Top 3 Sights in Famagusta Cyprus
The walled city of Famagusta on the east coast of North Cyprus is a wonderful place to explore, with its still-visible scars from the Siege of 1571. The Venetian rulers of Famagusta held out for months against constant bombardment by the invading Ottomans, and the damage caused to this wealthy city was immense. The best way to explore Famagusta is to park your North Cyprus hire car just inside the city walls, and proceed on foot.
Famagusta City Walls
The mighty walls that encircle the old city of Famagusta are magnificent, and it's easy to see why they were nearly impossible to breach! Every vantage point around the city was defended by a mighty bastion or tower set into the walls. The most famous is Othello's Tower, which guards the Sea Gate and the harbour.
Lala Mustafa Pasa Mosque (St. Nicholas Cathedral), North Cyprus
Once inside the city, the Ottoman invaders then reused Famagusta’s old buildings for new purposes. One of the most striking examples is the Lala Mustafa Pasa Mosque, which occupies the former St Nicholas Cathedral. Here, the magnificent Gothic gables and rose window of the former cathdral still dominate the main square in Famagusta. Inside, the mosque is an elegant and spaceous place, modest in decoration and all the more awe-inspiring for it. On a hot day, it's also lovely to sit in the shade of a café table on the square and watch the world go by!
Salamis
Only a short drive from Famagusta in your Northern Cyprus rental car, the ruins of the Roman town of Salamis invite you to step back in time. You can wander along the ancient streets, through the fascinating gymnasium buildings, or to sit and watch a performance in the ancient theatre. The site is huge, and just when you think it's coming to an end, you look across the road to the Tomb of the Nobles, the final resting place of the original occupants of Salamis. Take a break from the heat with a dip in the sea from the beach at Salamis, just as the Romans did!