Kyrenia, Kyrenia (Greek Κερύνεια) / Girne (Turkish Girne) is a port city on the northern coast of the island of Cyprus, since 1974 being part of the partially recognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Kyrenia is located at the foot of the mountains of the same name, directly by the sea. In Kyrenia, it is still forbidden to build high-rise buildings; The tallest building in the city has 5 floors. Mete Adanir is the central street of the city.

History
The earliest settlements on the territory of the city, according to archaeological data, appeared in the Neolithic era around 5800 BC. e., also found graves of the Mycenaean and Achaean cultures, dating back to 1300-600 years. BC e. The legendary founder of the city is Cepheus from Arcadia, although the city of Eion on the northern coast of the Peloponnese had an ancient name of Kerineia. For the first time, Kyrenia is mentioned in written sources in Egyptian documents of the era of Pharaoh Ramses III as one of the eight kingdoms of Cyprus. Subsequently, Kyrenia, along with neighboring Lapethos, became an important center of maritime trade with Asia Minor and Greece, which is confirmed by the Kyrenia ship discovered in 1965 in the city harbor.
В IV веке BC e. Kyrenia fell under the rule of Lapethos, who supported Antigonus in rivalry with Ptolemy, and after the subordination of Cyprus to the power of Egypt and the Ptolemies, all kingdoms were abolished, but the economic growth of Kyrenia continued, so it was one of the six Cypriot cities that donated to the Delphic oracle. After the incorporation of Cyprus into the Roman Empire, Lapethos again became the administrative center, while Kyrenia retained its role as a major trading center and a fortress was built in it to protect the harbor. Quite early, Christianity spread in the city, whose followers took refuge in the catacombs of Hrisokawa, and a bishopric was established. Although Christianity became the official religion of the empire in 313, Kyrenia was ruled by Licinius until 324, so persecution continued during this period.

From 395 Cyprus went to Byzantium, and after the destruction of Lapethos as a result of an Arab raid in 813, it strengthened its political role. In the 10th century, the castle was expanded and later became the residence of Isaac Comnenus, who was deposed in 1191 by the crusaders. After the transition of Cyprus under the rule of the Lusignans, who continued to strengthen the castle, erected new city walls, fortifications in the harbor and the surrounding castles of St. Hilarion, Buffavento and Kantara. Kyrenia Castle was repeatedly besieged by the Genoese, but was never taken.
After receiving the island to the Venetians in 1489, the castle was again completely rebuilt, and the royal residence was replaced by the construction of powder magazines, and the towers were rebuilt into more massive ones. However, this did not help save the castle from the voluntary surrender of the castle to the Ottoman Turks in 1571, who evicted the civilian population from the castle outside the city walls, which caused the territorial growth of the city, which became the administrative center of one of the four (later six) districts of Cyprus.
When Cyprus was occupied by Great Britain in 1878, a highway was built to Nicosia through the Kyrenia Range, new schools, hospitals, clubs, the first hotels. However, after the Greco-Turkish War and especially as a result of the Great Depression, the commercial importance of the city decreased, an outflow of residents began, and tourism became the main source of income, which continued after independence in 1960. At that time, 83% of the population of the city and the surrounding area were Greek Cypriots and Maronites, and only 15% are Turkish Cypriots, however, Kyrenia became the scene of interethnic clashes between Greeks and Turks, in 1963 the Turks blocked the highway to Nicosia and captured the castle of St. Hilarion. On July 20, 1974, Kyrenia became the first city captured as a result of the Turkish invasion, which led to the exodus of the Greeks to the southern part of the island and the economic crisis.
There is currently a parallel Greek City Hall of Kyrenia in Nicosia and the seat of the Kyrenia Archbishop of the Cypriot Orthodox Church.

Sights
– Kyrenia Castle, finally completed in 1540, which houses the Shipwreck Museum and houses the Kyrenia ship
– The Museum of Icons in the Church of the Archangel Michael and the nearby ruins of a 4th-century church
– The Gothic Augustinian Bellapais Abbey in the mountain village of Bellapais adjacent to the city, begun in 1198-1205 and subsequently completed until 1359; currently partially destroyed