Conservation Proposals for Monasteries in Karpas Peninsula, Northern Cyprus

Rural monasteries reflect the dependence on religion and agriculture with their space organization, function, and the lifestyle of the religious communities. Although conservation and reuse of monasteries are significant methods for transferring the knowledge of these religious heritage sites and their historical religious habits, many monastery buildings are threatened by abandonment, neglect, and idleness in Cyprus. This is mainly due to political and social reasons, which resulted in the loss of their connection with groups’ religious communities. This study mainly focuses on the nine monasteries which are located in the Karpas Peninsula. This paper discusses the lack of proper conservation activities for abandoned monasteries in Northern Cyprus, particularly with rural medieval monasteries located on the Karpas Peninsula. Concepts, such as adaptive reuse of monasteries and cultural routes, are noted in the state of the art section which formed the basis of the case studies included in this paper. The study underlines the significance of monasteries and monastic life in Northern Cyprus and discusses the current material as well as structural problems of these structures. Further to this, a proposal in respect of the construction of the monasteries’ route is made. Finally, the importance of the restoration and reuse of these monasteries and their possible contribution to tourism, gastronomic, and religious experiences are noted.