About me:I was working overseas for a number of years for a major UK tour operator so Im happy to give my per...
Member since:29.09.2008
Reviews:27
Review rated by 2 Ciao members on average: helpful
You can visit Kyrenia via southern Cyprus now. If you are staying in Paphos it would be a bit of a trek (around 2 plus hours by car), from Limassol, Protaras and Ayia Napa about 1 hour 15, Nicosia 15 minutes. Its well worth the visit as there is plenty to see.
The Turkish Cypriots keen to make money will accept UK sterling, US dollars, Euros!
Dont miss the following places when you visit:
The Venetian harbour - where you can take a relaxing stroll, very picturesqe and full of cafes and restaurants. Lots of places to shop for souvenirs here, check your allowances on things such as cigarettes and alcohol, it may still be illegal to take these back into south Cyprus.
Kyrenia Castle - tyou can explore the towers and dungeons here as the shipwreck museum....this houses what is believed to be one of the oldest shipwrecks in the world. Believed to have been a cargo ship transporting wine from Rhodes and Kos to Cyprus when it encountered stormy seas. You will not only see the ship in the museum but food such as nuts which have been amazingly preserved all these years, its a really interesting display and worth a visit.
Nearby you will find Bellapais Abbey in the village of Bellapais - its a fine example of Gothic architecture and you can enjoy breathtaking views across the Kyrenia mountains from here. Explore the priests rooms and marble tombs before heading to the Tree of Idleness nearby where Lawrence Durrell spent his time shading from the hot Mediterranean sun as he wrote his famous book 'Bitter Lemons'.
Avoid visiting in August its unbearably hot ....well into the high 30s / low 40s (centigrade), best time to visit its between 9am and 11.30 before it gets too hot.
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