With its Beautiful Gardens: Güzelyurt

Güzelyurt stands out with the beauty its name deserves. This region, covered with fertile soil, is known as the citrus production center of the island.

Guzelyurt is a city located in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Located in the northwest of the island of Cyprus, Güzelyurt is a beautiful place, as it takes its name, surrounded by citrus gardens. Oranges, grapefruits, watermelons, melons and various vegetables are grown in Güzelyurt, which is famous for its fertile lands. While most of these citrus fruits are exported, some of them are consumed and exported in the domestic market as fruit juice. Lefke, located in the northwest of the island, 74 kilometers away from Nicosia, is also famous for its citrus fruits, like Guzelyurt.

Among the historical places, Soli, Soli Basilica, Soli Theater and Mamas Monastery are important.

Middle East Technical University TRNC Campus is located in the town of Kalkanlı within the borders of Güzelyurt.

St. Mamas Church is known for its ancient icon exhibition.

Guzelyurt Nature and Archeology Museum, stuffed samples of island animals and B.C. It exhibits archaeological finds dating back to 7000 BC.

The basilica in the Soli ruins (Soli Ruins) has the best preserved mosaic and marble floor in Northern Cyprus. There is also a restored theater and a market here, as well as the ruins of a temple dedicated to Aphrodite.

Vuni Ruins and Palace is the only Persian palace on the island. The ruins of the palace are located on a striking hill overlooking the sea.

HISTORICAL PLACES
Guzelyurt Archeology and Nature Museum; Güzelyurt Archeology and Nature Museum, the first Archeology museum in TRNC, is located in a building used as the Metropolitan Municipality before the 1974 Peace Operation. This building, which was allocated to the Department of Antiquities and Museums in 1974, was opened to visitors as a museum in 1979, after the necessary renovations and arrangements were made. The museum consists of two sections: archeology and nature. In the nature section, local and migratory bird species found in Cyprus, insects, snakes, fish species living in the Mediterranean and stone varieties found in the geological structure of Cyprus are exhibited. In the archeology section on the upper floor, ancient artifacts found in various parts of Cyprus are exhibited in a chronological order (from the Neolithic Age to the Middle Ages). Tumba Tu Skuru findings and the Artemis Statue are among the most important works of the museum. The Artemis Statue is 68 cm tall and is similar to the Artemis Statues in Ephesus. Having many breasts symbolizes abundance and fertility. This statue, along with two deer figurines, was accidentally taken out of the sea by a tourist in Salamis in 1980 and dates back to A.D. It dates back to the 2nd century.

St. Mamas Church; The church, which originally belonged to the Byzantine period, was renovated in various periods and became an important building in the Gothic style in the Middle Ages. The church was completely rebuilt in 1725, during the Ottoman period, during which a large central dome was added. Some architectural details from the Gothic building have been preserved, including the entrances to the north and south, the columns of the field, the two marble columns in the west window and the section with the saint's throne. These are from the 15th century and were made in the flamboyant style. The iconostasis is a mixture of two periods and styles. The four marble columns with Gothic capitals and the marble panels in the iconostasis date back to 1500. These panels are one of the most beautiful small works of art of the Venetians found on the island. The woodwork of the iconostasis is a magnificent example of the 16th century with its dark blue and gold paint. The marble sarcophagus in the church is located under an arch and within the wall and can be seen from the outside. The inscriptions on the western gate describe the damage done by the French consul M. Porey in 1738 and by someone from Moscow in 1753. The monastery building was built in 1779 and some columns and capitals were taken from the old church. St. Mamas is one of the most well-known saints of Cyprus and is depicted in icons with a lamb on the back of a lion. According to local legend, St. Mamas was a poor man who lived in a cave near Guzelyurt and was arrested for disobeying the tax demand of the Byzantine duke of the time. However, when he was arrested, he calmed down a lion they encountered and appeared before the duke, holding the lamb in his arms. As a result of this incident, the duke was sent to St. It exempted Mamas from taxes for life.

Tumba Tu Skuru; The settlement called Tumba Tu Skuru, which lies in the direction of Güzelyurt-Kyrenia but is located to the west of the road and a few miles north of Güzelyurt, is a region known to date back to the Late Bronze Age. Between 1971-1974 Prof. The artifacts unearthed during the excavations carried out by Harvard University and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts under the direction of Emily T. Vermeule are exhibited at the Güzelyurt Museum of Archeology and Nature.

Railway station; The first trains used in Cyprus are located in the Festival Area in Güzelyurt. These trains are the first trains of Cyprus. The train station buildings, located on both sides of the main road at the entrance of Nicosia-Guzelyurt, served as part of the train line running on the Famagusta-Nicosia-Guzelyurt-Lefke route during the British period. Today, these station buildings, together with the locomotive located in the festival park, are protected as an important historical heritage. However, it is used and protected for purposes other than its original purpose. In order to carry this historical heritage in the region to the future, the train station buildings should be restored and used for tourism purposes as soon as possible. The lack of a railway line in the country for many years further increases the importance of these historical monuments.

Atatürk monument; The Atatürk Monument, located in front of Güzelyurt District Governorate, was built in Nazilli in 1973 with the efforts of teacher Feriha Coşkun. The monument was planned to be opened on October 29, 1973, the 50th anniversary of the Republic, but it could not be opened on the specified date due to delays in the construction and bringing it to the island. The monument, which was brought to the island in 1974, was placed on a copy prepared in Paphos. The monument, which was supposed to be opened on August 30, 1974, could not be opened due to the Peace Operation that took place on July 20, 1974. With the population exchange after the peace operation, the Turks in Paphos settled in Guzelyurt. The Atatürk statue, which was recorded and placed in its current location in Güzelyurt, is now used as a ceremony area. With the arrangement made in 1999, the Monument was given a new face.