North Cyprus Yeni Iskele

On the roads on Nicosia – Karpaz and Famagusta – Karpaz main roads where Kantara Range meets forests and valleys you find the village Yeni Iskele. The Greek name of the village is Trikomo. The name Yeni Iskele is a reminder of the relocation of Turk Cypriots from the Turkish district Iskele in the city of Larnaca on the island’s south coast. The Turk Cypriots who lived there before had to go away after the war. They moved in 1975 to Trikomo, which was renamed to Yeni (new) Iskele. At the centre of the village there’s the 15th century church of St. Jacob (Avios Iakovos). There’s and odd coincidence in the fact that the village was the birthplace of the EOKA-colonel George Grivas. He was leading spokesman of Cyprus reunion with Greece. Grivas died six months before the war in 1974.

Iskele is an important tourist centre where green meets blue on a 25-km-long coastline. The people of Iskele are hospitable folks, very interested in culture and art-related social activities. The Bogaz region of Iskele, which is known as an entertainment centre, is full of hotels and fish restaurants. In the small harbour of Bogaz, the fishing boats and others offer our visitors cruises along the eastern coast of North Cyprus. In the municipal park of Iskele, locals and tourists stay up until the break of dawn singing live music, enjoying the sweet times past in North Cyprus.

Iskele region is also famous for its icon museums and ancient churches. The ‘Cyprus Endemic Plats information Centre’, the turtle nesting beaches under protection of Long Beach Tourism, the Iskele Fest (from 1 July to 10 July annually) are wonderful attractions of Iskele. One visit to Iskele and its Bogaz, and you will join those who lave fallen in love with our torn and region.