If you really want to escape to the country and experience the beauty and traditional culture that North Cyprus has to offer then you will love Guzelyurt.
The name of this market town, in the western region, literally means ‘beautiful land’ in Turkish and there really couldn’t be a better name. The area is one of the richest agricultural areas in due to its underwater springs. The red soil supports world famous citrus groves as well as apple orchards, grapefruits, melons and strawberries.
Each year the town hosts its Orange Festival which is a chance for the town and region to celebrate not just its delicious oranges but lovely lemons and grapefruits too. It is a beautiful area to visit with its lush green plateaus of varying hues. Here you can truly experience the simplicity of Turkish Cypriot life, far away from mass market tourism.
Like other towns in the North of Cyprus there are many historical sites left behind by former civilizations who inhabited this region. The town is home to one of the many churches countrywide dedicated to St. Mamas who is popularly known as patron saint of tax avoiders!
Next door is the museum of nature and archaeology which house collections of stuffed native animals and archaeological finds from the Neolithic and Bronze ages. Or you may be interested in Roman history and should take a trip to the ruins of Soli which date back to 600BC. If its peace and quiet you want then come and spend a day or more in Guzelyurt.
