The traditional forms of culture are to be found in music, dancing and various crafts such as embroidery and lace making. Folk music and dancing are normally performed in North Cyprus's many festivals and fairs, the most important of which are the orange festival, water melon festival, grape festival, 20th July celebrations and the folklore festival. The Ataturk Cultural centre opposite Girne Gate in Nicosia, houses a concert hall an art gallery a lecture theatre and a library holding over 50,000 books, including English French and German books. It provides varied shows, plays, concerts and seminars, sometimes aimed at foreign visitors. During the summer months open air concerts are also held in the ancient amphitheatre of Salamis.
For typical souvenirs of North Cyprus shop for embroidery, lacework, sheepskin rugs, and hand painted pottery. Leather ware and carpets imported from Turkey are also good value. Spectacles made locally are exceptional value as well as tailor made garments. Philatelists will also find a number of shops specializing in the postal history of North Cyprus.
Although sports-centre complexes are new to North Cyprus, the sporting enthusiast will find a host of opportunities throughout the year. Football is followed passionately with 36 league teams competing in 1st, 2nd and 3rd divisions. Matches are held in many towns and villages usually at weekends.
The superb climate and its warm seas make North Cyprus an ideal place for water sports. Many of the island's main resort Hotels have amenities, which include wind surfing, dinghy sailing, water skiing, Jet skiing, para-ascending, motor boating scuba diving and snorkelling. There are at least two good scuba diving schools in the Kyrenia resort, offering PADI and BSAC diving courses as well as professional diving facilities by qualified diving instructors.
The only organized yacht harbour with adequate facilities is in Kyrenia in the Old Harbour. The harbour dues are very reasonable but incoming yacht visitors have to attend immigration formalities at the new commercial Harbour.
There is no official golf course in North Cyprus however, visitors will be welcomed at CMC Golf Club at Yesilyurt, a coastal village a short distance west of Guzelyurt. This is a 7 hole course originally laid out by the Cyprus Mines Corporation in 1920's, later re modelled in 1949. Although it is open daily the members gather only certain days of the week, which include Sunday mornings. There are a few sets of clubs available for visitors to borrow. Beer and sandwiches are served in an informal atmosphere.
There are floodlit tennis courts available in many Hotels as well as table tennis and squash. All larger hotels also offer facilities for volleyball, basketball and mini golf. Other sports such as cycling, pony trekking, hiking and mountain walking are available throughout the year. There are at least 4 horse riding establishments charging the equivalent of approximately 7 to 12 dollars per hour.
In North Cyprus a walker can freely pass anywhere in the country except for the clearly marked military areas. There are many footpaths and forestry tracks, however, marked and mapped walking trails are very few. Except for the hot summer months (June, July and August) it is always pleasant to walk in Northern Cyprus especially between the villages of the northern coastline. Leaflets and maps of trekking trails are available from Tourism bureaus and most agents. Jewels of the World offer walking tour programmes which can be pre-booked in the UK |
