Galateia should not be confused with Galata, Cyprus.
| Settlement Type: | belediye |
| Galateia | |
| Official Name: | Γαλάτεια (Greek) Mehmetçik (Turkish) |
| Pushpin Map: | Cyprus |
| Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
| Pushpin Mapsize: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Cyprus |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  Cyprus |
| Subdivision Type1: | • District |
| Subdivision Name1: | Famagusta District |
| Subdivision Type2: | Country |
| Subdivision Type3: | • District |
| Subdivision Name3: | İskele District |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Cemil Saricizmeli |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Total: | 3,729 |
| Timezone: | EET |
| Utc Offset: | +2 |
| Timezone Dst: | EEST |
| Utc Offset Dst: | +3 |
| Coordinates: | 35.4222°N 34.0722°W |
Galateia (Γαλάτεια, Turkish: Mehmetçik, "Little Soldier")[1] is a village in the Famagusta District of Cyprus, located on the Karpass peninsula. It is under the de facto control of Northern Cyprus, where it is a municipality belonging to the district of Iskele.
A traditional Turkish village sitting high on a hillside overlooking the valley below,[1] Galáteia is most famous for its summer grape festival,[2] [3] for which people travel from all over Cyprus and the world to attend.[1]
Renowned for the grapes harvested from its vineyards,[2] [1] they are one of the most exported products to other areas of Cyprus. It is also well known for producing wine,[2] a Cypriot pomace brandy called Zivania,[1] and a traditional grape sweet called Sucuk.[1]
Galáteia was a Turkish-Cypriot enclave pre-1974 with no Greek-Cypriot inhabitants, unlike the vast majority of the surrounding villages in the Karpas peninsula. It is also believed to have been a hotbed of Turkish-Cypriot militancy (through membership of paramilitary groups like Volkan and TMT) during the turbulent times of the struggle for independence (1955–1959) and post-independence (1963–74) period.
Initially intended to simply provide villagers with shopping opportunities,[2] Galáteia's grape festival evolved to become a celebration of all things related to grapes.[2] [1] [3] The festival originally included more cultural activities as well,[2] but over the years this element has gradually declined.[2] In 2007, efforts began to reintroduce cultural elements as a separate festival to be held just before the grape festival.[2]
Festival activities include cooking with grapes, making grape sweets,[1] and winemaking,[1] as well as various symposiums.[2]
Galáteia's grape festival helps to both bring the economic and cultural importance of the grapes and vineyards of her district to the fore[2] and to promote local viticulture.[2]
The Turkish Cypriot Mehmetçik Sports Club was founded in Galáteia in 1943, and in 2015 was in the Cyprus Turkish Football Association (CTFA) K-PET 2nd League.[4]
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Northern Cyprus.
Galáteia is twinned with:
