Rizokarpaso

Rizokarpaso, Greek Ριζοκάρπασο, Turkish Dipkarpaz, is a town in the north of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus with about 5,500 inhabitants. It is located on the peninsula in the extreme northeast Karpas Cyprus.

Before 1974, the city was inhabited almost exclusively by Greek Cypriots, now Rizokarpaso is one of the few enclaves in the Turkish- administered northern part of the island, the Greek Cypriots still live. The approximately 250 Greek Cypriots are even today still supplies of troops of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus ( UNFICYP ) with food. Many Turkish families have been resettled. The Greek Cypriot minority maintains in Rizokarpaso some years back a small school.

In the Annan Plan Rizokarpaso was explicitly mentioned as one of those places to which an unrestricted return of the Greek Cypriot population should be allowed, however the area should remain under Turkish Cypriot administration.

History

Predecessor settlement Rizokarpasos was the ancient city Karpasia. An inscription of a Phanokles, son of Nikolaos is evidence of its status as a polis.

Economy

Until the 20th century the silk culture was the skin trade of the inhabitants. The raw silk was spun on the spot and woven into fabrics. After the decline of sericulture many farmers increased by the cultivation of tobacco of the Orient- type. It created special shed to dry the tobacco leaves. The village developed within a few years the center of the Cypriot tobacco cultivation and remained so until 1974. Nowadays, tobacco is grown in relatively small quantities for export to Turkey. Intensive vegetable production is predominant, and in the area is cultivated on the red-brown Karpazerde ( Terra Rossa ) grain. In addition, the fruit of the carob tree is harvested.

Attractions

Worth seeing are mainly two medieval churches from the time of Lusignan. Are located in the surrounding area numerous beautiful beaches ( Golden Beach).

Near the town are the ruins of the church of Aghios Philon ( Ayfilon ) and an ancient settlement, which is usually identified with Aphrodision.