UTILIZATION OF OTTOMAN TANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE IN NORTHERN CYPRUS FOR TOURISM PURPOSES

Abstract

The aim of this study is to bring to light the tangible Ottoman cultural heritage in Northern Cyprus and to contribute to its utilization in cultural tourism. In the introduction section of the study, the history of the island of Cyprus is discussed, along with the examination of the Ottoman heritage in the region's construction activities. In the main part of the study, mosques converted from churches, tekkes, tombs, caravanserais, baths, libraries, and fountains that were constructed during the Ottoman period are examined. While this study does not serve as an inventory, it provides information about the Ottoman structures that hold cultural heritage value in Northern Cyprus, particularly in the context of cultural tourism, which is a significant branch of alternative tourism. In the concluding section of the study, recommendations are presented regarding the preservation of Ottoman tangible heritage and its contribution to the country's tourism.