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 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 tranquility.
 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.
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.
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| Karmi village, situated up on the mountains, is to the west of Kyrenia |
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