Church of Antiphonitis.

What to see at Church of Antiphonitis

• Antiphonitis Church (Antifonitis Kilisesi) is a domed church whose dome rests on eight round columns set in an irregular octagon.
• A barrel-vaulted narthex lies to the west and a Gothic loggia to the south, which has lost its timber roof and stone parapet.
• Surviving frescoes include the Baptism of Christ, the Birth of the Virgin and Christ Pantocrator in the dome.

History of Church of Antiphonitis

12th century

The domed Byzantine church is built; it was once the core of an important monastery.

12th–15th century

Frescoes are painted in two periods, the first in the 12th or 13th century, the second in the 14th or 15th. Most are now lost.

14th or 15th century

The narthex and the south loggia are added.

Visiting Church of Antiphonitis

Allow half an hour. The church is remote, reached by forest roads near Bahçeli, about 3.8 km east of Esentepe. The GR.32 road passes about 1.6 km away. No car park is mapped nearby.

Monuments near Church of Antiphonitis

• Alagadi Turtle Beachabout 13 km westThe main nesting beach for green and loggerhead turtles on Girne's coast.
• Buffavento Castleabout 19 km westThe highest castle of the Kyrenia range, reached by a hard climb.
• Panagia Apsinthiotissaabout 22 km westAn 11th-century monastery set in the Taşkent nature park.