Bell Towers and Minarets   Cyprus was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1570 and remained under Ottoman rule for more than 300 years. Approximately 18% of the Cyprus population is Muslim. Prior to 1974, Muslims and Greeks commonly lived in the same towns and villages, hence there are many towns and villages where there are both churches with bell towers, and mosques with their minarets. Here .re both in the southern coastal city of Limassol.