We begin a culture-relating informative cycle providing with the most amazing ancient castles in Northern Cyprus. These places are steeped in legends and myths and attract many travel and history buffs.
Number one on our list is the magnificent Buffavento Castle. The castle stands in the middle of virgin nature on an elevation of 940 meters above sea level. A stunning view of Nicosia opens from the very top.
You can get to the castle along the path of the "serpent mountain". It is said that lebetina vipers used to inhabit there. And the rock itself looks like a huge snake with a prey in its mouth. There is an ancient legend associated with this place. “Once upon a time, in ancient times, the Lord told the rebellious serpent that people would henceforth rule that land. Certainly, such a state of things did not please the Serpent King, and he promised to devour anyone who enter his reign, despite the decision of God. At the behest of the Creator, people began to settle those lands, and the Serpent King, seeing that he was being more and more edged out of his possessions, regularly devoured all the aliens. Angry with his persistence, the Lord turned the serpent into stone. But until now, the snakes guard their King”.
The Buffavento castle was built during the Byzantine period to defend from Arab raids and control the most important crossings over the mountains. Then, when the English king Richard the Lionheart conquered Cyprus, the rebellious island’s ruler Isaac Doukas-Komnenos was hiding his daughter there, but it didn't last long. In the end, she anyway fell to Richard.
The castle hosted John Visconti, who thoughtlessly blabbed out to the king Peter I of Cyprus about the dalliances of his wife in the castle of Buffalo, and other noble unfortunates who fell out of favour with the strongs.
Currently, the castle has fallen into disrepair and only two rooms have survived to this day. One of the rooms is consecrated in the name of St. Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, and the second one in honor of St. Helena.
If you are fascinated by old legends, be sure to visit Buffavento Castle in Northern Cyprus.
