Cyprus
Guide, Karmi
History
The picturesque village of Karmi is situated
approximately 4 miles to the west of Kyrenia/Girne
and is 1,000 ft above sea level, giving every
house breathtaking views along the coastline.
Karmi/Karaman is now undoubtedly the prettiest
and most well-kept village in the north as all
the houses have been restored in a traditional
manner, often with flagged floors, beamed ceilings,
stone arches and roof terraces set in an array
of flowers, plants and trees which have been
planted around the village.
Picturesque village of Karmi is 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.
Karmi
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. |
