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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. |
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