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Iskele

Iskele

One of the largest towns in the North, İskele is fast building a name for itself as an up-and-coming area, with wonderful golden beaches and fish restaurants. Formerly called Trikomo, legend has it as the very town the Goddess Aphrodite brought the first fruit to in Cyprus.

There are two churches of historical importance in the village, Panayia Theotokos which is also a museum, built in the 12th century, and the tiny cruciform church of Ayios Iakovos (St James) erected in the 15th century.

Iskele is an important tourist centre. The people are hospitable, very interested in culture and art related activities. In the municipal park of Iskele, locals and tourists stay up until the break of dawn singing live music, and enjoying sweet times past. It’s famous for its annual festival, held during the first two weeks in July, and the Mehmetcik (Galateia) grape festival, normally held during the first week in August. Both these festivals are major regional cultural events, attracting visitors across the island. Travel further North and the sandier shores and clear blue waters of Bafra are second to none. Previously an old village, Bafra has metamorphosised into a major tourism hotspot with the development of high-class hotels and casinos. On the main road from Famagusta to the Karpaz Peninsula, it’s worth a stop, if only to take in the fresh sea breeze.

With sandy beaches, local taverns, and many all-inclusive hotels and resorts, Iskele is also popular among expats. Long Beach, the main beach in Iskele, is 1.5 miles long and the longest beach in Northern Cyprus. Golden Beach, the most beautiful beach on the whole island, is on the Karpaz Peninsula, connected to the Iskele area. Apostolos Andreas Monastery is on the Karpaz Peninsula as well. According to legend, during a journey to the Holy Land, St Andrew’s ship stopped here. He hit the rocks with his staff, and when water sprang out of the land, it healed the captain’s eye, who had been blind for years. Between the central area of Iskele and Karpaz Peninsula, there's Boğaz,, which is a stronghold of seafood restaurants. These are traditional Cypriot taverns where you can have fish and meze at very affordable prices. In Bafra, there's hotels and resorts where you can indulge in spas, massages, traditional Turkish hammams, sauna, open buffet restaurants, bars, private pools, and beach clubs.

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