Avlona, Cyprus

Location and Administration

Avlona (Greek: Αυλώνα, Turkish: Gayretköy) is a village located in the Nicosia Province of Cyprus. It is situated approximately halfway between Nicosia and Morphou/Güzelyurt.

History

Prior to the 1974 Turkish invasion, Avlona was exclusively inhabited by Greek Cypriots. However, after the invasion, the village's administration became disputed. De jure, it remains part of the Republic of Cyprus, while de facto, it is under the control of Northern Cyprus.

Population

According to the 2011 census, Avlona had a population of 367 inhabitants.

Physical Geography

Avlona is located 12 kilometers southeast of Morphou/Güzelyurt and four kilometers southeast of Fyllia. The village is situated immediately north of the Green Line, which separates the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus from the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Origins of Name

The name "Avlona" in Greek translates to "big courtyard". In 1975, the Turkish Cypriots changed their name for the village to Gayretköy, which literally means "foga village".

Demographics

Historically, Avlona had a small Turkish Cypriot minority between 1891 and 1931. However, by 1946, all Turkish Cypriots, except for one family, had left the village and moved to Akaki. In 1960, there were no Turkish Cypriots residing in Avlona.

Ottoman Census

The first recorded census of Avlona was conducted during the Ottoman period in 1831, which showed that Christians (Greek Cypriots) were the only inhabitants of the village at that time.