Standing at the crossroads of three continents Cyprus has a vibrant history, a perfect climate and the warmest welcome in the Mediterranean. It has been a British playground for many years offering the perfect combination of relaxation, water sports and exciting exploration along its beautiful coastline, for Northern Cyprus too, has its share of rich archeological sites and medieval castles. It enjoys over 300 days of uninterrupted sunshine, clear blue unpolluted seas, the beauty of an unspoiled landscape and uncrowded beaches.

Add to this the friendliness and hospitality of the people, wonderfully varied cuisine and you have the perfect recipe for a truly idyllic holiday. Whether you are a lover of nature, an archaeologist, a keen walker, a water sportsman or simply a sun-worshipper this little island is the ideal spot for you.

Along the northern coast stretch the pine-clad Kyrenia Mountains sloping gently to the warm and tranquil waters of the Mediterranean.

There are many good restaurants in the area, and picturesque Kyrenia harbour is the place to be in the evening. Famagusta in the east is famed for its endless sandy beaches and crytal-clear waters.

It will come as no surprise that according to legend this island was given to Cleopatra by Julius Ceasar as a token of his love!

Set against the stunning backdrop of the Besparmak (Five Finger) mountains, Kyrenia (Girne) is regarded as one of the Mediterranean's most picturesque towns, and is now North Cyprus' most popular resort.

Its beautiful scenery, its tranquil waters, rocky coves and sandy beaches, not to mention the historic monuments to bygone eras are enough to inspire the poet in all of us. In fact Kyrenia has always been popular with artists and writers. It was in the peaceful setting of the beautiful twelfth century Bellapais Abbey that Lawrence Durrell wrote his "Bitter Lemons", and the stunning fairy-tale castle of St. Hilarion, perched atop the rocks of the Besparmak Mountains, over 2,000 feet above Kyrenia, is rumoured to have been the inspiration for Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle. The heart of Kyrenia is the charming Venetian Harbour, the ideal place to slow down to Cypriot pace in one of the numerous restaurants and watch the world go by - on warm Summer evenings it really comes into its own as the place to be seen! To one side of the harbour is the imposing seventh century Kyrenia Castle, which now houses the fascinating ship wreck museum.