Famagusta (Mağusa)
The city of Famagusta
(Mağusa in Turkish) is one of the finest examples of
mediaeval architecture in
the eastern Mediterranean and, in its present state of preservation, is equal to that of
the old cities of Carcassone and Ragusa (Dubrovnik).
One full day spent in Famagusta will reveal the
history of Cyprus in a nutshell.
Much of Cyprus is an outdoor
museum, but only here is so much historical interest concentrated,
that is a showplace for all.
Much
of the history of the town is obscure as there are no written records and our only source
of material is from travellers' accounts of merchants passing through.
Some historians
declare that it was founded by King Ptolemy Philadelphus of Egypt in 285 B.C. It
is believed that the city occupies the site of ancient town of Arsinoë. Famagusta prospered
through the destruction of the neighbouring Salamis, the former capital of the island.
By the year 1300 A.D. the town was one of the principal markets of the
Eastern Mediterranean, the rendezvous place of rich merchants and the
headquarters of many Christian religious orders as revealed by numerous
churches of various denominations still to be seen in the town today.
This was the time of the Crusades and when the rich Lusignan
dynasty
ruled Cyprus.
Lusignans fortified the town, and in the thirteenth
century built the beautiful Cathedral of St.
Nicholas, transformed since
then into a mosque.
Famagusta was the seat of a Latin diocese from the
twelfth century and had residential bishops till the end of the
sixteenth. The city is protected by ramparts which encircle the town and
the citadel castle guarding the harbour, the best in Cyprus. This
citadel or Othello's tower is the first main focus of attention for
visitors.
The
period 1300 to 1400 is known as the golden age of Famagusta and was regarded as such by
visiting merchants, who brought western Europe the tales of fabulous wealth in the various places.
After
1400, rival factions of Genoese and Venetian merchants settled there. The Genoese caused
much strife until finally the Venetians took command of all Cyprus and transferred the
capital from Nicosia to Famagusta in 1489. The Venetians were in command for 82 years and
it was from Famagusta that the whole island was governed.
Porta del Mare (Sea Gate)
The invention of gun powder and the use of cannon made it
necessary for the Venetians to remodel the entire defences for the use of artillery, the
new type of warfare. The mediaeval square towers were replaced with round ones and all
along the walls and citadels numerous cannon portholes were inserted.
The
Ottoman armada arrived outside the town in 1570 and put it under siege for a
year. In 1571 not only Famagusta, but all Cyprus was under Ottoman Turkish rule and remained so
until 1878. The end of the British colonial rule in 1960 led to the intensification of
inter-communal strife between Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots which concluded in 1974
with the Turkish-Cypriot rule in North Cyprus.
The new town of Famagusta (also known as
Marash or Varosha) lies just to the south of the walled old-city of Famagusta.
The view from Palm Beach
Today, Famagusta
is a bustling university city where Cyprus' oldest and the
biggest university
Eastern
Mediterranean University is located.
Famagustans
love shopping as you will discover from many stores and small
artisan shops in the old city. New shops, stores, cafés and
restaurants also line up the Salamis Road on the way to the
University. Like the old traders from centuries ago, trade and
shopping are part of the sine-qua-non of a visit to
Famagusta.
Enjoying a warm summer evening at Namık
Kemal Piazza (Photo
© Famagusta Municipality)
Strolling in the
mediaeval old city, shopping for souvenirs or bric-a-brac,
drinking your Turkish coffee at Bandabuliya at Namık Kemal
Piazza (where there's free wi-fi internet connection), having
yummy cakes at a patisserie near Desdemona's Garden and Porta
del Mare or just walking by Laguna Beach marina with the locals
at sunset Famagusta slowly grows on one and does not leave you
easily.
Famagusta 
