Famagusta in brief

Famagusta is one of the most important, greatly fortified ports on the shores of the Mediterranean. To the north of Famagusta lie the fabulous ruins of Salamis. This one great city is believed to have been founded in the 11th century BC and after the influences of the many conquering nations -notably the Romans- the city was finally abandoned in 648 AD following the combined catastrophes of earthquake and raids by Arab pirates, when the population moved to Famagusta.

The spectacular ruins give a fascinating insight into long-lost civilizations and include a magnificent amphitheatre, Roman baths, a gymnasium and royal tombs. The mosaics are particularly beautiful. Just inland from Famagusta are the church and monastery dedicated to St. Barnabas, the founder of the apostolic church on Cyprus in 45 AD. Barnabas a Cypriot from Salamis, visited the island accompanied by St. Paul and St. Mark and was later martyred in Salamis in 52 AD. The church of St. Barnabas is preserved exactly as it was since abandoned in 1976. There is a wonderful collection of 18th century icons and the monastery cloisters now houses an archaeological museum.

The name of the city in Turkish is Gazimağusa and in Greek AMMOKHOSTOS. It lies on the east coast in a bay between Capes Greco and Eloea, east of Nicosia, and possesses the deepest harbour in Cyprus. Famagusta is a Frankish corruption of its Greek name, which means "buried in the sand," descriptive of the silted mouth of the Pedieos River (Kanlıdere) north of the town. It was founded as Arsinoe by the Macedonian Egyptian king Ptolemy II (308-246 BC). An influx of Christian refugees fleeing the downfall of Acre (1291) in Palestine transformed it from a tiny village into one of the richest cities in Christendom. In 1372 the port was seized by Genoa and in 1489 by Venice, and in 1571 it fell to the Turks. Ravaged by war and earthquakes, the old walled town is now only partially inhabited, but it contains some of the finest examples of medieval military architecture extant and the 14th-century Gothic-style Cathedral of St. Nicholas, now a mosque. Under British administration (1878-1960) the modern section, called Varosha, was developed in large part as a tourist resort. After 1974, Varosha was sealed off to civilians and tourism ceased. Ferry service, begun in 1978 between Mersin, Turkey, and Latakia, Syria, includes Famagusta in its run.

Pop. (2003 est.) 35,000.

Famagusta History

A town is a form of reality and value that is experienced socially. It plays a major role in the formation and development of human identity. And as with all other social constructs, the dimensions of towns and the meanings they signify have been in a state of perpetual change throughout history. In this regard, the historical development of Famagusta provides us with a wealth of dimensions and cultural associations.

Founded in 300 B.C on the old settlement of Arsinoe, Famagusta remained a small fishing village for a long period of time. Later, as a result of the gradual evacuation of Salamis, it developed into a small port. The turning point for Famagusta was 1192 with the onset of Lusignan rule. It was during this period that Famagusta really developed as a fully- fledged town. The town now increased in importance in the Eastern Mediterranean due to its natural harbour, and the walls that protected its inner town. Its population started to increase. This development accelerated in the 13`" century as the town became a centre of commerce for both the East and West. This commercial activity turned Famagusta into a place where merchants and ship owners led lives of luxury. The belief that people's wealth could be measured by the churches they built inspired these merchants to have churches built in varying styles. These churches, which still exist, were the reason Famagusta came to be known as "the district of churches". The development of the town focused on the social lives of the wealthy people and was centred upon the Lusignan palace, the Cathedral, the Square and the harbour.

During the Genoese period, the town was exploited exclusively for military purposes and as a result Western Europe found the sea routes, which had made it possible to have contact with the lively commercial activity of the East, now brought them into contact only with an atmosphere of quiet melancholy. The Lusignan town, its streets running into squares lined with churches and cathedrals, ceased to develop, and losing its sense of time, surrendered itself to silence. In the Venetian period, the magnificence and glory of Famagusta faded still further as a result of the neglect of the island as a whole. The walls and moats were rebuilt in accordance with prevailing conditions, but as a protected port town with its land and sea gates providing entrance into its inner town, Famagusta remained in essence a military base. Developments in this period focused on the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, the main Square and the Venetian Palace. The town developed on this central axis. The Venetians tried hard to transform Famagusta into a small Venetian town and did not fail to bring a number of Venetian characteristics to Famagusta. The most important of these was the official symbol of the Venetian Empire - The Winged Lion to be found at the entrances of both the Othello Tower and the sea gate. Of the statues of The Winged Lion and St.Theodoros which once stood on two columns in San Marco Square in Venice, only the bases remain in a corner of the main square in Famagusta. There are even sources that reveal plans to join the moats with the sea and thus turn Famagusta into another Venice.