Exploring Guzelyurt on a Holiday in Northern Cyprus
The town of Guzelyurt translates to mean ‘beautiful country’ and on a holiday in Northern Cyprus you will discover just how it is that the city got its name. The fertile plains and local villages that surround the town are all stunningly beautiful and help offer visitors a glimpse into a more traditional Cyprus.
Spring and autumn are the best seasons to take a Northern Cyprus holiday to the traditional town of Guzelyurt. These seasons see the fruit trees in full bloom and the citrus fruits, which the area is famous for, being ripened out in the midday sun. Once the fruits are ripe they are taken to the local market, which takes place every Saturday and is frequented by all the locals. You can buy almost everything at the market, from home-grown fruit and vegetables to locally produced carpets.
After you’ve strolled the Saturday markets, you may want to take a visit to the St. Mama’s Church and the Guzelyurt Museum of Archaeology. However, don’t be fooled by the name, the museum contains more than just pictures of pretty buildings. In the downstairs section you will find examples of some of the wildlife that you are likely to spot on your holiday in Northern Cyprus, there are the standard snakes, spiders and foxes, to the slightly more bizarre three-legged chicken and eight-legged lamb. The archaeological section of the museum is upstairs and houses some interesting artefacts from the Neolithic era.
Next door is St. Mama’s Church. St. Mama is the patron saint of those who avoid paying tax and his story is among the most interesting you will hear on your Northern Cyprus holidays. Mama was a hermit living close to Guzelyurt who was captured by the authorities for non-payment of his taxes. As he was taken into custody he escaped to save a lamb from being killed and eaten by a ferocious lion. Mama then rode on the back of the lion with the lamb in his arms to meet his prosecutors, who were so impressed by his bravery that they excused him from paying his taxes.
Nowadays, the church contains hundreds of beautifully preserved icons which are definitely worth visiting whilst on your holiday in Northern Cyprus. Many believe that St. Mama is buried in this very church and as a result it is a pilgrimage point for many Greek Orthodox Christians who visit this spot yearly in September to celebrate St. Mama’s Feast Day.
Guzelyurt, which is also known as Morphou, is also famous for its annual orange festival, which takes place every year in June. This is a must see whilst on holiday in Northern Cyprus and the highlight is the brightly coloured floats decked out with oranges which parade down the main street at 5pm on the first day of the event. The festival started in 1977 to celebrate the annual harvest and even today the town remains decorated in oranges for the fortnight’s festivities. Events which take place during the festival include concerts from some of Turkey’s biggest pop sensations, paired with traditional folk dancing and beauty pageants. So if you’re looking for a holiday in Northern Cyprus which pairs the modern with the traditional, then look no further than the town of Guzelyurt.
