Vouni Palace

There is less to be seen than to be felt… The ruins of the Palace of Vouni have a mystic kind of feeling to them. The views from its hilltop position over the bay of Güzelyurt and the Troodos Mountains are spectacular. Built around 480 BC by the pro-Persian king of Marion as an outpost in order to intimidate and control the pro- Athenian citizen of the city of Soli below, Vouni is the only structure of the Persian period that survives in North Cyprus.

Tip: we recommend walking from the bottom of the hill to the site on top. The view changes around each turn and you can observe interesting geological layers and features right next to the road.

Story: The palace was destroyed by fire after 80 years after being build. During the Swedish excavation of the site, an amphora blackened through the fire and filled with gold ducats, was found under one of the stairwells leading to the now none existent first floor of the building.

Soli Ancient City

The archaeological sight of Soli is located about 1.5 hours drive to the west of Girne. Dating back to the 6. th Century BC, Soli was one of the approximately 10 city-kingdoms of Cyprus. Most of what you can see today dates back to the roman period. In particular the ruins of a very large 5.th century basilica with its splendid abstract as well as animal mosaic floors are of interest to the visitor. It is here that you will find the famous “swan mosaic” of Soli. The mostly rebuild small theatre above the basilica offers a fine view over the bay of Güzelyurt.

Story: The area surrounding the sight was and still is, rich in copper ore and has been mined since the ancient times until the outbreak of the war in 1974. You will notice the derelict remains of the abandoned American “Cyprus Mining Corperation” right next to the road when you drive towards Soli.