The End of an Era

The city of Venice conquered Cyprus at the end of the 15th century. They abandoned the mountain castles and strengthened the defences of the coast cities Kyrenia and Famagusta instead. Buffavento, St Hilarion and Kantara were not well prepared for artillery bombardment, which had more and more become means of warfare. The castles had lost their importance and Kantara laid in ruins in 1562. But still the medieval romantic feeling of the mountain mist surrounds the castles.