Kyrenia or
Girne, as the Turkish Cypriots know it, is situated on the northern side of the
area, laying between the Mediterranean
Sea and the Besparmak (Five Fingers) Mountains.
It is the
most popular area for tourists and has a wide range of hotels and holiday
villages to suit all tastes, high quality luxury to very comfortable
self-catering facilities. The town itself has the famous old horseshoe shaped
harbour with a host of cafes and restaurants and is overlooked by the seventh
century Kyrenia castle. The castle houses a fascinating shipwreck museum.
Within a relatively short car drive can be found the ancient castles of St.
Hilarian and Buffavento and also Bellapais Abbey which was founded by Augustine
monks in the 13th. Century. The terrain is suitable for those fond of walking
with many variations of plant life being abundant. The coast line has many
coves, very safe and suitable for swimming, but it must be appreciated that a
number of beaches are of a rocky nature and great care is needed if the
intention is to swim there.