ALKAN Holiday Village

Turtle Beach:

The Loggerhead turtle and the Green turtle come ashore on the beach in front of the restaurant to lay their eggs.

This happens between mid June to late July late at night.

The young turtles hatch early August to mid September,
approximately 50 days after they have been laid.

These pictures show the adult turtle tracks on the beach, and in the background is ALKAN Holiday Village Bungalow Accommodation.

The Antiphonitis Monastery:

This monastery lays in a small valley in the Besparmak (Five Finger Mountains).

The church is an example of a Byzantine eight column church.

Beautiful wall and ceiling frescoes dating to the 15th century can be admired.

(Approximately 20 minute drive from Alkan Holiday Village)

Alevkaya Herbarium:


THE HERBARIUM AT ALEVKAYA IS ABOUT A 40 MINUTE DRIVE THROUGH SMALL VILLAGES AND FORESTS OF PINE TREES. THERE ARE MORE THEN 1800 VARIETIES OF PLANTS AND FLOWERS ON CYPRUS, MANY WHICH DO NOT EXIST ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD. THE HERBARIUM HOUSES 800 PLANT SPECIMENS AND IS WELL WORTH A VISIT FOR A SERIOUS OR AMATEUR BOTANIST.

THIRTY TWO SPECIES OF ORCHIDS HAVE BEEN RECORDED IN NORTH CYPRUS INCLUDING THE YELLOW BEE ORCHID, PLOUGHSHARE ORCHID AND ANATOLIAN ORCHID. THE BEST TIME FOR SPOTTING ORCHIDS IS END OF FEBRUARY AND MARCH.

Bellapais Monastery:

The monastery, one of the unparalleled samples of Gothic Art, is situated on the flanks of the Five-finger (Kyrenia) Mountains. Its name today derives from the French "Abbaye de la paix", which means "The Peace Monastery".

The first settlers of the monastery are the priests of the Augustinian order who had migrated from Jerusalem. The first monastery building was constructed between 1198-1205. Most sections of the building which can be seen today was built by the French King Hugh III between 1267-1284. The pavilions around the courtyard and the refectory were constructed during the reign of King Hugh IV (1324-1359).

After Cyprus was conquered by the Ottomans, the monastery was given to the Greek Orthodox Church. The church next to the courtyard is the part which is in the best condition.

The Italian frescoes on the front walls were made in the 15th century. The two marble tombs in the courtyard were used as washbasins by the priests for some time. On the door behind the tombs the insignia of the Jerusalem, Lusignan, and Cyprus Kingdoms are fixed. The refectory of the monastery is also an example of unequalled Gothic Art.

The rooms to the east of the courtyard in the middle, belonged to the priests. The column in the middle of the council chamber is thought to have belonged to the early Byzantine Church.

The dormitories of the priests and the chamber of accounts are on the upper floor.

Kyrenia Castle and Harbour:

	The harbour is appreciated for its natural beauty. In its heyday it was lined with warehouses, stored with fruits of the countryside whilst they awaited export.
The buildings are now mostly all restaurants, all of which have tables and chairs lining the water. The castle at the east end of the harbour is a very spectacular site and within its walls there is a 12 century chapel showing reused late Roman capitals.
	The charming and tiny harbour, full of yachts and fishing boats, is framed by the colossal hulk of its Crusader castle. With the backdrop of the jagged mountains behind and the calm sparkling sea in front, the harbour has an intoxicatingly serene atmosphere.

Kantara Castle:

Kantara Castle is the easternmost of the castles situated on the Kyrenia mountain range in North Cyprus. Laying at 630 metres above sea level it is well positioned to control the entrances to Karpass Peninsula and Mesaoria plain.

It is thought to be built in the 10th century as a lookout post by the Byzantines against the raiding Arabs. The castle is first time mentioned in history when Richard the Lionheart captured Cyprus in 1191 and Isaac Comnenus, the byzantine ruler of the island, took refuge in the castle.

the ascent route to Kantara is narrow but quite driveable and there are regular passing places along the way.

There is no direct public transport that reaches the castle.

The name of the castle is said to be derived from the Arabic quantara, which means "arch" or "bridge", although it is hard to pinpoint such a structure in the surrounding landscape