Kyrenia, Ancient port city on the northern coast of Cyprus.
Kyrenia is an ancient port city on the northern coast of Cyprus in Girne District. The settlement sits on a crescent bay surrounded by mountains to the south and the Mediterranean to the north.
The settlement began in antiquity as a city-kingdom of Cyprus and served for thousands of years as a trading post between East and West. Byzantines, Venetians and Ottomans expanded the fortifications over the centuries and shaped the townscape.
The harbor attracts fishermen and boat owners who moor their vessels along the quayside as they have done for centuries. Locals sit in waterfront cafés and watch the daily traffic on the water.
The old town is easy to explore on foot, with lanes leading upward from the harbor and occasional steps. Access to the waterfront is direct and allows a walk along the quay wall with views toward the fortress.
The castle houses the wreck of a Greek merchant ship from the 4th century BC found off the coast. Archaeologists have preserved the vessel and its cargo of amphorae and almonds inside the fortress.
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