Traveller's101

Places to see in Lefke (Lefka)

Lefke is one of the most beautiful areas of Cyprus with some very interesting attractions that will appeal to all. From long shipping piers to uniquely growing plants, Lefke is not your ordinary travel destination. But then, Cyprus is not your ordinary island. Here are a few attractions in and around Lefke in the northern part of Cyprus.

Soli The Ancient Cypriot City Kingdom

Considered one of the ten ancient kingdoms of the island nation, Soli was built near the river Xero and destroyed in the 7th century by attacking Arab raiders. Archaeologists have placed the ruins back to the 11th century B.C. While the entire city has yet to be excavated, the theatre, basilica, open air market, and many intact mosaics are available for the public to see. There were plenty of copper deposits near the city allowing the ancient residents access to timber and material for their smelters. Soli has also been identified as the traditional place of St. Mark’s baptism.

Vouni Palace

The palace was built in the 5th century by Persian sympathizer Doxandros in an effort to keep the people who were supporting the Greek settlers at Soli in their place. Excavations at the palace have uncovered 137 rooms that included bath rooms, bedrooms, administrative offices, kitchens, living areas, cisterns, hot-baths, and more.

Vouni Palace

Photo by: www.lastminute.com

The palace stood for seventy years until the people of Soli destroyed it. It was never reconstructed and laid in ruin until excavations were started. The Vouni Treasure that was found included silver and gold bracelets, silver cups, and coins with the seals of the Persians on them. There is also a temple to Athena on the grounds as well as evidence of pre-Neolithic settlements in the area.

Piri Osman Pasha Mosque

This mosque, like so many others on the island of Cyprus, started out as a Byzantine church that was converted when the Ottoman’s took over the island. The mosque was in disrepair by this time and it was rebuilt by the grandson of Piri Osman Pasha, the young man giving the mosque the honorific. It was built in the typical style of the Ottoman’s with the traditional domed roof. There are two graves outside the mosque, one of them being Vizier Osman Pasha. This particular mosque is considered lucky by people of many religions and many of them stop here and take advantage of some of the beliefs that surround it.

European University Of Lefke

This non-profit university was founded in 1990 by the Cyprus Science Foundation and offers its international complement of student’s studies and degrees in a variety of contemporary educational subjects. With over 4,000 international students from 35 different countries, the university offers six Associates, 26 Undergraduate, and 11 Postgraduate degrees. All of the classes are taught in English.

Cengiz Topel Memorial

The island of Cyprus has a very violent and turbulent history. Between 1963 and1964, the Greek Cypriots on the island began a systematic ethnic cleansing of the Turkish Cypriots living there. 103 villages were evacuated and their villages moved into enclaves. During this time a military movement was started against the Turkish Cypriots at the Erenkoy enclave on the northwest coast with 500 university students holding their own against over a thousand Greek soldiers. The Turkish Air Force intervened and Captain Cengiz Topel was shot down, captured, and murdered by Greek Cypriots. He was returned to this area in Lefke and the monument erected in his memory along the coastal road near Cemokonagi.

Cyprus’ Largest Vine

The village of Yegilirmak is a few miles west of the Palace of Vouni in Lefke Cyprus. Visitors to this little town are instructed to make a right at the village square and cross over a bridge that leads to a very small and private beach. The beach is called Asmah Plaj and visitors will find five different restaurants there within the space of 100 yards. The name of the beach comes from the Turkish word for vine, and visitors will see that it is aptly named because of the grapevines that cover the area. The most westerly restaurant in this secluded place owns the Guinness Book of World Records grape vine. It was planted in 1947 and is the largest vine on the island with a total diameter of 1.4m. The restaurants open at varying times, but visitors can usually find that one of them is open to serve coffee or a glass of beer while they marvel over the vines.

Yedidalga Public Beach

Located on the coastline of Lefke, this public beach was built in 1980 in order to give the residents a place for entertainment and relaxation. The shore can hold 1,500 people at a time, and the water 1,000 under the watchful eyes of local lifeguards. There are bars and other restaurants along the beach for the public’s enjoyment.