Bewitched by beauty of a hidden gem in Cyprus

TAX evaders take holidays too, and they might want to consider Northern Cyprus for their next vacation.

Not because Northern Cyprus — or the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to give it its full title — is a tax haven, but because the little town of Güzelyurt, 15 miles west along the coast from the city of Girne/Kyrenia, is home to the Monastery of St Mamas, aka the patron saint of tax evaders.

The legend of St Mamas dates back to Roman times, when the saint successfully claimed exemption from paying tax on the basis that he lived in a cave. The fact that he was astride a lion at the time very probably swayed the argument in his favour.