Freya Stark

Freya Stark, British-Italian explorer and travel writer was in Cyprus in 1942. She was invited to Government House where she was appalled by the décor of the building:

You have never seen a house like this. It was built at vast expense after the riots of 1931 and is all a product of the resources, arts and crafts of this island, with the background of the Crusade even in the drawing-room curtains worked in cross-stitch on a peasant-weaving background.

The 'What I Saw...' series is made possible with the support of OPAP (Cyprus) and the Active Citizens Fund.

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Sir Harry Luke, writing about Kyrenia in the 1930s, expressed himself in a most emotional way.

05/06/2022

Esme Scott-Stevenson, was very observant of the local population and indeed of the local women.

10/06/2022

In 1733, Count Chancellor and Commander of the Royal Nordstjerne Order, Mr Eduard Carleson, visited Cyprus.

13/06/2022

Archduke Louis Salvador of Austria was enchanted by Nicosia and wrote a book about his visit in 1873

20/06/2022

The French antiquarian Edmond Duthoit was in Cyprus in 1863 and 1865 collecting antiquities. He came across an interesting acquaintance in Famagusta:

27/06/2022

Lawrence Durrell loved Kyrenia, where he spent most of his time. In Bitter lemons he writes:

04/07/2022

All What I Saw