North Cyprus has long been the place
for people to holiday and retire. Recently North Cyprus has become
a hot news item with hopes of reunification with the South and
the possible sharp increase in property prices that would follow
North Cyprus properties reflecting the values currently seen in
the South. Historically North Cyprus was the favoured location
for home buyers due to the beautiful mountain and sea views and
the more temperate climate.
With the advent of Cyprus joining the EEC, access to North Cyprus
for Europeans has become much more simple with many more flights
now available through Larnaca.
Europeans who have only recently seen potential of a unified island and the prospect of Cyprus becoming part of the EU are only now discovering the un-spoilt beauty of the Northern Cyprus .
The mixture of wooded mountains, crusader castles and a beautiful coastline is proving irresistible to investors/buyers. The lack of commercial over building offers buyers the chance to find idyllic spots near the beautiful harbour town of Kyrenia where mountain and sea views are uninterrupted and the pace of life is what you make it.
Hillside villages such as Lapta and
Esentepe enjoy the advantage of looking down on the coastline
of un-spoilt bays and beaches. At the same time, the villages
retain their unique personalities and charm as local shops, bars
and restaurants
create a simple community set in olive groves and woods.
Kyrenia and nearby abbey at Bellapais have historically been the focus for tourists visiting Northern Cyprus . Kyrenia, where the old Venetian harbour and castle provide one of the few complete medieval towns as yet unspoiled by time and over exposure. The growing number of fine restaurants and nightlife in the old town has reflected the international nature of the expanding community in the area. Bellapais for its beautiful ruined abbey and mountain setting.
Famagusta was for many years the place where the miles of sandy beaches proved irresistible to families seeking seaside fun and relaxation. The fortified old town and the easy access to the wild and un-spoilt beaches of the Karpas offer buyers the choice of a calm or hectic social life at prices that cannot be found in any other are of the Mediterranean .
The geography of
North Cyprus is characterized by a unique blend of mountains,
plains, and beaches. The Kyrenia Mountains range with its magnificent
jagged limestone peaks, the highest of which is Mount Icova at
3,357 ft. runs along most of the northern coastline from a startling
backdrop. To the east of the island the mountain range loses height
as it extends along the narrow peninsula known as Karpas,
or more affectionately,`The Panhandle'. It is here that the best
beaches of Cyprus can be found, long wide empty bays of the purest
sand that stretch for miles.
To the south of
the Kyrenia range lies Nicosia
(Lefkosa) (population 39,000), the capital of T.R.N.C., through
which runs the boundary, or as it is called `The Green Line' separating
the North from South Cyprus. The other major centers are the tourist
resorts of Famagusta
(Magusa) (population 30,000), Kyrenia
(Girne) (population 22,000), and the citrus center of Güzelyurt
(Morphou) (population 15,000). More information about North
Cyprus can be obtained from the address www.tourism.trnc.net
