Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
KYRENIA (GIRNE)
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Kyrenia has always been governed by the sea. Its natural harbour, once so attractive to
those with empirical ambitions, is today just as popular with visitors whose only desire is to
stroll the seaside strand and hop on a boat cruise around the bay. Climb up the honey-col-
oured fortifications of the Byzantine castle, lording-it-up over the horseshoe-shaped inlet,
and stare down at the fishing boats bobbing in the water. Then join the flocks of day-trip-
pers and travellers taking up residence outside the former carob warehouses that house
harbour-side cafes and restaurants to ponder this ancient port's mammoth history while
staring out to sea.
The traders and exporters that once bustled through here may be long gone - replaced by
boat-excursion and restaurant touts - but you can still catch a whiff of the days long-gone
by wandering the narrow twisty lanes of the Old Town which hug the harbour. Stroll the
area in the early morning before business starts for the day and you'll experience Kyrenia
at its most picturesque. Or join everyone else promenading shoreside in the evening to wit-
ness the town's buzzing holidaymaker modern soul.
History
Once one of the ancient city kingdoms of Cyprus, Kyrenia was founded by Mycenaean
Greeks around 1200 BC. From this point Kyrenia's history is, in essence, the history of its
castle. Little more is known about the town until the castle's construction by the Byzantines
in the 7th century to ward off continuing Arab raids.
In 1191 the castle was captured by Richard the Lionheart of England, on his way to Jeru-
salem and a third crusade. The castle was then used as both a residence and prison. It was
sold to the Knights Templar and then gifted to Guy de Lusignan when he became king of
Cyprus.
In the 14th century the Venetians extended the castle and built the bulbous sea-facing
fortifications still seen today. During Ottoman rule, changes to the castle were again made,
while Kyrenia itself functioned primarily as the island's only northern port.
Kyrenia has long since given up this port role, as the Old Harbour's size and depth only
allow it to service tourist crafts, fishing boats and the small yachts commonly found in its
cluttered quays. Two kilometres to the east of Kyrenia, there is now a large purpose-built
harbour created to receive commercial and passenger ships from Turkey.
During British rule, the town became a favourite with retiring (ex-colonial) British civil
servants. When Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974, it used the beaches to the west of Kyrenia
