Editing Kyrenia (section)

===1960-present===
[[File:Kyrenia Harbour 1967.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7|Kyrenia Harbour in 1967]]
In 1960, Cyprus gained its independence from Great Britain. However, the intercommunal conflict that broke out in 1963–64 between the island's Greek and Turkish population again eroded Kyrenia's prosperity. While skirmishes in Kyrenia were minimal, the [[Turkish Resistance Organisation]] did blockade the Kyrenia-Nicosia road and occupy Saint Hilarion castle.

Despite these difficulties, the 1960s and early 1970s was a period of lively cultural and economic activity. A new town hall was built and a Folklore Museum established. The ancient shipwreck<ref>[http://www.kyreniaship.org ΙΔΡΥΜΑ ΚΕΡΥΝΕΙΑ ΧΡΥΣΟΚΑΒΑ.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070218231337/http://www.kyreniaship.org/ |date=18 February 2007 }} Kyrenia Chrysocava Cultural Foundation © 2000</ref> already alluded to was reassembled, together with all its amphorae and cargo, and permanently exhibited at the castle. The number of new hotels and tourists multiplied and a new road was constructed in the early 1970s connecting the town to Nicosia from the east. The town's cultural activities greatly increased. Other than the many traditional cultural and religious fairs and festivals annually celebrated, flower shows, yachting races, concerts and theater performances were organized. Kyrenia, the smallest of Cypriot towns, was undoubtedly the island's most precious jewel.

According to the 1973 census, 67.7% of the city's inhabitants were [[Greek Cypriots]], while the [[Turkish Cypriots]] made up 25.1% of the population.<ref name=prio/> The town's inhabitants, Greek, Turk, [[Maronite Cypriots|Maronite]], Armenian, Latin and British peacefully coexisted and cooperated in their daily affairs and the town had grown beyond its two historic neighbourhoods of Kato (Lower) Kyrenia and Pano (Upper) Kyrenia. It expanded towards the mountain slopes to form the new neighbourhood of "California", and eastward it had just about reached the outskirts of Thermia, Karakoumi and Ayios Georgios.

On 20 July 1974, the [[Turkish invasion of Cyprus|Turkish army invaded]] Cyprus in response to a [[1974 Cypriot coup d'état|coup d'état]] carried out by [[EOKA B]] and the [[Greek military junta of 1967–1974]],<ref name="TIME">{{Cite magazine |title=CYPRUS: Big Troubles over a Small Island |date=29 July 1974 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,911440,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307152514/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,911440,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 March 2008 }}</ref> landing at 5-Mile point, west of Kyrenia. Gaining ground against the local forces, the [[Turkish Army]] reached Kyrenia on 22 July 1974 during the UN-sponsored cease fire.{{Citation needed|date=June 2012}} The majority of the Greek Cypriot population of the city fled in the wake of the Turkish advance. A small group of Greek Cypriots who tried to remain within Kyrenia were kept in the Dome Hotel until October 1975, after which they were taken to [[Bellapais]]; the total number of the displaced Kyrenian Greek Cypriots were around 2,650. Subsequently, Turkish Cypriots displaced from elsewhere in Cyprus and immigrants from Turkey moved in, with the result that the town's present ethnic make-up is predominantly Turkish and Turkish-Cypriot.<ref name=prio>{{cite web|url=http://www.prio-cyprus-displacement.net/default.asp?id=450 |title=PRIO |publisher=Prio-cyprus-displacement.net |access-date=29 March 2017}}</ref>