Kyrenia (Girne) North Cyprus
Kyrenia or Girne is a city in Northern Cyprus. After the Turkish aggression in 1974, it is located on the territory of the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Today Kyrenia is considered the tourist center of Northern Cyprus. Located on the north coast of the island, at the foot of the Cyrene Mountains. There are two versions of the origin of the name of the city: from the name of Aphrodite – “Cyreniana” or from the name of one of the Greek mountains.
Kyrenia History
The settlement on the site of the modern city of Kyrenia dates back to the 10th century BC. BC, although the oldest archaeological finds date back to 5800 BC. BC. According to legend, the city was founded by the legendary Kefey (Cepheus) – one of the Argonauts, the husband of Cassiopeia and the father of Andromeda, after whom the constellation is named. The first written mention goes to Ramses III. back – Kyrenia is listed as one of the city-states of Cyprus. The most powerful city on the island was Salamis. Kyrenia, together with the neighboring city of Lambusa (Lapetos), has developed into an important trading center with Asia Minor and Greece. The era of the Roman Empire and after its division, in the Byzantine period (from 395), was the heyday of Kyrenia. A large trading port and a Cyrenian fortress were built. The famous Cyrenian ship, which was sunk near the coast, belongs to this period.
In 813, Labouza fell as a result of a devastating raid by Arab pirates. Kyrenia became the only trading port on the north coast. In the 10th century the city became the seat of the island’s usurper, Isaac Comnenus. In 1191, the Crusaders attacked Kyrenia from land and sea under the command of Richard the Lionheart, but Isaac Comnenus fled to the Karpaz peninsula, where he was later captured. After the island was handed over to the Lusignan dynasty (1192-1489), Kyrenia was fortified. The Lusignans built new fortifications of the port, built the castles of Kantara, Bufavento, the castle of St. Hilarion. The fortress of Kyrenia was repeatedly attacked by the Genoese but was never taken. The fortress housed a prison for noble prisoners; the Knights Templar were executed here.
The Venetians (1489-1571) completely rebuilt 3 fortresses in Cyprus: in Nicosia, Famagusta and Kyrenia. During this period, artillery already appeared: the walls and towers became more massive, powder depots appeared, and powerful artillery installations were located on the territory of the castle. Unfortunately, this did not save the city from conquest by the troops of the Ottoman Empire in 1571. The surviving civilian population of Kyrenia was driven outside the city walls, which contributed to the city’s growth.
British rule (1878-1960) also contributed to the city’s prosperity: a road over the mountains to Nicosia was built, and the first hotels were built in the city. At the time of recognition of Cyprus’ independence in 1960, the majority of the population were Greek Cypriots (83%) and only 15% were Turkish Cypriots. Nevertheless, Kyrenia has become the scene of violent intercommunal conflicts. In 1963, Turkish Cypriots blocked the road to Nicosia and captured the castle of St. Hilarion (there is currently a museum there dedicated to these events). In 1974, Turkish troops landed in Kyrenia and from here began to conquer the northern areas of the island.
Sights of Kyrenia
The port of Kyrenia is a picturesque place. Small harbor for fishing boats and small yachts. Former trading and customs buildings have been taken over by restaurants and small hotels.
Kyrenia Fortress was built in the 7th century by the Byzantines to protect against Arab pirates, in the 12th-13th century. Rebuilt by the Franks in the 15th century and by the Venetians in the 15th century. Currently the fortress is open to tourists, one of the most amazing museums is located here – the Shipwreck Museum. The main pride of the museum is the ship’s hull from the 4th century.
The Church of Archangel Michael is an Orthodox church from 1860. A high bell tower was later added to the church. After the annexation of the northern part of the island by Turkey, many churches and monasteries were closed and icons and religious objects were brought here. An icon museum has been operating here since 1990, whose collection is considered one of the richest in Cyprus. Unfortunately, many of the icons were smuggled off the island and sold on the black market.
Catacombs near Kirinea. The apostles Paul and Barnabas visited Kyrenia during their wanderings in Cyprus, where they found many followers. Despite the fact that Christianity became the official religion of the empire in 313, Kyrenia remained under Fawnius Lycius until 324. During this time Christians were severely persecuted. The first Christians hid in the catacombs of Hrisokawa.
Beaches of Kyrenia
Private (paid) and municipal (free) beaches are located along the city’s coastline. The former include beach clubs, hotels and restaurants and, in addition to good facilities, offer a wide range of activities on land and on the water.
– Escape Beach – a sandy beach with a gentle entrance, well-equipped territory and opportunities for outdoor activities;
– Denizkizi – a small beach on the shore of a picturesque bay, on the shore there is a pool with fresh water;
– Acapulco – a private beach of the hotel of the same name with developed infrastructure and a water park.
A visit to one of the private beaches costs external visitors 15-25 Turkish lira, so many locals (and knowledgeable travelers) often choose urban beaches with a good reputation and picturesque surroundings – Karvansaray in the Karaoglanoglu area and Cabin in Lapta.
p>Journey to Kyrenia
Special Kibhas buses run from Ercan International Airport to Kyrenia every 1-1.5 hours. The fare is 13.5 Turkish lira. An excellent solution can be renting a car, which can be useful for independent travel around the country in the future.
The way to Kyrenia from the southern part of the island leads via the capital Nicosia – here you have to cross the border yourself and then take a taxi. The journey to Kyrenia takes about 20 minutes.
Buy real estate in Kyrenia (Girne)
Real estate in Kyrenia is represented by a large number of properties in which a large number of foreign investors have invested in recent years. The main feature of all houses is their two floors. The island pays attention to natural resources when developing. It is not allowed to build tall buildings in the city, to build land in the immediate vicinity of the sea in order to provide all houses with a beautiful view.
Beach lovers as well as those who want to rent Kyrenia Apartments can consider purchasing a seaside villa or apartment. For those planning to emigrate to Kyrenia, the houses right at the foot of the mountains as well as flats and apartments in the city center would be suitable.
As far as infrastructure is concerned, everything is available here: shopping and entertainment establishments, educational institutions, including the American University, kindergartens and schools, health facilities, tourist attractions, etc.
One of the strongest arguments for buying a home in Kyrenia is the affordable property prices, which are many times lower than comparable offers in other Mediterranean holiday resorts. The annually increasing flow of students and tourists to Northern Cyprus is driving many investors to buy properties in Northern Cyprus with the aim of subsequently offering them for rent. Well-located properties are rented all year round and bring the owners good returns.
Living in Kyrenia: from rent to purchase
The selection of properties to purchase should be approached responsibly. The search for the optimal property begins with the purpose of the purchase, the available budget, the client’s individual preferences and other factors. We particularly recommend luxury villas in Northern Cyprus, close to the sea.
As an expert in real estate in Kyrenia, KIBRIZ will help you acquire the property you want at the most favorable conditions. Experts save you a lot of time searching for suitable properties and offer you only the best options. Security and full support when purchasing are also important to us. Call us.
