NORTHERN CYPRUS
While the Greek part of Cyprus is a tourist mainstay, the less frequented Northern Cyprus, now occupied by Turkey, deserves some mention. Due to the UN buffer zone dividing Greek and Turkish Cyprus, with the island’s capital Nicosia split down the middle between both sides, the Northern side seems to have been trapped in time with its golden beaches, ancient villages and green landscapes. A modicum of luxury can be had, with resorts dotting the seaside town of Kyrenia with its movie-ready castle. Alagadi Beach nearby prides itself as the location for loggerhead and green turtle hatchlings in high Summer. Bellapais Village, made famous by Lawrence Durrell in his biography Bitter Lemons is worth a look as is the ruins of Salamis, an impressive archaeological site by the sea with buildings commissioned by Hadrian. Soli, purportedly where St. Mark was buried, still bear the hallmarks of the late Roman and early Byzantine ages.
