Lefke: Orange Groves and Ottoman History

Lefke can be explored through a range of different traces: seasonal orange picking, water engineering and historic buildings each give the town its own character. Jaffa oranges can be picked in the orange groves during the season. Meanwhile, houses, the mosque and monuments tell of different chapters in the town’s history. As you plan your trip, this offers several themes that you can focus on according to your interests.

Harvest Season and Water Engineering

Picking Jaffa oranges is seasonal, making it a different focus for a trip from Lefke’s enduring architectural landmarks. Water engineering also takes different forms: water channels run along some streets, while some aqueducts show Ottoman masonry in places. The channels are characterized by their location along particular streets; the aqueducts’ distinctive architectural feature is their masonry. Together, they offer a concrete way to explore Lefke’s built heritage, without suggesting that both forms describe the same thing.

Houses and Ottoman Architecture

Lefke’s historic houses and mansions date from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries and feature grand architecture. This means the subject spans several centuries rather than being limited to a single period of construction. Lefke holds a special place in comparison when it comes to Ottoman mansions: no other town has more of them, apart from the capital, Nicosia. The houses and mansions give architectural history its own focus, alongside the aqueducts with their Ottoman masonry in places. If you choose Lefke primarily for its architectural history, you will find several distinct aspects to explore here.

Acendu and the Story Behind a Name

The name Acendu is also connected with a story passed down through tradition. According to the story, the Venetian commander Cento discovered the Acendu spring and named it Aqua De Cento in his honour. Over time, this became the local name Acendu. In this sequence of names, the spring, the attributed naming and the present-day local form are connected. For travellers interested in place names and their origins, this offers a different way to explore Lefke’s history than through buildings or monuments.

The Locomotive and the Market Monument

The CMC-5 locomotive is on display in Atatürk Park in Lefke. Its story goes back to copper mining: the Cyprus Mines Corporation used it to transport copper ore mined in Lefke to Gemikonağı. The locomotive thus represents both an earlier transport role and the connection between the ore from Lefke and its destination in Gemikonağı. Its current display location and its historical use are two distinct parts of its story.

The Coronation Monument is a water reservoir in the centre of Lefke’s market, built on 12 May 1937. Its inscription refers to the accession of George VI; the monument also displays the British royal coat of arms. The date of construction, inscription and coat of arms provide specific details that distinguish this monument from the houses, the locomotive and the water engineering works.

Different Ways to Focus Your Trip

If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Lefke, you can first consider which of the town’s different aspects you want to shape your trip. The houses, aqueducts and Piri Mehmet Pasha Mosque bring architecture and Ottoman history to the fore; the locomotive tells the story of the former transport of copper ore. Seasonal orange picking offers a different focus. This way, you can choose accommodation to suit the subjects that interest you most in Lefke.

The Piri Mehmet Pasha Mosque is also known as the Upper Mosque or the Minaret Mosque. It was built during Ottoman rule on the remains of the Church of St. George; its exact year of construction is unknown. Its connection with an earlier church and its alternative names offer another facet of Lefke’s architectural history, without assigning the building an exact date.

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