Based in Northern Cyprus, Afik Group is an award-winning global property development company with interests in Cyprus and Turkey. This article will look at tourism in Northern Cyprus, a country famed for its year-round sunshine, spectacular scenery, delicious cuisines and rich history.
Boasting more than 120 miles of coastline gently lapped by crystal-clear waters, including sheltered bays and secluded coves, Northern Cyprus is a beach-lover’s paradise with plenty more to offer besides. The region’s year-round good weather provides scope for a comprehensive range of activities both in the water and on land. North Cyprus benefits from an average 300 days of sunshine annually, making it an ideal location for families.
While summer sees the highest temperatures on the island, the weather in spring and autumn is still warm, with the seasonal relief opening up a plethora of possibilities, including activities such as hiking and cycling, nature watching, tennis, snorkelling and water skiing. Outside of peak summer holiday season, visitors can enjoy a relaxing break, escaping the hubbub of everyday life, recharging their batteries amidst stunning scenery and sampling the delicious local cuisine.
Lying in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus’s history is rich and diverse, with the island having been visited by seafarers from numerous countries and empires over the centuries and each early civilisation leaving its own influences. From the Romans and Persians to the Assyrians and Egyptians, a multitude of nations have visited the island, each leaving an indelible mark on the country’s culture and history.
In the early-to-middle Bronze Ages, towns and trading centres began springing up across the island, paving the way for relationship-building with surrounding nations. Several Middle Eastern nations invaded Cyprus during this period. However, when King Evagoras and the Salamis overthrew Persian rule, this marked a turning point in the country’s fortunes, with the King strengthening the island’s commerce and building wealth – marking the start of a trend that continued throughout both Hellenistic and Roman rule.
As the Roman Empire began to crumble, trade across the region started to dwindle. This regional fall in fortunes was reversed when the Byzantine Empire seized control of Cyprus, restoring the province to its former glory.
Over the years, Cyprus has been influenced by numerous different cultures, changing hands between Richard the Lionheart and the French Lusignan family, followed by the Venetians and Ottomans. The opening of the Suez Canal in the mid-19th century saw Britain take a vested interest in this strategically located island, building new roads, railways, crop irrigation networks and pipelines. This alliance continued until 1960, when Cyprus declared independence. In 1974, North Cyprus in turn declared independence from the South.
From war-time museums and memorials to spiritual sites and castles, North Cyprus is a unique fusion of different influences, with its architecture inspired by various civilisations. Today, visitors can see French Gothic and Renaissance flourishes, Armenian monasteries, Latin churches, and cathedrals that have been converted into mosques. As settlers from all over the world made their mark on the island, offering their devotion and prayers, this culminated in a fascinatingly diverse historical and religious legacy that visitors to North Cyprus continue to enjoy to this day.
About Afik Group
Afik Group is proud to present an extensive portfolio of properties across Northern Cyprus, having undertaken award-winning development programmes across the island. Leveraging the company’s vast experience of the construction and real estate industries along with its wide network of international contacts, Afik Group’s hallmark lies in the quality and reliability of all its development projects.
Drawing on its in-depth experience of the Cypriot real estate market, Afik Group has a proven track record of successfully delivering projects. Having identified need in the emerging Cypriot and Turkish real estate markets, the company is currently focussing on expanding its property development and construction activities, recognising the considerable scope for rapid growth in both markets.
