Image Title
Image Description
Introduction
Kyrenia District is one of the six districts of Cyprus. Its main town is Kyrenia (Greek: Κερύνεια; Turkish: Girne). It is the smallest of Cyprus' districts, and is the only one controlled by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in its entirety. A district administration in exile exists in the Republic of Cyprus-controlled part of the island, near Ledra Palace, while the TRNC district has a kaymakam.
History
Kyrenia dates to the end of the Trojan War when many settlers arrived there from Achaea in the Peloponnese and established towns in the district. Evidence from archeological sites excavated in and around the town of Kyrenia bespeak of the area's settlement since the Neolithic period, 5800-3000 BC. Moreover, many Mycenaean, Geometric and Achaean tombs dating from 14th to 5th centuries BC, were also discovered. A fine climate, fertile soil and an abundance of water offered ideal conditions for the town's early settlement. Cepheus from Arcadia is believed to be the founder of the town of Kyrenia. A military leader, he arrived at the north coast of the island bringing with him many settlers from various towns in Achaea. One such town, located near present-day Aigio in the Peloponnese, was also called Kyrenia. The earliest reference made to the town of Kyrenia is found, together with that of the other seven city kingdoms of Cyprus, in Egyptian scripts dating from the period of Ramesses III, c. 1186–1155 BC. During the succession struggle between Ptolemy and Antigonus that followed Alexander the Great's death in 323 BC, Kyrenia was subdued under the rule of the kingdom of Lapithos that allied itself with Antigonus. Once the Ptolemies were successful in dominating the whole island, all city kingdoms were abolished. Kyrenia however, because of its maritime trade, continued to prosper. In the 2nd century BC, it is cited as one of six Cypriot towns which were benefactors to the Oracle at Delphi, that is, it received its special representatives who collected contributions and gifts. The town's prosperity at this time is also evident from its two temples, one dedicated to Apollo and the other to Aphrodite, and from the rich archeological finds dating from the Hellenistic period excavated within the present-day town limits. The Romans succeeded the Ptolemies as rulers of Cyprus and during this time Lapithos became the administrative centre of the district. The numerous tombs excavated and the rich archeological finds dating from this period indicate however, that Kyrenia continued to be a populous and prosperous town. An inscription found at the base of a limestone statue dating from 13-37 AD, refers to "Kyrenians Demos" that is, the town's inhabitants. Here the Romans left their mark by constructing a castle with a seawall in front of it so that boats and ships could anchor in safety. With the division of the Roman empire into an eastern and western empire, in 395 Cyprus came under the Byzantine emperors and the Greek Orthodox Church. The Byzantine emperors fortified Kyrenia's Roman castle and in the 10th century, they constructed in its vicinity a church dedicated to St. George, which the garrison used as a chapel. Then, when in 806, Lambousa was destroyed in the Arab raids, Kyrenia grew in importance because its castle and garrison offered its inhabitants protection and security. Isaac Komnenos of Cyprus, the island's last Byzantine governor, sent his family and treasures to the castle for safety in 1191 when King Richard I of England of England went to war with him. However, Richard defeated Comnenus and became the island's new master. King Richard's rule was not welcomed in Cyprus so he sold the island first to the Templars, and then in 1192, to Guy of Lusignan. Under Frankish rule, the villages of the district of Kyrenia became feudal estates and the town became once again the administrative and commercial centre for its region. The Lusignans enlarged the castle, built a wall and towers around the town, and extended the fortifications to the harbour. They also fortified the Byzantine castles of Saint Hilarion, Bouffavento and Kantara, which, together with Kyrenia Castle, protected the town from land and sea attacks. Kyrenia castle played a pivotal role in the island's history during the many disputes among the Frankish kings, as well as the conflicts with the Genoese. On numerous occasions the castle came under siege, but it never capitulated. In 1489, Cyprus came under Venetian rule. The Venetians modified Kyrenia Castle to meet the threat that the use of gunpowder and cannons posed. The castle's royal quarters and three of its four thin and elegant Frankish towers were demolished and replaced by thickset circular towers that could better withstand cannon fire. These new towers, however, were never put to the test. In 1571, the castle and the town surrendered to the Ottoman army. Under Ottoman rule, Kyrenia district was at first one of four, then one six, administrative districts of the island and the town remained its administrative capital. The town's fortunes declined however as it was transformed into a garrison town. The Christian population was expelled from the fortified city, and no one was allowed to reside within the castle other than the artillerymen and their families. These men terrorized the town's inhabitants and those of the surrounding villages, Christian and Muslim alike, with their arbitrary looting and crimes. In 1878, following a secret agreement between the British and Ottoman governments, the island was ceded to Great Britain as a military base in the eastern Mediterranean. At first, Great Britain did not undertake major administrative changes, so Kyrenia remained the district's capital. A road was constructed through the mountain pass to connect the town to the island's capital, Nicosia, and the harbour was repaired and expanded to accommodate increasing trade with the opposite coast. The town's municipal affairs were put in order and the municipal council took an active role in cleaning and modernizing the town. In 1893, a hospital was built through private contributions and effort. By the 1900s (decade), Kyrenia was a buzzing little town with a new school building, its own newspaper, social, educational and athletic clubs. It was also a favoured vacation spot for many wealthy Nicosia families. Many homes were converted into pensions and boarding houses and in 1906, the first hotel, The ‘Akteon,' was built by the sea. These first decades of British rule however, also saw increased economic hardship for the population. High taxation, frequent droughts and a world economic depression were precipitating factors for a mass exodus of people from the town and district, first to Egypt and then to the United States.
Kyrenia Today
In 1960, Cyprus gained its independence from Great Britain. However, the intercommunal conflict that broke out in 1963-64 between the island's Greek and Turkish population again eroded Kyrenia's prosperity. While skirmishes in Kyrenia were minimal, Turkish Cypriot irregulars blockaded the Kyrenia-Nicosia road and occupied Saint Hilarion castle. Despite these difficulties, the 1960s and early 1970s was a period of lively cultural and economic activity. A new town hall was built and a Folklore Museum established. The ancient shipwreck already alluded to was reassembled, together with all its amphorae and cargo, and permanently exhibited at the castle. The number of new hotels and tourists multiplied and a new road was constructed in the early 1970s connecting the town to Nicosia from the east. The town's cultural activities greatly increased. Other than the many traditional cultural and religious fairs and festivals annually celebrated, flower shows, yachting races, concerts and theatre performances were organized. Kyrenia, the smallest of Cypriot towns, was undoubtedly the island's most precious jewel. In 1974 the Turkish military conducted the Turkish Invasion of Cyprus. As a result, the Greeks of Kyrenia were expelled from their homes and became refugees. The Greek Cypriots of Kyrenia abandoned their homes and headed to south of what is now the green line. Today, the Republic of Cyprus continues to have a bishop of Kyrenia and the pre-1974 Greek inhabitants of Kyrenia continue to participate elections for the Kyrenia municipality in exile.
	Useful Links:
Landmarks & Attractions
Among the most popular tourist attractions are, Kyrenia Castle, Old Harbour, The Shipwreck Museum, and St. Hilarion Castle. Outside the town of Kyrenia, on the Kyrenia Mountain Range, Buffavento Castle, St. Hilarion Castle and Kantara Castle can be found. Along with Kyrenia Castle, these four fortifications formed a defence system that protected the town from land and sea attacks. During the Lusignan rule the Buffavento Castle had a name of "Chateau du Lion" and served as a prison. It is believed that after Richard the Lion Heart came to Cyprus, the Byzantine King of the island, Isaac Comnenus, was imprisoned there. St. Hilarion castle was originally a monastery, founded by a monk Hilarion. The monastery was rebuilt into a castle in the 12th century. Kantara castle was probably constructed by the Byzantines following the Arab raids on Cyprus. The castle was first mentioned in 1191, when Richard the Lion Heart conquered the island. Also a must see site is Bellapais Abbey, the former monastery, is situated in Bellapais village. It was constructed between 1198 and 1205. Bellapais Abbey derives from the French "abbey de la paix" which means the Peace Monastery. The initial building was constructed between 1198 and 1205. The main building was built during the 13th century A.D. by the monks of the Order of St. Augustine. The pavilions around the courtyard and the refectory were constructed during the rule of King Hugh IV between 1324 and 1359. You can also visit here the Ancient Greek Orthodox Church of Mother Mary White Dressed.
Economy
Kyrenia is the centre of tourism in Northern Cyprus and one of the most important cities of Cyprus in terms of tourism. It hosts numerous shopping areas and malls, restaurants and a vibrant nightlife with a number of entertainment facilities. The harbour, in particular, is lined with cafés, bars and restaurants frequented by locals and tourists. In 2009, it had 93 hotels, nine of which had five stars. In early 2000s, the city and the surrounding area saw a construction boom due to the positive mood created by the Annan Plan for Cyprus. Between 2001 and 2003, construction cases per year increased by more than three times and the city saw a great amount of property being sold to foreigners. The construction boom resulted in the building of numerous housing estates and apartment buildings.[22] The city continued to receive heavy investment throughout the decade and is still a centre of investment. However, the recession that struck Northern Cyprus at the end of the 2000s and the beginning of 2010s affected the city and caused great difficulty for the small-scale entrepreneurs and shop owners to maintain their businesses. An important part of the economy consists of tourists that come to visit casinos, but this does not necessarily provide benefits for the local businesses.
Climate
Kyrenia, like Ayia Napa, Limassol and Paphos, has beautiful beaches with golden sand and a perfect sunny weather. During spring and autumn the weather is not uncomfortably warm and humidity is much less. During the summer Kyrenia has high temperatures and clear skies. The hottest months seem to be July and August with temperatures of 34°C or even 40°C. However, you shouldn’t worry too much because in Kyrenia the temperature is mostly around 30°C. The cooling sea breeze cools the temperature down. As for the water temperature it almost never decreases below 16°C. During peak summer months, the temperature in Kyrenia remains approximately 35°C. Winters are soft with slight rain and snow falls sporadically on the Kyrenia Mountain range-the snow melts as soon as it touches the ground. For Kyrenia, the rainiest season seems is of course winter. At the surrounding mountain range, there is a lot of rainfall regularly and thus the weather in Kyrenia is very enjoyable. Because of the altitude on the Kyrenia Mountain range, the highest number of rainfall ranges between 750 and 1110 mm. In general, winters in Kyrenia remain pleasant with the temperature being 15°C.
Transport
Public transportation in Kyrenia consists of busses and mini busses that run daily between all the towns and many of the larger villages.  Bus fares are very cheap and a great way to mix with the locals, and of course get to see how they really live. There is one downside to using the public buses, and this is that they may not be on time.  Bus departures are very regular between the big and smaller towns especially during the day but it is worth noting that these times are not fixed.  After 5pm public transport becomes less frequent and this is also true at weekends. Another method of transportation is by service taxi or dolmus as they are known locally.  They travel between all the local towns and villages also and are extremely reasonable.  There are also regular taxis but it is advisable to discuss the price before setting out on your journey.
Hospitals & Medical Centres
Kyrenia has one government hospital, and a number of private clinics. The Hospital in Kyrenia is called AK Cicek Hospital and first aid and small operations such as appendectomies are carried out here. Although the standard of healthcare available in Kyrenia is quite good although serious operations cannot be carried out here and patients must be transferred to the main hospital in Nicosia called Dr. Burhan Nalbandoglu.
Education
Education in North Cyprus is divided into three stages: Stage one is elementary school. This is for children between 7-12 and is carried out for a period of five years. Children must attend this period as it is compulsory. Some people look for private schooling and others are happy with state schooling. Northern Cyprus education depends on your preference and finance. Stage two is secondary-junior schooling(12-14 age). This is also compulsory and free and covers a period of three years. Stage three is provided by high schools known as Lycee`s and vocational schools in North Cyprus education system. Northern Cyprus focuses a lot on higher education and this is provided by the Teachers Training College, The Eastern Mediterranean University, Anadolu University, Open Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Girne American University, Near East University, European University of Lefke and International American University.
Living & Working Guide           Cyprus Guide           Limassol Guide           Larnaca Guide           Famagusta Guide          Nicosia Guide           Paphos Guide

A.T & P.E Homes (Cyprus) Ltd. is a Certified and Licensed Estate Agent Company: Registration No.: 808; License No.: 147/E.