The ruins here, north of Famagusta,
are Cyprus’
best preserved pre Christian site. There is a fully restored Roman
amphitheater, as well as a gymnasium with marble baths and some tombs. The
mosaics are particularly lovely. An archeological museum and the Monastery of
St. Barnabas are nearby.
St. Hilarion Castle
South of Kyrenia, St. Hilarion Castle was named after a monk who lived in a
cave on the mountain overlooking the plain of Kyrenia. It was originally built
by the Byzantines to defend the island against Muslim attack. It is filled with
hidden rooms, tunnels, overgrown gardens and steep staircases and paths. The
castle has three parts. The parapets for the defense of the main entrance were
fortified by the Byzantines in the 11th century. The lower section of the
castle was used for the soldiers and the horses. The middle section contained
the kitchen, the church and a big cistern. At the entrance to the castle in the
upper section there is a Lusignan Gate. There is a courtyard in the middle. The
nobility used to live in the Eastern section. The kitchen and the other rooms
for daily use were in the western section. The panoramic view through the
Queen’s window, carved in the Gothic style, on the second floor of the royal
apartments is superb. The Prince John
Tower is at the top.