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Famagusta
Glorious sandy beaches and romantic Levantine-style harbour town
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eastern coastal area of Famagusta Bay is one long, very fine beach with
excellent facilities and clean, safe bathing and snorkelling. Restored and
pedestrianised since 1996, the old town of Famagusta is akin to an “outdoor
museum” in which it is a real delight to wander, soak up the sunshine and
atmosphere and watch people go by in quaint cafes. There is also a new town,
the centre of the region and an excellent hub for eating-out, shopping and
recreation. Famagusta is also close to the vast Roman ruins of Salamis, and
a day trip to its ruins and beaches is an absolute must on your holiday to
North Cyprus.
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Othello Tower |
| Built by the Lusignans in the 12th century to protect
the harbour, city and sea-gate, this citadel is perhaps the most
well-known element within Famagusta city walls. Originally surrounded by
a moat, the Venetian Nicolo Foscarini transformed it (it is said that
Leonardo de Vinci assisted in its design) into an artillery stronghold
in 1492, making alterations similar to those at Girne castle.&nbs...
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Salamis |
| Once the most important city in Cyprus, the ruins of
Salamis are still impressive today. Set across a site of 1km fringed by
a golden sandy beach, there is much to explore and inspire in these
great Roman ruins – a definite must-see for anyone visiting North
Cyprus. Excavations have shown that Salamis was founded as early as the
11th century BC, with the first inhabitants settling here from En...
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Lala Mustafa Paşa Mosque |
| Standing formidably in the centre of the old city’s
walls, this building, built by the Lusignans between 1298 and 1312, is
one of the most beautiful Gothic structures in the Mediterranean. The
imposing edifice, formerly known as the St. Nicholas Cathedral, boasts
two tall towers, one topped with a minaret, which can still be seen from
miles away despite having suffered some damage from earlier b... |
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St. George’s of the Latins Church |
| Constructed in the late 13th century using material
from the Salamis ruins, this church is one of the oldest within the
city’s walls. It is thought to have been modelled on the St. Chapelle
church in Paris. Although today it is mostly in ruins, you can
distinguish its nave with five sections and a chancel, as well as its
northern wall. It is most likely that the church was constructed ...
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City Walls |
| The Walls of the Old City were originally built by the
Lusignans and later fortified by the by the Venetians by widening and
heightening the walls and replacing the square towers with round ones.
Leonardo da Vinci himself was said to have advised on the construction
of these walls during his visit to this island in 1481. Today a
fascinating old city lies behind these walls which measure eight metr... |
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