Alevkaya Herbarium

Cyprus


One for the botany fans, the herbarium here is home to a vast pressed-plant collection of endemic Cypriot flora, including some 1250 native plant species. The collection was originally created by English botanist Deryck Viney, whose book Illustrated Flora of North Cyprus documents the country’s diverse botanical treasures. The herbarium is in Alevkaya (Halevga) Forest Station, on the back road in the Beşparmak (Pentadaktylos) Range.

To get here, take the signposted forest road off the southern side of the Beşparmak Pass. Alternatively, from the northern coastal road, take the road signposted as Karaağaç (Harkia) or Esentepe.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Cyprus attractions

1. Antifonitis Church

1.81 MILES

This beautiful secluded church is well worth the drive up a twisty mountain road to get to it. Dating from the 12th century (though substantially added on…

2. Alagadı Beach

4.34 MILES

Alagadı (Turtle) Beach, approximately 19km east of Kyrenia, is where the Society for the Protection of Turtles (SPOT) has its small sea-turtle…

3. Buffavento Castle

6.35 MILES

Buffavento perches precariously at 940m, overlooking the Mesaoria plain. The constant pummelling it endures from high winds is how it derived its Italian…

4. Vrysi (Acapulco) Beach

7.62 MILES

Now commonly called Acapulco Beach, thanks to the megaresort of Acapulco Holiday Village which manages it, Vrysi caters mainly to package tourists. Day…

5. Panagia Absinthiotissa Monastery

8.58 MILES

Located on the flank of the Beşparmak Range, this monastery sits idyllically among juniper trees, taking in the views over the Mesaoria plain.

6. Shayna Beach

8.91 MILES

This sheltered cove is home to a nice, narrow strip of sand, run by the Shayna Beach Club. For an easygoing and family-friendly day at the beach with full…

7. Home of Lawrence Durrell

10.96 MILES

A yellow plaque above the door marks the house where British writer Lawrence Durrell lived in the early 1950s, marking Bellapais on the literary map with…

8. Bellapais Abbey

10.99 MILES

The exquisite ruins of this Augustinian monastery are reason enough to drive up the mountain to Bellapais. It was built in the 12th century by monks…