OLD PORT OF KYRENIA

Dominated by Kyrenia Castle, this harbor (Eski Limanı, Παλιό Λιμάνι στην Κερύνεια) is stunning with its "horseshoe" shape. Lined with tightly packed restaurant terraces, it's the nerve center of the region's tourist activity. Sheltered from the strong offshore winds, it is enclosed by a jetty and accessible via a channel running alongside the château. It welcomes pleasure, excursion and fishing boats. Larger ships and ferries to Turkey anchor at the new port, 500 m east of the castle. Frequented by Greek merchants as early as the ^10th century BC, the port was developed by the Romans, who built the jetty. Fifteen centuries later, the Venetians gave it its "horseshoe" shape and built warehouses along the quays. In decline during the Ottoman period, it was reborn at the end of the ^19th century with carob exports. From the 1960s, the port turned to tourism. Captured two days after the Turkish landing on July 20, 1974, it was used to transport reinforcements for the conquest of the northern part of the country. In memory of this event, the street running alongside the quays is known as the "July 20th promenade" (20 Temmuz Kordonboyu). At the center of the Old Port stands the Chain Tower. Built in the ^15th century by the Venetians, this conical edifice was used to hang a chain that barred enemy ships from entering the port. The chain was connected to the other conical tower on the pier.