Kyrenia – discover the old town and fortress with a private guide

Kyrenia is a coastal town in Cyprus, located in the middle of the north coast. It is located in the Turkish-occupied north of the island. Kyrenia is the smallest of the six towns on the island of Cyprus, but one of the oldest. Kyrenia has been inhabited since prehistoric times (around 1300 BC). According to Greek mythology, Kyrenia was founded by Kifeas and Praxandros, who returned to their homeland after the Trojan War.

An ancient wreck of a Greek merchant ship from the 4th century BC was found in the middle of the sea area just outside the city, which was raised and restored in 1967. Since then it has been on display in the fortress of Kyrenia.

 

The town’s fortress has been preserved to this day and protects the small port. It was built by the Franks during their reign from 1192-1489 and reinforced by the Venetians during their reign until 1570. During the Frankish period, Kyrenia was a strategically important city because of its port. The city was the scene of war between 1210 and 1233, when the German Emperor Frederick I attempted to place Cyprus under his command. In 1374, the city fought back in a fierce battle against the Genoese before being captured. Many other wartime events shaped the history of this small, picturesque town.

In September 1570, shortly after the siege of the capital Nicosia, Kyrenia surrendered to the Ottoman Turks without a fight. During the period of Byzantine rule (1570-1878) the town was in a state of decline. Even during the British rule of Cyprus (1878-1960), Kyrenia’s development was very limited.

After the independence of Cyprus, Kyrenia began to develop at a rapid pace. Special measures were taken in the field of tourism. The beautiful surroundings, with the Pentadaktylos mountain range to the north and the ancient monuments in the town itself, helped Kyrenia to gain an international reputation in tourism. In 1974 Turkish soldiers landed on the beach of Kyrenia. By the end of the operation, Turkish troops controlled almost 40% of the island, including Kyrenia, which the Turks renamed Girne. Under the Turkish Cypriot government, tourism was further promoted. The additional jobs in the construction and tourism industries were mostly filled by Turks, Eastern Europeans, Central Asians, and Pakistanis. As a result, the number of people living in Cyrenia increases to well over 30,000 each year during the peak tourist season.

In addition to tourism, legal and illegal casinos are now the main source of income in Kyrenia.

 

You want to explore the City of Kyrenia. With our combined tour Kyrenia / Bellapais you can get an impression of the Middle Ages with your private guide.

Are you only interested in Kyrenia or would you like to book a combined tour of Kyrenia and St. Hilarion Castle, the mighty fortress in the mountains? No problem. In this case, just send a short email to service@sancytours.com and we will send you an offer immediately.

 

Our special service for you:

We will be happy to pick you up from your hotel free of charge if you are staying in the Agia Napa – Protaras – Paralimni region, or in Larnaca Destrict
(e.g. Oroklini – Pyla – Livadia – Larnaca City). Pick up is also possible for more distant routes, but we will then charge a small surcharge.

We are happy to accept your booking by email. Or book now using our online booking form. We will take care of the rest and look forward to seeing you.

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10 best places at cyprus, castle Cyprus, Kyrenia, northern cyprus, private guide, sightseeing