Description - The rocky hilltop on which the Castle was built determined not only the outer contour but also the arrangement of the constructions. From North, West, and South the steep cliffs did not favour the approach and made the access to it almost impossible. So the Castle is entered from the east where the cliff is less steep and allows an access. The Castle is entered through an imposing barbican which is protected by strong towers. This barbican and the outer entrance are ruined. The entrance is about in the centre of the eastern outer wall and was protected on both sides by two rectangular towers of which only the lower parts survives. The outer wall ended to the north and the south in two shoe-horse shaped towers with loopholes. Climbing the steps, the visitor having entered the barbican reaches the inner entrance of the Castle which is in the centre of a strong wall which ends in two huge towers at the North and South.
The visitor entering the inner entrance and turning to the left comes to the S.E. tower, a large rectangular room covered with a cross vault. The vaulted basement of this room, which has now been turned into a cistern for rain water storage,was at first used as a prison.

Leaving this tower the visitor comes to a vaulted room, which is now used as the Custodians Office. From, here the visitor following the path that leads to the South comes to a range, of three vaulted chambers with loopholes which were used as an abode for the soldiers.

At the southest end of this range of these chambers is the Medieval latrine which was flushed by the conduit which drained the area enclosed by these building. Following, the path to the southwest the visitor sees on the left the remains of the south wall of the Castle and on the right a shoe-horse shaped cistern. Further to the west the visitor sees on the left the remains of a tower and on the right the ruins of other chambers and cisterns. The west part of this southern wall of the Castle ends in a shoe-horse, shaped tower and continues at the west of the cliff with three vaulted chambers.

In the most southernly chamber there is a small gate which was used by the garrison in an emergency. In the Northern side of the west part of the castle the visitor comes across another two vaulted chambers  which were used as cisterns.

Leaving this part the visitor and following the steep path sees on his left remains of the Byzantine Northern wall of the Castle with cisterns and other chambers which are now completely ruined.
From here the view of the Northern Coast of Cyprus is majestic. The steep rocks of the Northern side of the Castle with their wild beauty end in a range of hillocks with smooth lines that go as far as the shore. Leaving the Northern wall of the  Castle that embraces the steep cliff, the visitor may visit the chamber on the top of which the south wall with its beautiful window stands almost intact.

From this height 2068 ft. above the sea-level the visitor sees the Northern Coast of Cyprus (between Kyrenia and Cape Andrea) all green with forests and olive groves, the Peninsula of Karpasia and the Eastern Messaoria as well as the Famagusta bay. The sight is unique and enchanting. The Medieval Guard of the Castle however, used this tower not in order to enjoy the view but in order to exchange messages (signals by burning wood) with the  guard on Buffavento Castle.
Descending the Tower of the Summit andfollowing the path with  Northeast direction the visitor arrives at the Northeast two-storeyed tower which commands the entrance and controls the movements in the North Sea. The ground floor of this tower consists of a passage with loopholes at the North which leads to a square chamber covered with a cross vault. An entrance in the Eastern Wall of this chamber leads  to the shoe-horse shaped vaulted tower with loopholes in all its three sides. The top floor of this tower consisted of  a long narrow passage which ended in a rectangular chamber. From here a gate led to the roof of the tower which was surrounded with a parapet with loopholes. Leaving this tower the visitor following the path on his left, comes to the inner entrance of the Castle.

---

In 1914 the castle ruins were carefully strengthened wherever necessary, and the precinct closed by an iron gate inserted in the old principal entrance. The curious eschaugette (projecting turret of a very unusual form, with 7 loopholes; the purpose of this singular feature is difficult to explain unless it was intended to protect the large water cistern immediately below, and on the outside of the enceinte.) at the north-east corner was in a very precarious condition owing to the decay of the inner surface of the walls. In some places the turpentin tree - one of the most destructive parasites of ancient buildings in Cyprus - could only be destroyed with the greatest care and difficulty. These matters have been attended to and this most interesting ruin has been placed in a satisfatory state of repair without in anyway altering its picturesque venerable appearance.

---

| detailed map |