History of Kyrenia and why to visit

Kyrenia is the jewel of North Cyprus. A thriving hub of tourism with plenty of three to five-star hotels and mouth-watering eateries, it boasts shopping outlets, a vibrant night-life and a diverse cultural scene with plenty of entertainment for the holidaymaker. Set between the calm, azure blue of the Med to the north and the Besparmak (Five Finger) mountains to the south, there is far more to Kyrenia than meets the eye. For thousands of years, it has been host to many civilisations that have left the indelible imprint of their architecture and conflicts on this impressive city. Tomes could be written on the history of Kyrenia but we’ve put together some important facts as an introduction to this must-visit destination.

Kyrenia was founded at the end of the Trojan War by settlers from the Achaean area of Greece. Excavations in the area show evidence of Neolithic activity, roughly 5800 – 3000 BC. The fact that it was a prominent port within easy reach of Asian Minor sustained its development for centuries and it became an important trade hub. Take a trip to the Shipwreck Museum to see the remains of an ancient ship found just outside Kyrenia Harbour. It dates from around 4th or 3rd century BC and underlines the pivotal role of trade in Kyrenia. It’s pretty remarkable to see a ship that could be similar to those written about in Homer’s Odyssey!

A quick guide to Kyrenia Castle quickly uncovers the complex succession of sieges and conquests the area has endured since antiquity. Its imposing structure dominates the harbour and, naturally, was a key position to defend the city. It is not entirely clear when the castle was built but excavations have unearthed Hellenic and Roman artefacts nearby. Some historians think the current structure was built on the site of a Roman fort, while the main structure was probably built by Byzantines in 7th Century to defend Kyrenia against Arab invasions.
With each new ruler came alterations to the castle. A great deal of the present castle was built by King John d’Ibelin, during the Lusignan period. The castle was severely damaged by Venetian attacks in 1373 AD, and when they finally captured it in 1491 AD, they made more changes to it and added a thick wall for cannons. The Venetians put gun ports so that they could direct fire against attackers. In 1570, when Kyrenia admitted defeat to the Ottoman Empire, the castle received yet another makeover.

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Next up were the British in 1878 who undid many Ottoman changes.Even as you walk around Kyrenia, you can’t help but step on history. Underground, there are some 70 catacombs hewn into the underlying limestone. Approximately 2,000 years ago, the Romans quarried stone, which was used as building material in the town. Later, Christians carved tombs in the area, a practice that went on for 700 years, from 400 AD to 1100 AD.

There has been a great deal of building work in Kyrenia over the last few years and as a result, catacombs are still being unearthed (much to the joy of builders who look for buried treasure, or grave goods, before reporting the tomb). Currently, you can only visit one of the catacombs located on one of the oldest streets in the town that runs past the Folk Museum and the church of Chrysopolitissa. I hope you enjoyed our historical breakdown of Kyrenia and why we think it’s an incredibly fascinating and interesting place to visit.

Have you been to Kyrenia? If so what would you recommend to other holiday makers in North Cyprus? Please discuss and share below.