The Vunos necropolis is located on a hill in the western part of Çatalköy. In this burial site, dating back to the Early Bronze Age, various artifacts have been discovered in the graves as a result of archaeological excavations. These findings include ceramic vessels, bronze weapons, and various tools left as grave goods. Some of these archaeological artifacts are currently on display at the Cyprus Greek Museum.
Buffavento Castle occupies a strategic position at an altitude of 950 meters above sea level in the Kyrenia mountains. Along with St. Hilarion and Kantara castles, it forms an important element of the defensive line created against Arab raids. During the Lusignan dynasty period (1192-1489), the castle served as a prison and was also known as the “Lion Castle”. During Venetian rule, as the castles in coastal cities gained importance, the strategic significance of Buffavento Castle diminished.
Architecturally, the castle consists of two main sections: the Lower Castle and the Upper Castle. The characteristic feature of the Lower Castle is its arched entrance. This section contains food storage areas and living quarters, with a water cistern located in the lower part. The red brick craftsmanship seen in the door and room arches of the Upper Castle bears traces of Byzantine architecture. Few remains have survived to the present day from the church that was once inside the castle.
The name Buffavento means “Defying the Wind,” which strikingly reflects the castle’s location and resilience. The castle offers visitors an impressive panorama encompassing views of the Troodos mountains and Nicosia.
According to archival sources, during the Islamic expeditions in the 7th century AD, Hz. Omar, a naval unit commander in Muaviye’s Army, landed with his troops on the northern coast of the island. In the conflict that occurred at the point where the soldiers landed, Commander Omar, along with six of his comrades-in-arms, was martyred by local Byzantine forces, and their bodies were placed in coffins and buried in a cave in the region. Following the conquest of the island by the Ottoman Empire in 1571, these graves were identified, the remains were removed from the cave and transferred to their current locations, and a shrine and mosque were built over them. The Hz. Omar buried in this shrine has no kinship or connection with Hz. Omar, one of the four caliphs of Islam. According to Islamic traditions, martyrs can be buried where they were martyred, and the place where a martyr is buried is considered sacred. In addition to the information available in archival sources about the construction of Hz. Omar Shrine and mosque, there are also various narratives among the people.
Çatalköy is an important archaeological settlement site dating back to the Neolithic period. Archaeological excavations have shown that this settlement was established between 4000-3000 BC by communities coming from the Cilicia region of Anatolia. Research reveals that the economy of that period was predominantly based on agriculture. Additionally, it has been determined that the earthenware vessels found in the region were handmade.
When examining the architecture of the settlement, it can be seen that the houses were connected to each other by narrow passages. The walls of the structures were built using stone and clay, with their interior surfaces plastered with clay. The roofs were made of reeds and covered with mud and clay. It has been determined that mats woven from rushes were used for the floor covering.
It is understood that after an earthquake that occurred around 3000 BC, the people of Vrysi abandoned this settlement and migrated to another region.
The High Council of Monuments has designated the archaeological remains near Diana beach on the coastline of Çatalköy as a protected area, giving it the status of a heritage site. The purpose of this decision is to protect the underground and above-ground ancient tomb remains and stone-cutting traces in the region, as well as to uncover the tombs in the area through scientific excavations and make them available for tourism. Additionally, there is a historical structure known as St. Luke’s Basilica Church located in the Arapköy district of our town.
