Cyprus is located in the northeast of the Levantine Sea. The distance to the south coast of Turkey is approx. 68 km and to the west coast of Syria approx. 95 km. Cyprus lies on the Anatolian Plate and is geographically counted as Asia. The arch of Cyprus extends from the southern edge of Cyprus to Rhodes as the plate border between the Anatolian and the African plates.
The island has been de facto divided since 1974. The south is dominated by the Republic of Cyprus, which continues to encompass the entire island under international law (except the British military bases Akrotiri and Dekelia). However, the northern part is under the control of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is only recognized by Turkey, which occupied this area militarily in 1974 after Greek coup leaders tried to establish Cyprus's connection to Greece.
Between the two areas is a buffer zone, which also divides the capital Nicosia as a “Green Line” (Green Line / yeşil) and is monitored and managed by the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).
Within our project "A journey of Intimacy and Culture along the Roman Roads" we had the opportunity to spend some days on Northern Cyprus due to an invitation of the municipality Korucam / Kormacit in cooperation with a travel agency.
Karaman or Karmi is undoubtedly the prettiest and most well-kept village in Northern Cyprus. Time here seems to have stood still; little cobbled streets, meander around, running mountain streams and wild-life are the only sounds you are likely to hear.
From Kormacit we had left to the ruins of the ancient Roman City of Soli, a city whose traces can be followed back to the 11th century BC.
Wilbrand of Oldenburg, at the time Bishop of Paderborn and Utrecht, was very close to Emperor Otto IV, when between 1211-1212, he was send to prepare another crusade to the Holy Land, where he especially explored Cilicia and Cyprus.
Along with Kantara and Buffavento, St. Hilarion Castle was originally built as a watch tower for approaching pirates who launched a series of raids on Cyprus and the coasts of Anatolia from the 7th to the 10th century. By the 10th century, a Byzantine chapel and monastery had been added to the tower’s site and joined by a fort in the 12th century.
Besparmak Mountains, also called Pentadaktylos Mountains, together with the three mighty castles St. Hilarion, Buffavento and Kantara, stretches along the north coast of the island of Cyprus.
The olive tree needs a long time to grow big, but after that can get several hundred years old. Such and other miracles of nature, we should experience in Northern Cyprus during a trek that took us along the historic olive grove of Kalkanli.
Of course, we were excited to see where the invitation to North Cyprus was leading us to because never before we had heard of a village called Koruçam or Kormacit.
Buffavento Castle - better the ruins of the medieval hilltop castle in Northern Cyprus - is one of three castles in Pentadaktylos Mountain next to the castles of Kantara and St. Hilarion.
At the beginning couple of our readers have ask for getting some more detailled information about Cyprus, because lot of holiday makers take the chance to go to North Cyprus by ferry-boat from Antalya, Alanya or Silifke once being at the Turkish Riviera.
Nestled in the delightful village of Bellapais, high in the Five Finger Mountains, is the Bellapais Abbey. The name Bellapais is said to derive from the French “Abbaye de la paix” meaning Monastery of Peace.
Standing formidably at the entrance to the harbour and commanding excellent views of the harbour entrance and surrounding seas is Kyrenia Castle, dating back to the 1500s.
One of the region’s many highlights is the picturesque port town of Girne which is famous for its historic and perfectly crescent-shaped harbour set against the dramatic backdrop of the Five Finger Mountains.
As part of our explorations of Northern Cyprus we approached at the ruins of Salamis next to Famagusta, which played an important rule as a town kingdom from the 11th century BC as it was the capital among Cypriot city kingdoms.
About eight kilometers north of Famagusta and two kilometers west of Salamis you will find the St. Barnabas Monastery and the tomb where the martyr Barnabas is revered to as a Cypriot national saint.
Within our project we visited Lefkosa / Nicosia, the still divided capital of Cyprus, which is at the same time and despite of that the largest city on the island of Cyprus with about 73,000 inhabitants.