Lefke: Orange Groves and Historic Buildings

In Lefke, you’ll find seasonal Jaffa orange picking, water channels along some streets and buildings with varied historical connections. There is also a locomotive on display and a dated market monument. If you’re looking for a hotel in Lefke, you can choose where to stay based on specific interests such as the harvest season, architecture and building history, or the history of copper transportation. These themes differ not only in subject matter; the seasonal nature of orange picking is also important when planning.

Orange Groves, Channels and Aqueducts

Jaffa oranges can be picked in Lefke’s orange groves. Picking is seasonal. If you’d like to make this activity a firm part of your stay, ask in advance when participation is possible and what conditions apply.

Water channels run along some streets in Lefke; some aqueducts feature Ottoman masonry in places. The distinction between channels along streets and Ottoman stonework on individual aqueducts offers two distinct perspectives on Lefke’s architectural features.

Houses, Mansions and Mosque

Lefke’s historic houses and mansions date from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries and feature impressive architecture. This span covers three centuries, so the buildings cannot be attributed to a single historical period. After the capital, Nicosia, Lefke has more Ottoman mansions than any other town.

The Piri Mehmet Pasha Mosque is also known as the Upper Mosque or the Minaret Mosque; all three names refer to the same building. It was built during Ottoman rule on the remains of the Church of St. George; its exact year of construction is unknown. The earlier church site and the later Ottoman building phase therefore provide two points of reference for understanding its history.

Market Monument and Locomotive

The water reservoir in the centre of Lefke’s market was built on 12 May 1937 and is known as the Coronation Monument. The monument bears an inscription about the accession of George VI and displays the British royal coat of arms. The inscription and coat of arms give the structure a royal connection, while the date precisely establishes when the reservoir was built. The structure can therefore be understood both by its function as a reservoir and by its commemorative features.

Locomotive CMC-5 is on display in Atatürk Park in Lefke. The Cyprus Mines Corporation used it to transport copper ore mined in Lefke to Gemikonağı. The locomotive adds another kind of local connection to the history of architecture and monuments: a former industrial transport role.

The time references also differ: orange picking is seasonal, the reservoir was built on 12 May 1937, and the mosque dates from the period of Ottoman rule, although its exact year of construction is unknown.

Discover more destinations: Pedhoulas, Askas, Klirou, Sha, Yeşilırmak, Lythrodontas, Mathiatis, Pera

For the main travel overview: Nicosia.