Overlooked by the Gothic St. Hilarion Castle and set
 deep
in the mountainside is the picturesque village of Karmi inhabited mostly
by British and German expatriates. Cooled in summer by a light breeze,
this lovingly restored village is a refuge of peace and genuine charm.
With lovely views of the northern coastline from every corner, the
relaxed and informal style of Karmi will not fail to enchant the
visitor. With its own village pub, a small selection of local bistros,
and a nearby handicraft shop, this region will appeal to anyone seeking
tranquillity.
Karaman village, situated up on the mountains, to the west of Kyrenia,
was abandoned by its Greek-Cypriot inhabitants during the war in 1974.
In time the old houses became derelict and the whole village turned to
be a ghost one.
Karmi
village, situated up on the mountains, is to the west of Kyrenia
In 1979, the Council of Ministers decided to put in action an
innovative project which would rejuvenate this small village of amazing
scenic beauty that had appealed to foreigners for long. The main aim was
to renovate the old village while developing resident tourism.
The Ministry of Interior and Housing started to lease the tumbledown
buildings to foreigners at nominal prices for long terms. In 1983, the
whole village was transferred to the Ministry of Tourism. Soon
infrastructural works were undertaken by the Ministry and roads,
pathways, and parking places were built and improved. A telephone box
was installed and street lighting and water connections were modernized.
Within seven years time the whole village developed and 150 houses were
all renovated under the control of the Ministry. The cost of renovation
and maintenance is paid by the tenants and they are obliged to use local
architects and contractors. In this way, jobs were created for the local
people.
Great importance was shown to keep the character of the village
untouched while catering for the needs of modern accommodations.
Traditional way of construction is kept alive. For example, wooden
rafters and rush mats are used for ceilings, solar heaters are not
permitted to be placed on the roofs; and height of water tanks is
limited to 60 cm above roof level in order not to spoil the village
atmosphere.
The village has 150 renovated houses, 4 restaurant-pubs, and a grocery
shop. The inhabitants of the village are mainly from U.K., Germany,
France, Austria, and U.S.A. |
