Buffavento Castle is located in Northern Cyprus. It means in Italian “Defier of the Winds”. The winds can reach quite high speeds in its exposed location at 950 metres above sea level. Political status de facto: Independent de jure: Recognized only by Turkey Official language Turkish Capital LefkoÅŸa (Nicosia) , Founder Rauf DenktaÅŸ President Mehmet Ali Talat Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer House Speaker Fatma EkenoÄŸlu Area  - Total  - % water 3,355 km² 2. ...

It stands in the middle of the Kyrenia range castles, with St. Hilarion Castle to the west and Kantara Castle to the east, all of which were built as a defense against Arab raids. As both of the other castles are visible from Buffavento, it was used to pass signals between them. It also controlled an important pass through the mountains. It was used as a prison in the 14th century. The Kyrenia mountain range is a long, narrow chain of mountains that runs approximately 160 km (100 mi) along the north coast of Cyprus. ... The St. ... The Kantara Castle is the easternmost of the castles situated on the Kyrenia mountain range in the Turkish Occupied area of Cyprus. ... The Arabs (Arabic: عرب ) are a large and heterogeneous ethnic group found throughout the Middle East and North Africa. ...

The lowest part of the castle was probably built by the Byzantines in the 11th century. This base was expanded upon by the Lusignans in the 14th century. It is not regular in shape as it makes use of the mountain itself for its defense. During the Venetian control of the island, Buffavento fell into disuse as the costal castles of Cyprus, such as Kyrenia and Famagusta, were seen as more important. Byzantine Empire (Greek: Βυζαντινή Αυτοκρατορία) is the term conventionally used since the 19th century to describe the Greek-speaking Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered at its capital in Constantinople. ... The Lusignan family originated in Poitou in western France, and in the late 12th century came to rule the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Kingdom of Cyprus. ... Venetian could mean of Venice of the venetia territory of the Republic of Venice of the venet nation the Venetian language The Venetian, a hotel and casino in Las Vegas, Nevada A venetian blind - a horizontally slatted window blind. ... Kyrenia Harbour on a summer night Kyrenia Castle at Night Kyrenia (Greek: Keryneia (Κερύνεια) Turkish: Girne ) is a town in northern Cyprus part of the Turkish inhabited side of Cyprus, the de facto (but not internationally recognized) Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). ... Famagusta (Greek: Αμμόχωστος, Ammochostos; Turkish: Gazimağusa) is a city on the east coast of Cyprus. ...