Kuwait Times

Published Date: March 14, 2007
By Javaid Ahmad

On the first look Turkish Republic of North Cyprus indeed seems to be a paradise on earth. It has immense and unmatched natural beauty, dotted with unique historical sites. It lies in the crystal clear, blue water of the Mediterranean Sea only 40 miles off the coast of Turkey. It is 60 miles away from Syria and 250 miles from Egypt. It is the third biggest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily and Sardinia.

North Cyprus is known for its beautiful and pristine natural landscape with a coastline of exquisite sandy beaches. The island has a fair share of history - nine thousand years of it. Evidence of this is in the blend of the past and the present with Gothic churches prevailing alongside ruined temples. Remnants of the British architecture are a reminder of the British colonization of the island. The atmosphere of North Cyprus is enchanting and there is something to offer for every age group. It has the potential to become one of the best tourist destinations of the world.

WHERE TO GO GIRNE

Girne is an exceptionally beautiful city located just an hours drive from the Ercan airport. This is a small, quiet town on the northern coast of Cyprus founded by the Myceans around 1680BC. It has a tiny, horseshoe shaped harbour with a background of the majestic, Besparmark mountain range. The old harbour is bordered by what used to be the Carob Worehouse. Now these warehouses have been converted to cafes, restaurants and bars.

Fishing boats and colourful yachts are moored in this harbour presenting a very pretty picture overall. To the east of the harbour is the majestic Girne Castle a truly magnificent edifice constructed by the Byzantines way back in the 9th century. This fortress was further beautified by the Lusignans and then by the Venetians. It is one of the most impressive sites in the Mediterranean. The castle houses a shipwreck museum where the salvaged remains of a 4th century cargo ship- the Amphorae one are displayed. This includes a number of artefacts and old items.

BELLAPAIS ABBY

Visiting Abby was a wonderful experience. The modern name is the corrupt form of the Abbays de la Poix or the Abbey of peace. The monument is regarded as a masterpiece of Gothic architecture that has a remarkable history. The first monks who had settled here were the Augustinions who had to flee from Jerusalem when the city fell to Salahuddin Ayubi in 1187. It is believed that the original construction was carried out between 1198-1205, and a large part of the modern day complex was constructed during the rule of the French King Hugh III between 1267-1284.

Following the Ottoman conquest, the monks were turned out and the structure was given to the Greek Orthodox Church. The monastery has a gate, whose tower is a later addition and a fore court. The church, which is situated on one side of the courtyard is the best-preserved part of the monument and dates back to the 13th century. The murals which have survived above its façade are thought to go back to the 15th century. The fore court leads to a cloister of 18 arches. The marble lintel above the door contains the coat of arms of the Royals quartering of Cyprus, Jerusalem and Lusignans.

LEFKOSA (NICOSIA)

This is the capital of the North Cyprus. To the outside world it is called Nicosia. It has a population of 62,000 people. It's the main administrative, business and financial capital. Once the ancient kingdom of Ledra, the city flourished when it became the capital of the Lusignans. The old town is surrounded by wall of about 3 miles circumference, which was further fortified by the Venetians in 1567, it is flanked by eleven bastions. The Selimiye mosque - formerly known as the St Sophia Cathedral - is the earliest and perhaps the finest of the Lusignan churches, commissioned by Queen Alix of Champagne, wife of Hugest I. It was built on the pattern of the Cathedrals of Rouen & Chathedrals in the 16th century. Later it was transformed into a mosque with addition of two minarets.

MUSEUM OF BARBARISM

This was the residence of Major Dr Nihat Ilhan, who was serving in the Cyprus Turkish army contingent. During the attack launched on Turkey by the Greeks on 2 December 1963, Dr Ilhan's family were brutally killed in the toilet where they were trying to hide by the marauding Greeks.  Dr Nihat was the only survival. Pictures and stories published in international newspaper reflected Greek atrocities committed during and after 1963 are exhibited in this home which has been converted into a museum.

THE BUYUK HAN

One of the most beautiful structures built during the Ottoman era in Cyprus. It was built to be a rest house and is located in the market centre within the walls of the city of Nicosia. It was built by the then Governor Mustafa Pasha in 1572, just after the conquest of the island by the Ottomans, in order to provide accommodation for the weary travellers and merchants from Anatolia and other parts of the island. The Han is a square, two-storey building, consisting of 68 rooms, open to cross-vaulted galleries surrounding the inner courtyard and ten shops facing the market street.

GAZI MAGUSA

Originated as a small commercial and fishing port. However with the advent of the Crusades and the reign of the Lusignans, it attained greater strategic significance. Town is surrounded by a wall almost a meter wide, which was constructed by the Lusignans and further reinforced by the Venetians Senetians in 1489. There are around 365 places of worship in Gazi Magusa, the most popular being Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque, formerly the Saint Nicholas Cathedral, where Lusignan Kings were crowned. Its name was changed after the conquest of the Island in 15th by the Ottoman rulers. It is arguably the finest display of Gothic architecture.

A BIT OF POLITICS

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was founded on 15 Nov 1983 and has an effective government in place. It is located in northern Cyprus within the internationally recognised borders of the Republic of Cyprus. The TRNC declared its independence nine years after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus following an attempt to unite the island with Greece. It is dependent on and recognized only by Turkey. The United Nations recognizes the de jure sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus over the whole island.

The democratically elected government of North Cyprus includes a legislative authority, an independent judiciary and all other ingredients of statehood. The present government is a coalition and has been formed by the Republican Turkish Party and joint force (RTP-JF) and the Freedom and Reform Party (FRP). The Prime Minister of the island is Ferdi Sabit Soyer and the Deputy Prime minister Turgay Avci (Head of the FRP) is also the Foreign Minister.