 | Famagusta General Tips | Tips 1 - 10 of 10 |  |
Popular General Tips | Other General Tips Tips | All Tips (10) Gazimagusa is a lovely Mediterranean settlement on the coast. Visit Gothic Cathedrals, fortress and the castle. Salamis is an ancient city. You can visit bath,palaestra, theatre etc. Archaeological Museum of St. Barnabas is very close to Tombs of Kings. In addition, enjoy endless sandy beaches and Mediterranean sun :)
Some historians declare that it was founded by King Ptolemy Philadelphus of Egypt in 285 B.C. By the year I 300 A.D. the town was one of the principal markets of the Eastern Mediterranean, the rendezvous 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 family ruled Cyprus, and hence the period I 200 to I 489 in Cyprus history is called the Lusignan dynasty. Famagusta was 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 I 300 to I 400 is known as the golden age of Famagusta and was regarded as such by visiting merchants. who brought back tales of fabulous wealth in the various places. After I 400, 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 I489. The Venetians were in command for 82 years and it was from Famagusta that the whole island was governed.
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 medieval square towers were replaced with round ones and all along the walls and citadel numerous cannon portholes were inserted.
The Turkish armada arrived outside the town in I 570 and put it under siege for a year. In 1571 not only Famagusta, but all Cyprus was under Turkish rule and remained so until I 878. The end of colonial rule in I 960 led to the intensification of intercommunal strife between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots which concluded in I 974 with Turkish Cypriot rule in North Cyprus.
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SALAMIS
The region around the bay of Salamis is one of the most
favoured in the whole island. The Salamis city became the
capital of Cyprus as far back as 1100 BC. The city shared
the destiny of the rest of the island during the successive
occupations by the various dominant powers of the Near East,
viz. the Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, and Romans. The
ancient site covers an area of one square mile extending
along the sea shore. There is still a large area awaiting
excavation and this is forested with mimosa, pine and
eucalyptus trees.
The finding of some gold coins bearing the name of Evagoras,
411 to 374 BC, is the first genuine evidence of the city's
importance. A severe earthquake destroyed the city in 76 AD
after which the Gymnasium with its colonnaded Palaestra was
built by Trajan and Hadrian. This is the most monumental part
of the site but columns differ in size because after the second
great earthquake of 331 AD, the Christians set up new columns
which they dragged from the Roman theatre. The theatre with 50
rows of seats and a seating capacity of 15,000 is the second most
spectacular sight.
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I didn't go to Famagusta i went to Protaras and this is the closest i found on the map
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visit the oldest famagusta view point and sample the banana cake
the quiet relaxed atmosphere, and friendlyness of the people
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THE OTHELLO CASTLE:
The castle, built by the Lusignans in the 14th century, was being used as one of the main entrances to Famagusta. It is surrounded with a deep ditch. Just above the entrance to the castle lies the St. Mark lion in relief, under which the name of captain "Nicolo Foscari" -the captain who restored the tower- and the year 1492 is inscribed. The castle comprises towers and corridors leading to artillery batteries. There is also a refectory, and a dormitory dating back to the Lusignan times. There are cannons, and iron and stone cannon balls belonging to the Spaniards and Ottomans in the castle yard. Part of Shakespeare's famous tragedy, "Othello", takes place in a harbour town in Cyprus. The main character of the play, Othello, is introduced as an Algerian (Moor). The playwright is thought to have been misled by the name of the governor of the period: Christophora Moro
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The beautiful harbour and having a cup of Turkish coffee in the cafes in Girne in Northern Cyprus. Leave a Comment
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Once upon a time, it was called Arsinoe, after Arsinoe II of Egypt, then in Greek Ammokhostos (hidden in sand) and then again Famagusta. The Turkes called it Gazi-Mağusa, or in short Mağusa - and by this na it is known now.
Throughout the centuries people from various countries came to this town: Lusignans, Palestinians, Italians (mainly from Venice and Genoa), Ottomans, the Brits and finally the Turks. Influences of all these people can be seen all over town, and - despite what guidebooks write - it's a real architectural delight. A town of many beauties, and mysteries.
The old town is a place to see... with many old sights to enjoy, churches, mosques, shrines and the impressive Venetian walls. Then there is the new town, which is nothing spectacular but it's quite a pleasant place nevertheless... and finally Maras (Varosha) the ghost town, abandoned and sealed off by the UN - which was once the area inhabited by the Greek-cypriots. Not a pretty sight, but one that needs to be seen... Leave a Comment
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on September 22, 2004
on August 24, 2002
on August 24, 2002
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on November 19, 2007
