Akanthou
One of nine municipalities outside the Republic’s control since 1974
The story
Akanthou is a large village near the north coast of Cyprus, at the foot of the Pentadaktylos range, at the start of the Karpas peninsula. Administratively it belongs to the Famagusta district. The village got its own municipality back under British rule, in 1908. In August 1974, during the second phase of the Turkish invasion, the Greek Cypriots who lived here became refugees. Since then the village has been in the north of the island, which the Republic of Cyprus does not control. In Turkish it is called Tatlisu. The Municipality of Akanthou continues to work from Larnaca. It is one of nine municipalities whose land remained in the north.
Akanthou is a municipality in the Famagusta district, in the part of the island that the Republic of Cyprus has not controlled since 1974. In Greek questions this is «κατεχόμενες περιοχές», “occupied areas”. In one 2026 question it had to be picked out from Agios Athanasios, in the Limassol district, and Athienou and Aradippou, in the Larnaca district. Those three are in the south, under the Republic’s control.
Visiting
The village is in the north. To get there, you have to cross the dividing line at a crossing point, for example Pergamos or Deryneia. Bring your passport. Car insurance from the Republic of Cyprus usually does not apply there; a separate policy is sold at the crossing point. Many rental companies forbid driving to the north. The rules change, so check them before you go.
Photos
Sources
- Δήμος Ακανθούς — Πληροφορίες, Ιστορικά (official site of the displaced Akanthou Municipality)
- Union of Cyprus Municipalities — Occupied municipalities
- Embassy of Greece in Cyprus — meeting with the Committee of Occupied Municipalities, 8.1.2026
- Hallouminati — Cyprus culture exam, sample questions from the 2026 papers
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