Esentepe Village

A charming village hidden high up in the mountains

Esentepe is a village located on the north coast, to the east of Kyrenia, that has grown to become a village of some note over the past few years because many visitors to the area have sought to establish their own homes in Esentepe due to the increase of construction in Esentepe region. The developments that have come to Esentepe has been very welcomed and raised its profile and desirability while keeping its rural charm.

Despite the fact that a lot of new construction has happened in Esentepe in the last few years, it is still a place in North Cyprus with rich culture and history. Esentepe village is said to be first established back to the Byzantine Empire (also known as the Eastern Roman Empire) which had its era between 395–1453.

The village is also known in Greek as Agios Amvrosios, while Esentepe is the Turkish name and means ‘windy hill’. The village got its name from Saint Ambrose, who had an important role in the village during the 9th century. One of the largest churches of Cyprus, built in 1910, was also named after Saint Ambrose, so he had a great impact on the island as a whole. The church of Saint Ambrose has now been converted into a mosque.

Another local legend in Esentepe is Saint Demetrius. According to history there was a seabeast terrorising the villagers of Esentepe. The villagers then asked for Saint Demetrius help and it is said that he transformed the sea-beast into a rock-island. The rock-island is called "shiros" or "katsoshiros" and the area is therefore also called "shiros". This area today is where the famous Cove Village is being developed and on the Cove beach there is a small chapel that was firstly built in honor of Saint Demetrius. This chapel has now been renovated by Baştaşlar Construction and will be a great attraction for its visitors and residents. In the far horizon you can clearly see the skirts of the small rock-island “shirts” from Cove Beach.

Esentepe is also an area historically rich with ruins of various monasteries, as well as the domed church of Antiphonitis which contains one of the last examples of 12th and 15th century frescoes in North Cyprus. Antiphonitis, more correctly the Church of Christ Antiphonitis, is a domed church in Cyprus located in the mountains near the village of Esentepe. It is reached from the network of tracks and small roads in the area of the Herbarium and Esentepe Village.

Esentepe and the beauty of the surrounding areas of Alagadi, Karaağac and Alevkaya make this area a must see, particularly due to the turtle nesting sites on the fantastic beaches of the area, the forest walks, picnic sites and the Herbarium featuring samples and illustrations of native botanical species. The Esentepe Beach is currently undergoing major development, but will be a great attraction in the next year as it will include log cabins, restaurant and beach bar and has easy access from the main road.

The town of Esentepe also has an international five star golf course together with many shops, restaurants, bars, health centre, pharmacy, primary and secondary school and a police station. Turkish Cypriot Esentepe Sports Club is one of the biggest local organisations for both young and elderly and was founded in 1975. Apart from these amenities the village is mainly home to an eclectic mix of friendly and welcoming Turkish Cypriots and European settlers who have realised their dream of the perfect place in the sun by setting up home in Esentepe.

With Esentepe as your base you can swim in the sea, laze on the beach, enjoy lunch at one of the village restaurants before wandering up the meandering paths into the forests and up the hills behind the village. Alternatively you could head a little further along the road to the famous medieval domed Antiphonitis Church.

If you’re looking to leave the hustle and bustle of Kyrenia behind and you want to venture out further into the real North Cyprus then head east along the coastal road and you’ll come to Esentepe, your gateway to the Karpas region, the coast and the foothills of the Kyrenia range.