Chrysokava is located between the old and the new harbour of Kyrenia. 2000 years ago, the Romans used the place, first as a cemetery, then as a convenient limestone quarry ending in a cliff on its seaside. Presumably quarry workers later converted individual quarries into housings, by simply covering them with roofs. These were supported by wooden beams, the post holes of which are still discernable. Other ancient constructions on the site are a large cistern, an early Roman, and a Byzantine church, Agia Mavra, in which some paintings have been partially restored. Agia Mavra was built into the limestone around 1000 AD.

The Chrysokava quarry was in use for more than one thousand years after its establishment. Currently it is part of a restricted military area and not regularly open to visitors.