www.northcyprus.net A visit to the oasis-like town of Lefke, with its date palms and citrus orchards is a must for those who want to see some excellent examples of Ottoman architecture. Lefke has been predominantly inhabited by Turks since 1571 and possesses some of the most fertile soil on the island, giving its fruit the reputation of being the best in Cyprus.
Running through the town are the remains of ancient Roman aqueducts used for irrigation. The Piri Osman Pasha mosque is made of sandy-coloured stone, surrounded by colourful gardens, its minaret topped with an aluminum cone. In its gardens lies a lovely tomb of Piri Osman Pasa who died in 1839. Built of white elaborately carved marble in the dervish style with a tall turbaned top, its centre is blackened from the smoke of candles for every time the women of the village ask a favour of the local saint – a husband, a male child, a cure for illness – they leave a lighted candle on the tomb.
Three centuries of Turkish rule under the Ottomans began in Cyprus in 1571. The islanders, glad to see the end of oppressive Venetian rule welcomed the Turks. Ottoman rule ended with the British occupation of 1878.
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