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The Region:
Famagusta is a fascinating
medieval walled city with oodles of charm and lots to exploreThanks to
its troubled history Famagusta is in fact two towns rolled into one. The
ancient walled city of Famagusta is much as it was over five hundred years ago
when Ottoman siege engines lay beyond its walls. Meanwhile the modern-day town
and port flourishes Seven hundred years ago Famagusta was the richest city on
earth; famed throughout the world for its mercantile magnificence. Famagusta's
economy boomed under Venetian rule, fed by trade routes that spanned the globe
from England to India. In fact, the city was so well known that Shakespeare
chose it as the setting for his play Othello. Famagusta's new wealth spurred on
a frenzy of medieval building, many of which can be seen today, including: the
Cathedral of St Nicolas, numerous houses, and the remains of the fortified
citadel. However, jealous eyes viewed the
city under its Venetian masters, and in 1571 the Ottomans invaded and laid
siege to Famagusta. They bombarded it with cannon fire for months, but the
strong walls and defensive towers (bastions) kept the invading army out.
Eventually the citizens of Famagusta had to surrender or starve to death.
Famagusta soon slid into decline to become a remote 'backwater posting' that
normally signaled the end of an official's career. Ironically this neglect
preserved the city. Today the shell of the walled city survives; an impressive reminder
of a colourful past.The old city is surrounded by one of the best preserved Venetian
fortifications in the Eastern Mediterranean. There are plenty of
medieval/renaissance buildings that can be visited. Unfortunately, most of them
were severely damaged during the Turkish siege of the city in 1571. Many cannon
balls can still be seen in the fortification walls as well as in the walls of
these buildings. Especially noteworthy are the Cathedral of St. Nicholas (converted to a mosque after the Ottoman
conquest and re-named Lala Mustafa Paşa
Mosque) and St. George of
the Greeks church with its frescoes. There is plenty more to see if you stroll
around the old town, where there is something of interest in almost every
corner of the old town, which has been recently renovated and retains
much of its historical appeal. Famagusta offers a variety of shops from clothing and gifts to home stores,
the Old Town has several specialized souvenir shops for those looking for
traditional handcrafted items. There is a wide variety of restaurants both in
the old city as well as in the modern city. Those in the old city are mostly
located around the Namık Kemal Square and in the modern town, most restaurants
and bars are located on the "Salamis Road". Famagusta Quayside (locally known as Palm Beach) has become very
popular over the years since the restoration of the area. There are several
cafés and restaurants to choose from offering drinks and snacks and a fantastic
sandy beach with good facilities and water sports in the summer months. Close
by is the buffer zone between the north and south, a deserted ghost town. This
part of Famagusta is locked in time and is a melancholy symbol of an island
divided. It is now possible to cross freely into Southern Cyprus, you
can cross the green line at the nearby border crossing located inside the
British sovereign base at Agios Nikolaos.