The Fascinating History of the Island of Cyprus

An intense day of traveling across the disputed country of Northern Cyprus, finding a lot of incredible historical places along the way. You can watch Part 2 here: • Traveling in Northern ...
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Music during the video (in order):
"Narrow Escape" by Dream Cave
&
"The Atonement" by Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen
&
"Ruined Temple" by Josh Kirsch/Media Right Productions
&
"The 3rd Door" by Jay Varton
&
"Into the Moment" by Deskant
&
"Vague" by Amaranth Cove
Need some good music for your KZbin videos? I use and recommend Epidemic Sound. To get a free 30-day trial click here: share.epidemicsound.com/sSvpV
Video created by Gabriel Morris, who is the owner of all video or photo content. Filmed with a DJI Osmo Action: amzn.to/3gSi8rA
**Disclaimer: Gabriel Morris is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to www.amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, Gabriel earns revenue from qualifying purchases.
Gabriel is a world traveler and travel writer who has been adventuring around the world since his first trip to Europe in the summer of 1990 when he was 18 years old. He is author of "Gabe's Guide to Budget Travel", "Following My Thumb" and several other books available on Amazon.com and elsewhere.
Thanks a lot for watching and safe journeys!

[@GabrielTravelerVideos]

You can watch Part 2 here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/apamfYuAhdKmsNE

[@RovexHD]

Northern Cyprus is more interesting than I thought, and I casually looked into the place before. Kudos on bringing these videos to us.

[@dbeststuff777]

In my fathers village there is an ancient quary that had a half dug out column of marble used in making temples, it was half dug out still laying as if the workers took a lunch break and never returned

[@22patch22]

I think Gabe might have invented a new word a Medicaine 😉 ❤

[@Firdausjahanibrahim]

Exploring the historical sites must be like stepping back in time. Your vlog truly brought out the essence of this Mediterranean gem. 🏛️💎

[@dizzeeblondee5309]

Ayia Triada Basilica, is similar "architecture" to Salamis(nr Famagusta)and Soli(Morphou), and probably the Kourion near to Paphos. All been there for a Millennia. Ayia Triada was apparently 5th Century although Salamis was built in circa 1100 BC, and the Kourion 1200 BC. Soli 6th Century.

[@ksiljegovi]

The little pool of water with stairs leading to it was most probably a baptismal font/pool for full immersion of the individual.

[@andrewmarinkovich8657]

Amazing ancient ruins in an out-of-the-way place that probably very few of will ever have the chance to travel to. Thank you for showing this to us.

[@DragonKing33333]

Beautiful footage, loved it, there is a place going towards Guzelyurt that not many people know about, open to the public called the blue house, it was owned by an old Italian mafia guy, there is quite a bit of info on it, also a huge church in nicosia called cathedral of St Sofia, oldest gothic church in Cyprus, looking forward to the next vlog, gotta say you are the best travel vlogger on KZbin, you give so much info and it makes me feel like we are on an adventure

[@greentree14]

That mysterious stairwell and underground area is most likely a baptistry, where believers were baptized.

[@Peter-MH]

Mind blowing mosaics! What an absolute hidden gem that site is!

[@larsstougaard7097]

Or unhidden found gems 💎 😅

[@sandrabishop5372]

Salamis is 6 km north of Famagusta-the Apostles Barnabas & Paul were there!!

[@cypruscats8450]

I have lived in Cyprus almost 30 years and have NEVER seen rain in August!

[@dizzeeblondee5309]

I've never seen it rain in August either. Plenty of wildfires because it's so dry in August. Crazy!

[@christinelamb1167]

Weather manipulation. 😒

[@catherineloftus1376]

I think Famagusta is a tragic sad place, people loved lived and worked there, and now just left to decay. Heartbreaking for the people who lived there. We felt uneasy when we visited the area a few years ago.

[@cypruscats8450]

No, there is only one area called Varosha that was left to decay. The rest of the town is a thriving place!

[@SuzieLady]

Even worse when one has their land stolen which is what happened to me

[@jennyoshea1958]

Cyprus looks amazing, Gabriel. Such history 🙂👏🌻btw great tee shirt.

[@herculeaneffort2249]

I wonder if that water you found in the cave at 6:50 is an area for baptisms? Especially with those stairs leading down to it.

[@christinelamb1167]

That was my thought, probably a baptismal.

[@andysm1964]

Bloody hell,Gabs...your adventures and video work( lovely piece ,the Atonement) ,just keeps getting better and better...another place i must explore further

[@JohnDoe-tw8es]

Served there in the 1970's and loved it there. Your video wants me to go back to experience all that history. I loved Old Famagusta. In those days it was dusty old streets , now they are paved I see. It was like going back 500 years then, loved it.

[@isamaaltaein8672]

Hi Gabe, thank you for showing us beautiful places. Be safe, Chaos

[@JennyGunner-ge3lz]

That was great Gabriel. There was something quite moving about that church with all the religious images despite the condition of it. The basilica ruins were really interesting too. Looking forward to part 2. ❤️🙏

[@antiowarr9467]

I always loved a good down pour with heavy rains when driving, I found after the air would be so clear and fresh smelling and invigorating and thing just felt cleaner . Cheers

[@HectorIptwo]

Definitely not the Caribbean island and doesn't feel like it. This more like Greece islands but bigger, 🥂 cheers from Puerto Rico island 🏝️

[@dbeststuff777]

Trippin with Gabe Priceless

[@wallywombat164]

Crikey, I love Cyprus. Thanks a lot mate. I'm glad we stopped, as that storm was getting a bit nasty. ❤❤❤

[@wilfredotorres6628]

Hi Gabriel, that was amazing, and truly little is given to these locations totally outside the beaten path. The island of Cypress does have a Caribbean feel in many ways weather-wise that storm came in fast-moving I bet it left after a brief time much of what you would see on a muggy day. I can't get over how many churches you have passed during the time you have been driving to the east end of the Island many of those structures have been there for a while and are still in exceptionally good condition.

[@22patch22]

There is a Roman town called Glanum in the south of france . Its right next to St Remy and is quite amazing. Well worth a visit @Gabriel Traveller. I went a few years back .

[@ventureted]

WOW!!! What an opening shot!! Incredible views!!

[@nickstavrou7082]

Beautiful Cyprus. So rich with Greek history

[@StartLivingNow1963]

Another Awesome Adventure Gabriel 🙂

[@carolinacadabra8278]

Good name for the channel: Gabriel’s Awesome Adventures.

[@JkHellas]

Another awesome video from you gabriel with a lot of history and also a lot of info about the life of cypriot people of today...

[@magnuspersson1433]

Wonderful mosaics. Strange that they didn't build a protective roof for them.

[@elizabethcraig5825]

Another great video. That mosaic floor so intricate, must have taken long time to make so perfect. When you were driving I noticed that huge storm ⛅️ but you were busy looking around. So it turned into a Medicane, but I bet it was refreshing.😊

[@keithbloomfield1341]

Keep on cruising Gabe 🚘

[@sunnybeachwalks4k2022]

Such a beautiful serene place

[@carlosvictor8679]

about time u buy a proper torch.

[@glennplumlee9155]

super interesting!!

[@stevenpentz5188]

HI Gabriel - helps his algorithm.

[@Svarthod1]

Great. Very beautiful ❤

[@harnaamkaur3020]

Fantastic Cypres!!!!

[@anniefranks6881]

I cannot believe how you don’t have millions of subscribers…sadly, society is failing all over the world as ppl tune into idiots like the Paul brothers & Kardashians over excellent travel & fascinating historical content like you are always giving us, thank you Gabriel🙏🏼

[@katleenmstut4622]

The builders loved their arches back in history. Fantastic architecture.

[@jennyoshea1958]

So true. Arches always look good. More needed in modern day architecture in mho 😊🌻

[@Louis-ji3sn]

Appreciate the church and castle stops, very fascinating!

[@HeinzderReisendeHeinztheTravel]

Amazing

[@trigbiggers4492]

The stairs leading to the water in the church was a place to perform baptisms.

[@GabrielTravelerVideos]

That explains it.

[@kensmith5048]

You need to carry a small flashlight.

[@missmo3451]

Look behind the overgrown bush and there's a discreet sign for some huge ancient site. Gotta keep your eyes peeled.

[@jadejagk8623]

Hi Gabe Greetings of the day I see ur videos first time at back 6 ya 7 years ago and thought iff I travel another country is good , then I see so many other travel youthuber video but ur first travel vloger for me and happy to inform you that last day I came back india after 48 days trip SEA ( vieatnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia) Thankyou Gabrial 😊

[@TheHuski]

Started this video, fell asleep and just woke up at the end.. Something about Greek churches and rain is all I got.

[@janakotrcova2790]

Sleep is healthy,sleep on,😊nothing wrong!

[@Seanney25582]

Just started watching this video, wow rain in Cyprus in August 😮😮that’s a shocker

[@Seanney25582]

How long did that shower last? I must check the weather for you

[@GabrielTravelerVideos]

Around 45 minutes or so.

[@Seanney25582]

Wow, I looked up the weather for the next few days in Cyprus it’s going to sunny and 36 c, They did mention something about local showers 😆

[@michaelmurphy1114]

Hello from Wisconsin

[@salsov1621]

Recommendations: Next go to Karbala. You'll see the Largest Human Gathering on the surface of the Planet.

[@donniesilver4270]

Hello from Hamburg / Germany 👋😊

[@sirapos6550]

Meine liebste Stadt Deutschland's :-)

[@ivysprieto6058]

I defenetly need to go thear , what an amazing country 😍

[@clarkmadrosen1780]

Beautiful Mosaics. Saw some in Carthage, Tunisia. 😊

[@mirzagoralija4492]

Great video again ! 😀Come to Blagaj and see the Buna river in Bosnia & Herzegovina ! 😀

[@dextardextar]

hope you are safe avoiding wildfires.

[@christinelamb1167]

They're not "wild" fires.

[@davidhumphrey2593]

JESUS?? MARY??? It goes back at least 10,000 years before all of them dude!!! 😰😰😰

[@dragonfly9209]

Sure looks like other portrayals/paintings of Jesus and Mary....if you're claiming it's NOT Jesus and Mary--please tell us WHO it is then...in your opinion? As for those pictures going back 10,000 years or more---that's impossible, based on the style of clothing they are wearing. That clothing style was indeed the style they wore in the days of Jesus--and nothing like what would have been worn many thousands of years before that. Not even close.

[@davidhumphrey2593]

@@dragonfly9209 The 10,000 year old “stuff” I’m citing up above, I’m not citing any other artist’s’ painting or artistry!! 😰 Merely the Earth as a whole IN GENERAL!! 😁😁 I’m citing how we as a species has lived as a species on this planet 🌎 until just right now, so only for the past 10,000 years have things seen a difference!!😁 And it was only a brief 2,000 years ago that evidence of Jesus crawling took place, and we can see and show this ON CYPRUS (it’s most looking like anyway)!! 😨

[@effie-montreal]

It is sad that they do not upkeep the Greek Orthodox churches in Northern part of Cypress

[@dbeststuff777]

Muslims destroy all Christian remains,

[@user-cf7bx4vg3m]

go back to sleep dude

[@davedeal9152]

#TahinliWeatherReport Gabriel, are you usually able to get reliable weather forecasts o your phone or are there some countries where the info isn't available? Happy trails!

[@AJS90210]

🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@mn7486]

27:40 that’s not a church, that’s a mosque. Also, the ancient Agia Trias Basilica you went to is 100% Greek. You could have figured it out by its name Agia Trias which means Holy Trinity in Greek, and I know you have come across way too many churches and villages in Greece named Agios and Agia which means Saint/Holy. Too easy. The Turks generally try to rebrand everything Greek into Roman whenever they get a chance for obvious reasons in their effort to diminish the Greek heritage of the lands they hold, so when there is an obvious site named Agia you know it was too Greek for them to even try to rebrand as Roman.

[@user-cf7bx4vg3m]

just like rebranding of turkish coffee into greek coffee, yogurt into greek style yogurt, karagöz hacivat etc etc.

[@NaciMahmut-rf5xf]

If you listen real closely, you can hear the worlds smallest violin playing just for your EOKA b baby tears

[@mn7486]

@@NaciMahmut-rf5xf My little Mongolian friend, if you hear closely you can hear the cry of little turkish hyenas asking “what are we doing in the Mediterranean, we are a long way from our home in Mongolia”.

[@arthurtravelworld9164]

Hi Gabriel you ever thought of going to Bhutan sun time in the future that would be wicked if you went there I would watch your more of your videos as I still watch your videos every week you expire me to travel thank you very much from Justin

[@GabrielTravelerVideos]

Yes, I'd love to go there.

[@pavelavietor1]

😂 you are very creative medracanes 😂 ❤, saludos

[@cosmo-q4596]

Hello from Oman :)

[@ali5on]

I feel sorry for you Gabriel for having to explain at the beginning of every vlog the political history of the island. You are a traveler, and people can do their own research.......Also the delight of you finding these things on the Island that back in the UK or anywhere else would be a tourist attraction and charged for the pleasure. Thank you. I live in the south and we had 30 mins of rain, it was amazing.

[@RovexHD]

Good change up on the music, very emphatic 😅

[@pasqualeabarno]

👍👍👍

[@coleenoliva291]

Hi Gabriel, just curious why the Greek islands, and now Cypress (and Palestine too) seem like ghost towns. As I think about, in many of the countries you have visited in the past 6 months or so buildings appear abandoned and so few people on the streets, sidewalks etc. It seems very eery to me. Do you think it's aftermath of covid, or? (Also, may I just say how awesome your tank tops are?) Thank you so very much for posting such great videos, and often! As always, stay safe.

[@GabrielTravelerVideos]

I don't think Covid is much of a factor at this point. One reason is the siesta (or whatever the local word might be), because I tend to explore in the afternoons and in the Mediterranean region that's when everyone who has any sense is indoors, staying out of the heat. When it comes to Greek islands, a lot of the villages just aren't very populated at this point because the young people have moved away to Athens or other cities.

[@magdaw3123]

Hi Gabe! Nice video, however, I'm not sure why you start off by calling this place a country? Nobody recognizes this "country" (for obvious reasons too).

[@christinelamb1167]

The title of the video is "The country that is NOT a country". I think we all get it by now, including Gabriel.

[@tombuddy100]

It sure isn't.

[@licuta7376]

❤👍❤

[@kensmith5048]

Pool at bottom maybe for baptism?

[@nickchristoforou7850]

You're questioning whether Heracles was Roman or Greek? Jeezus Gabe, I would've thought after visiting Greek lands so much you would've absorbed a bit more. There's a difference between an Empire ruling an area and the nature of its population. Cyprus' character has been Greek for millennia.

[@christinelamb1167]

You don't have to be nasty and vulgar.

[@janakotrcova2790]

The gentleman probably just wanted to express his opinion,I don t see vulgarity in it,just a bit of irony.I understand his feelings.@@christinelamb1167

[@mn7486]

@@christinelamb1167Where is the vulgarity? Are you dreaming?

[@christinelamb1167]

@@mn7486 If you don't hear it, I'm seriously concerned about you.

[@mn7486]

@@christinelamb1167 ok, tell me where is the vulgarity. Please mention to me the specific words that were vulgar. Can you? Or will you just not reply?

[@ln5588]

Do you think the water was used for baptismal purpose?

[@GabrielTravelerVideos]

That's what others have said in comments, makes sense.

[@mikerepairsstuff]

Wow! ❤the old rugged brick walls building the old church

[@DMUSA536]

My first guess at the church in the beginning was that it was a baptismal. 🤷‍♂️

[@tombuddy100]

00:15 Looking north, east, south, and west, you can see the whole Republic of Cyprus from there.

[@user-ed2go3zv8x]

Don' t look for greek letters....they are rubbed out.

[@rumik-stahnke6512]

😁👍

[@jorusnak1998]

Could be the place Baptism were performed.

[@bubblehonda4152]

There's no such place called TRNC !

[@NaciMahmut-rf5xf]

Violins, little violins. Just for u.

[@Tch5802]

Gabriel sadly doesn’t explain why the island was split. In a nutshell, the British colonizers used the Turkish Cypriots as their policemen when they fought the (mostly) Greek Cypriot independence movement including concentration camps and torture. When the British left there were scores to settle and killings going both ways but mostly Greek Cypriots killing Turkish Cypriots. In 1974 there was a coup d’état on Cyprus; the new regime talked about expelling the Turkish Cypriots to Turkey. Turkey as was its right under the treaty that gave Cyprus independence sent its military to northern Cyprus to prevent more massacres, but instead of taking 10% of the land for the 10% of the Cypriots that are Turkish, they took a bit more than 30%, perhaps hoping to swap land for a separate Turkish state recognized by all. But that didn’t happen. In the end, British allowed all Turkish Cypriots to move to Britain that there are now more Turkish Cypriots in Britain than on Cyprus. Against international law, settlers from Turkey have taken their places. It’s a bit of an everybody made mistakes here scenario, but by far the biggest mistake was the Greek Cypriots thinking they would be able to push the Turkish Cypriots around when the formidable Turkish army was a few dozen kilometers away and the much smaller Greek military hundreds if not a thousand kilometers away. It was an emotional decision that went very badly wrong.

[@tombuddy100]

15:03 Spot the difference.

[@eirikolesen48]

It looks like it’s for water blessings for babtisium.

[@diochris76]

So sad too see what they have done to all the churches :((((

[@diochris76]

Ohh also the whole world knows it as occupied side of Cyprus, Not Northern Cyprus.

[@vaultkeeper2]

That Basicilia was destroyed over 1000 years ago and had nothing to do with Turkey. Even in my country Sweden we have church ruins, that is, archeological sites.

[@mrbarney4176]

​@@vaultkeeper2ottomans was Turkish they destroyed the churches

[@tombuddy100]

@@vaultkeeper2 Why the heck do you, from Sweden, support occupation of (northern part of) Republic of Cyprus?

[@mrbarney4176]

​@@tombuddy100probably Muslim sweden has been took over

[@paulmiller7775]

1!?

[@GabrielTravelerVideos]

Third.

[@sirapos6550]

As it goes,we will never see Αμμόχωστος (Famagusta)

[@lehoff]

The Turkish are a secular society and so it's not really traditional Islam, the Turks drink alcohol, eat pork etc... Erdogan is trying to push it harder though.

[@Nature_with_Peter_Kane]

3rd haha

[@chriszin94]

Again Gabriel, where you are is not a recognised country. Do some research about the places you visit.

[@nielsrosink5051]

He knows its not recognized. Mentioned that many times. What’s wrong with you?

[@chriszin94]

@@nielsrosink5051 he just now changed the title, the previous one was ''Inside the undiscovered country of northern cyprus''. So, i am perfectly fine, thank you.

[@nielsrosink5051]

If you watched the previous videos, you would know he does do his research and he does mention the fact that TRNC is not a country but part of the Republic of Cyprus. Quite pathetic to state things like that based on only the title of this video. Have a good day.

[@chriszin94]

@@nielsrosink5051 bye bye

[@22patch22]

He did say in a previous video that the only country in the world that recognises it is Turkey 🇹🇷 🤣.

[@leventgoodall5927]

glebe you keep saying invade x. if turkey didnt come. we would be like palastine lol

[@greeceundiscovered9670]

Yeah Palestine has a country next door to Palestine with 80 million people and a large military? Turkey is and was the big bully.

[@mariosantoniou2967]

Turkish occupied area of north Cyprus, used to be Greek for 3000 years, until 1974 when the Turkish troops occupied the region and forced the Greek Cypriot habits to flee to the south. You can see ancient Greek and Byzantine ruins everywhere, but not a single Turkish old monument.

[@NaciMahmut-rf5xf]

Lies. Buyuk Han in Nicosia? Was that built by the super Greeks? 😂

[@dadisphat6426]

Medicane 😂

[@BombasticGA]

Another video with stolen land and monuments

[@blingbling1193]

It’s occupied country by Turkey. Over 30% of the original Turkish Cypriots have left and replaced 10 fold by settlers from east Turkey. You sound like a propagandist for the occupiers.Shame on you for calling Northern Cyprus a country.

[@blingbling1193]

Done.

[@selimheisenberg8609]

Perfect video again from Turkish Cyprus 👏👏👏

[@fancybobbybob]

Fifth!

[@mikemarios154]

There no such a country like “Nothern Cyprus”.... This an occupied place by Turks...No country in the whole world recognizes that.... Only Turks....

[@Gizimizi]

At least they have churches in Northern Cyprus. How many mosques and Muslim religious sites are there in Cyprus? I bet you there are fewer than the churches in Northern Cyprus.

[@greeceundiscovered9670]

This is because Turks were only about 12 percent of the population pre- invasion.

[@andrewslifestyle2289]

There are many mosques and Muslim sites in Southern part of Cyprus. This was in accordance to the TC’s population in those regions prior to 1974. All of the worship sites in the South are well kept and preserved. As opposed to GC Churches and monasteries in the north that have been left to decay and rot. You can see them in these vlogs. At the beginning of this segment you can see clearly how St Andrew’s monastery was left to rot. This is one of the GC’s holiest sites, on the whole of Cyprus.

[@Gizimizi]

@@andrewslifestyle2289 Yes that's because the North Cyprus has been isolated by the international community and they are poor. They cannot afford these projects, unlike the rest of Cyprus when heavy investment has occurred. In general the crusaders would destroy everything, while in Islam they preserve things historically. In Cyprus it's a little bit different to the norm.

[@andrewslifestyle2289]

@@Gizimizi we GC’s don’t have a problem with TC’s. There are always bad apples on both sides. It’s your big brother Turkey that we want out. We then need to live together peacefully and I believe the new generation wants that. We need one Cyprus to be free, and prosperous for all Cypriots. Guarantees for both sides that what happened in the past doesn’t repeat itself

[@Eissara]

@@Gizimizi You are incorrect so not to use a different word. The Islamic invasion to the Middle East did not leave a Cathedral, Church or Monastery that was not turned into mosques specially in Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Palestine or they were totally destroyed. The facades of churches which have been turned to mosques is still evident in the Cathedral of John the Baptist in Damascus and the most recent uncivilzed act when Erdogan turned the Agia Sofia Cathedral into a mosque while at least Ataturk had left it as a museum, not to forget the lies told about the Cathedral claiming that the Ottoman caliph bought it with "his own money" from the monks. Only naive fools would believe such fables. Did you not see how the Crosses were removed from the old churches in the northern part of Cyprus ? On another note, muslims in the Middle East as in Turkey do not dare to touch any of the Jewish temples which are still closed and no one touches them, even in Beirut which has very few Jewish families left, the synagogue which is in the western side of Beirut has been renovated. You need to learn the true history of the region and not the lies told in history books mostly written by muslims or those benefitting from oil money.

[@S.Kapriniotis]

Of all the places in the world you had to visit an occupied territory that is not recognized by any country in the world besides those that occupy it. Shame on you. What is next now on your agenda? Luhansk and Donetsk? To show the beautiful attractions there?

[@christinelamb1167]

Just because a place is not "recognized" by some organization, it doesn't mean it's not an interesting and beautiful place to visit.

[@vaultkeeper2]

Those places are interesting in my opinion. I would actually personally love to see a take like this on for example Abkhazia or Transnistria, unique content thats rare and uncommon, in truly undiscovered and unknown places off the radar for the vast majority of people.

[@christinelamb1167]

@@john-mq8wj I don't need to be told where I can and cannot go.

[@VKS4life]

I don’t think he cares. Many have voiced this fact, including me, that he is in an occupied land. He doubles down and could not care less. When someone tells you who they are, believe them.

[@christinelamb1167]

@@VKS4life There's something seriously wrong with you.