Hz. Omer Tomb
To get to Hazreti Omer Tekke follow the road east of Kyrenia directed towards Catalkoy. The convent lies in a distance about 3 miles (5 km). Take the left turning for go - karting track and the road leads down to the sea. It is signposted as "Hazreti Omer TUrbesi" from the coast road and it represents a significant Islamic shrine. The tomb is reputed to be the final resting place of commander Omer and his companions from the Muawiya army.
Hz Omer TekkeAfter the Ottoman conquest, the bodies were exhumed and interred again. In typical Cypriot fashion, the dervish convent which grew around the tombs was honoured by both Orthodox and Muslim communities before 1974. The interior of the convent is walled with tapestries of Mecca, gaudy rugs in various shapes and sizes, and you will find there books in piles referring mostly to the tomb or Koran.
Kyrenia Castle
The castle is thought to have been constructed to protect the town against the Arab raids in the 7th century. Like the Kantara Castle, it played an important role in the Lusignan period. In this period the castle underwent a lot of changes due to restoration work. The restoration work was interrupted briefly in 1373, because of the Genoese siege but went on afterwards. When the castle was first built, the fortifications were constructed with the armoured knights and archers in mind. When the Genoese took control of the castle in 1489, they reconstructed the fortifications taking the Ottoman artillery into consideration. They added the northwestern and the southeastern towers as an extra precaution. In spite of all this, however, following the fall of Nicosia in 1570, they surrendered the castle to the Ottomans without putting up any resistance.
The entrance to the castle is via a bridge built over a wide ditch. This ditch was full of water until the 14 hundreds. The Lusignan insignia of three lions on the vault of the inner gate has been brought here from another building. Inside the castle there is a Byzantian church (St. George) thought to have been constructed in the 11 hundreds. The tomb of the Ottoman Admiral, Sadik Pasha the Algerian, who was killed during the conquest of Cyprus by the Ottomans in 1570 is also in this castle. The other sections of the castle are: the Venetian Towers of the Northwest, Southwest, and Southeast; the guards' room, the big hall, various dungeons, and rooms used as depots belonging to the Lusignan period; a tower belonging to the Byzantine period; the Venetian defence platform; a cistern; an arsenal, and a cannon parapet belonging to the Venetian period; and the shipwreck museum. The Department of Antiquities created the atmosphere of an open-air museum in the castle by personifying different historical characters and by using site-animation.
St. Hilarion Castle
Located west of the main Kyrenia-Nicosia highway, in the Kyrenia Mountain range, St Hilarion castle is the westernmost and best preserved of the three redoubts built by the Byzantines and Crusaders.
The legend of St Hilarion
Although there is not adequately evidence, the castle is said to be called after the saint of the name. St Hilarion, a little-known hermit and monk fled persecution from Palestine during the 7 th century to dwell and die up in the castle. According to legend he was extremely deaf and resilient to the shrieks of pagan demons that had been lurking and wandering about in the mountain peak. Disgusted at their inability to make him go, they left mountain in peace. During the 10 th century a Byzantine chapel, monastery and later a fort grew around his tomb.
It is known that the Byzantine fort was called Didymos , the Greek name for the twin peaks overhead. The Lusignans corrupted this to Dieu d'Amour , maybe confusing a mixture of legends and believing that this was the castle of Aphrodite .
With walls and towers that appear to sprout out of the rocks almost randomly, it is a fairly-tale sight living up to Rose Macaulay's much-quoted description "a picture-book castle for elf-kings" and the rumour that Walt Disney used it as a model for the castle in Snow White and Seven Dwarfs. The legend that was spread locally says that St Hilarion housed 101 rooms, of which 100 could easily be found; the last, an enchanted garden with a magnificent treasure belonging to an elusive "queen" of Cypriot folklore, most probably a holdover of Aphrodite worship.
Buffavento Castle
One of the three castles, Buffavento was constructed on the Kyrenia Range as a line of defence against the Arab attacks - the other two being St. Hilarion Castle, and Kantara Castle. It is the least well preserved and sited on a hill top 940m above sea level.
Getting there
Take the main road that leads from Kyrenia over the mountains via the Besparmak mountain pass. As the road reaches its highest point and before descending the southern slopes there is a turning to the right. The road is accessible by car but the first 800 yards (730m) is rough, driving with care is recommended. It is a 4.2 mile (6.8km) drive along a road which is a military access route. There are red signs that forbid entrance strategically placed along the track. According to the signs you should not deviate from the route, but follow strictly. Do not go to the castle from the south via Gungor (Koutsov endis ) and monastery of Agios Ioannis Khrysostomos. Beyond the village the route is unmarked and an army camp blocks the way.
Practical info
Being in the hands of the military, the opening hours change. It used to be open daily, all day. A couple of years ago the castle was open for certain days of the week from 9am to 5pm. For update opening hours check with the local guide. There is no admission to the castle. The car parking area is a clearing on the hillside with a solitary olive tree that grows in a stone planter ring across from trilingual marble memorial to the victims of Turkish Airlines aircraft who perished in a crash in 1988. A small aircraft, approaching Ercan in misty conditions failed to clear the ridge above and fell apart nearby.
Having a glance upwards to the mountain top, Buffavento is plainly recognizable among the rocky peaks. At first glimpse it would seem that climbing to the top requires the skill of mountaineer. However, there is a gravelled pathway that winds on a fairly gentle ascent up the slopes. It is steep but gradual. For those who want to scale its height walking stick, bottle of water, camera or binoculars are recommended. Remember to wear proper stout foot ware. To make a trip to the peak takes about 30 or 40 minutes, with stopping from time to time to admire the view and in spring to seek out the wild flowers that colour the hillside.
Castle name
If you wonder how the castle got its name, you will learn that after climbing on the top. Buffavento means "buffeted by the wind" and at the altitude 940m it is said to be perfectly positioned for the views on Cyprus . Kyrenia, Nicosia and Famagusta are all visible in the right condition, just alike the Troodos mountains and actually the half of the island. Buffavento is the highest and most cleverly constructed of the three mountain castles in the Kyrenia Mountains .
Harbour
The harbour is appreciated for its natural beauty. In its heyday it was lined with warehouses, stored with fruits of the countryside whilst they awaited export. The buildings are now mostly all restaurants, all of which have tables and chairs lining the water. The castle at the east end of the harbour is a very spectacular site and within its walls there is a 12 century chapel showing reused late Roman capitals.
The charming and tiny harbour, full of yachts and fishing boats, is framed by the colossal hulk of its Crusader castle. With the backdrop of the jagged mountains behind and the calm sparkling sea in front, the harbour has an intoxicatingly serene atmosphere.
Bellapais Monastery/Bellapais Abbey
Gothic Bellapais Monastery also known as Bellapais Abbey is set on the flanks of the Five-finger (Kyrenia) Mountains in the beautiful hillside village of Bellapais . As a former home of British writer Lawrence Durrell (1912-1990), Bellapais Abbey is a Northern Cyprus highlight that should not be missed by any visitor.
How to get there
To reach the village of Bellapais, take the road eastwards of Kyrenia that branches at the crossroads on the outskirts of town and at the next crossroads drive straight. Follow the road signposted for Ozankoy and Beylerbeyi (Bellapais) village . You will pass through the Altinakaya holiday complex and further on, the road branches to the right with Ozankoy (The village of the poets) straight ahead. The road to Bellapais is lined with impressive villas on both sides, grand in its style. There are modern holiday homes that are in sharp contrast with old Cypriot houses that were left abandoned after 1974. Before entering the village itself you come across an army camp entrance to the right and the road climbs to the mountain to the southern slopes of the Besparmak range. On the road to the village in the passage on the left you can spot a small white Orthodox church, now converted to the village mosque. Parking is rather difficult, but there is a small parking space 70 m past the abbey building down to the left where a huge carob tree dominates.
Bellapais Abbey and its name
Bellapais Abbey originated its name from French Abbaye de la Paix which means " Abbey of Peace" . The monastery is one of the most tranquil and serene places on the island indeed. The Venetians corrupted the long-standing name, Abbaye de la Pais to De la Pais, from which it was easy elision to Bellapais .
