Kyrenia was founded in the 10th century B.C., by Achaean settlers and was for many centuries one of the ten kingdoms of Cyprus. In the 7th century it was fortified by the Byzantines who built the original Kyrenia castle - later expanded by the Lusignans and then by the Venetians. The town remained a minor port under Ottoman rule. Under British rule, the harbour and quay were built, as the town was used as a resting place for officers, captains and their families due to its beautiful harbour and leisurely, romantic atmosphere.
The town retains its original character, with many small restaurants and bars surrounding the typical Mediterranean harbour. The entire region is now an attractive holiday resort, boasting many hotels and holiday villages. The area provides mountain and sea views, amongst the many historic sites worth visiting. These include the Kyrenia Castle, Shipwreck Museum, St. Hilarion Castle believed to have been the inspiration for Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty Caslte, and the Village and Abbey at Bellapais immortalised in Laurence Durrell's book Bitter Lemons.
It has been a British playground for many years offering the perfect combination of relaxation, water sports and exciting exploration along its beautiful coastline, for Northern Cyprus too, has its share of rich archeological sites and medieval castles. 
The spectacular ruins give a fascinating insight into long-lost civilisations and include a magnificent amphitheatre, Roman baths, a gymnasium and royal tombs. Just inland from Famagusta are the church and monastery dedicated to St. Barnabas, the founder of the apostolic church in Cyprus in 45 A.D. Barnabas, a Cypriot from Salamis visited the island accompanied by St. Paul and St. Mark and was later martyred in Salamis in 52 A.D. The church of St. Barnabas is preserved to this day, and houses a wonderful collection of 18th century icons. The monastery cloisters now house an archaeological museum.