, nature and culture and although it may be relaxing you will not be bored.
Kyrenia enjoys a Mediterranean climate and is surrounded by the sea at one side and the five fingers mountain range on the other. There are plenty of hotels, sandy beaches, and excellent activities to enjoy. For those who love nature, Kyrenia will not disappoint. Kyrenia is home to a wide range of flora and fauna including man
y different varieties of orchids.
Kyrenia is perfect for hill walking and scenic tours and the entire city is steeped in history. There are a number of castles in and around Kyrenia and the harbour itself is overlooked by Kyrenia castle. This castle is also home to the famous shipwreck museum where you can view the wreckage of an ancient ship.
The neighboring villages also have some excellent sights and these include, Esentepe for its historic buildings, Ozankoy is a nature lover’s paradise and it is here you will find some spectacular plants. Karmi village is a quite area and is home to St. Hilarion Castle and Lapta is a coastal town that has some of the best fresh water springs in Northern Cyprus.
The locals in Kyrenia are extremely friendly and welcoming and the harbour is where you will find a myriad of shops, cafes and bars. Although not as lively as Ayia Napa, Kyrenia in North Cyprus is a great place to holiday and its sandy beaches are perfect for soaking up the Mediterranean sun.
Bellapais
Bellapais is a small village in Northern Cyprus, about four 
miles from the town of Kyrenia. The village was the home for some years of Lawrence Durrell, who wrote about life in Cyprus in his book Bitter Lemons. He mentions passing the time drinking coffee under the Tree of Idleness in the village and there are two places which lay claim to being the spot. Unfortunately his book did not identify it completely, or perhaps fortunately, because two establishments can now profit from the name. His house, up a very steep climb, has a plaque on it and one can have the pleasure of returning by a not-quite-so-perpendicular way that passes by old olive presses.
The jewel of the village is Bellapais Abbey or “The Abbey of Peace (from French: Abbaye de la Paix). Built by canons regular of the Premonstratensian Order in the 13th century, it is a most imposing ruin in a wonderful position commanding a long view down to Kyrenia and the Mediterranean sea.
Most of the monastic buildings surround the cloister. In Britain these would normally be built on the south side of the church so to some extent protect the living quarters from the cold air from the north. At Bellapais, the monastic buildings are on the north, probably to be cooler, although occasionally the lay of the land dictated position.
Today the site is a museum, which also hosts a restaurant and a cafe.
Guzelyurt (Morfou)
Guzelyurt is a market town located in the west of North Cyprus, and is the regional capital of the Guzelyurt district. It is one of the richest agricultural areas of North Cyprus, famous particularly for the citrus (orange, lemon & grapefruit) and strawberries. They thrive in Guzelyurt’s fertile red soil. A large portion of the citrus fruit is exported, and the rest is made into fruit juice and canned for local consumption as well as export.
The town was founded by the Spartans, who brought with 
them the worship of Aphrodite. In the middle ages, the city was referred to as Morphou, and also Theomorphou. The Morphou area grew more than half of Cyprus’s citrus fruits.
Guzelyurt is not a typical tourist destination, but it is interesting to those who want to see a part of North Cyprus not in the least affected by tourism. You can enjoy your holiday in the peace and quiet of its natural surroundings. Guzelyurt is an ideal picnic spot for those who want to escape from the noise and rush of the city life and spend the day in peace and quiet. In spring, the light breezes scatter the white orange blossoms, and you can smell the fragrance from all around, while in other seasons the golden oranges and lemons shine on the trees.
Guzelyurt is famous for its annual Orange Festival, which is a major event lasting for two weeks every June. It also hosts a culture and arts festival annually in May.
Visit the former monastery of St Mamas, originally Byzantine with Gothic establishments. St Mamas is popularly known as the patron saint of tax avoiders. He was a poor hermit, and when the authorities tried to tax him, he evaded them. Soldiers were sent out to capture him, but on the way back to the town, he saw a lion attacking a lamb. He escaped the soldiers, saved the lamb and jumped onto the lions back and rode into town. His bravery earned him exemption from tax, hence his traditional attribute. The church is an icon museum now, and the images of St Mamas on his lion are quite amusing. No one at that time had seen a lion, so the iconography is not exactly lifelike.
Guzelyurt also houses a natural history and archaeological museum, with a collection ranging from the prehistoric age to the Byzantine period.