Kyrenia — Bitter Lemon

Our journey begins in the island’s capital, Nicosia, the only city in the world divided into two parts.

It is here that we will cross the “Green Line” – the border between Northern and Southern Cyprus – before heading on to the Pentadaktylos mountain range (Five Fingers).

Our first stop will be the wonderful Castle of St Hilarion, built atop the mountain range as far back as the 8th century. A charming panorama will open up before us, carrying us back into the past.

We’ll then head to Bellapais Abbey – a unique example of the Cypriot Gothic style brought to the island by Frankish knights. It is the first Catholic monastery in Cyprus, founded by the Augustinian order in the early 13th century. From there we’ll see the town of Kyrenia and the northern coast of Cyprus.

You’ll be able to have lunch at a nearby restaurant, after which we’ll continue on towards Kyrenia, a town of snow-white houses, a medieval castle and a picturesque horseshoe-shaped bay reminiscent of a coastal town in the south of France. Here we’ll visit the castle, built in the 7th century to defend the town against Arab raids. Inside the castle stand the Church of St George and the Shipwreck Museum, home to the hull of a 4th-century BC merchant vessel and the remains of the cargo it carried. It is thought to be the oldest merchant ship ever discovered.

DATES: Friday

TOUR DURATION: 9am to 4pm.

MEALS: lunch is not included in the price, but you will have time for a bite to eat before the return journey.

USEFUL TIP: you must bring your passport. We recommend wearing comfortable shoes. Don’t forget your camera.

INTERESTING FACT: The Castle of St Hilarion stands 700 metres above the sea between two rocky peaks. Signal fires were once used to communicate with the castles of Kyrenia, Buffavento and Kantara. On the upper level of the castle stands the infamous Tower of Prince John, named after a Cypriot prince who was thrown from its window as the result of a conspiracy.