Güzelyurt : The Citrus Region
Güzelyurt (Greek: Μόρφου, Morphou Turkish: Güzelyurt) is a town in the northwestern part of Cyprus. With a population of 18,000 people, the town is famous for its apples, vegetables, grapefruit and melons. A large proportion of the citrus fruits are exported and the remainder are turned into fruit juice and canned for local consumption and export. Güzelyurt is also famous for its annual Orange Festival, which is a major event lasting two weeks.
Güzelyurt was founded by Spartans who brought with them the worship of Aphrodite. In the Middle Ages, the city was referred to as Morphou but also Theomorphou. The Morphou area grew more than half of Cyprus citrus fruits. In 16th and 17th centuries, during Ottoman period, Morphou was famous for its export of linen.
