famagusta walled city

The Venetian walls are well preserved and give good views over the town to the Lala Mustafa Pasa Mosque which was the Cathedral. So many ruined churches.Farmagusta has an amazing history and this can be seen as you wander the walled city .There's pavement cafes around the square - we had lunch at Pateks down by the walls - well recommended

Behind the old walled city there is a busy working town. An area full of ruins, with the port right outside the sea gate.If you climb onto the Venetian walls and ramparts you will get the best views but also you can see the long stretch of great thickness of the wall. The centre of the town is interesting with one of the most beautiful churches turned into mosque and the remains of other churches and old buildings.With the sun shining on the honey coloured stone of the walls, as well as the palm trees around, the atmosphere travels you to the middle-eastern splendor. It certainly worth a visit.

So many churches, old buildings, and especially the 700 years old Lala Mustafa Pasa mosque, which was built around 1300 as a church. Just walk in the area randomly, you'll come across with many interesting places, have your camera or ipad with you!

The Venetian walls are solid and imposing. in fact at every turn there is a part of a building just begging to be photographed. The narrow streets ,then big squares. ThecLala Mustafa Pasha Mosque, the venetianPalce, the ruined churches. But possibly the massive Venetian defences with their steep steps to climb to the ramparts are probably the most impressive. it's a peaceful place, a town that time forgot.One final treat was Petek Pattiserie in the old town. It's a cave of a shop, glistening with beautiful sweets and pastries. it's reminiscent of some of the GermAn Vhocolate shops. These people are specialists and you'll marvel at the artistry in the tiny sweets and the luscious pastries. There's also a cafe.

A lovely place for a wander round - fascinating seeing the different ruins and old buildings. It made for an excellent excursion. If you have a car - it is worth driving round the inner route of the walls, stopping at various points; parking is very easy here!

The wall itself would be difficult to get on unless you know where to park. We luckily had a guide. Walked to the top of the wall. Absolutely beautiful view of the thriving city on one side then the abandoned one in the distance on the other. The area is thought to be the setting for Shakespeare's Othello.

WE were unable to park anywhere to get to examine them properly, so drove around them a few times to get the flavour of the place's history

you will feel you are stepping in history ,it's actually so quite that makes you relaxed and you can enjoy the ancient structures freely ;)

There is so much history in this small town, and the buildings could be beautiful, but you get the impression that it has not been maintained. The church in the main square has been left to crumble and run down, it is used as a mosque ( I have no problem with this) but please repair the fantastic trellis work in stone and look after the surrounds. It seems that locals open up restaurants and cafes in any outbuilding whether of historic significance or not! For all of this, we did enjoy the bastions and generally walking round, and would recommend going if you have the chance.

Visit Venetian wall, Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque, Otello Tower, hospital. start from Ravelin Door, park your car there. walk towards Venetian wall Nestorian church then head south east to Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque. there are shops around there. then walk to hospital tower (porte del mare) then turn north to Otello. then left to St George Church and then to St Peter's church. rest is only detail. If you are Turkish you must visit Namık Kemal's prison.

We did visit a very nice modern café bar , which was very chic and we experienced a excellent Turkish coffee, sorry cannot remember the name of the café bar.

The massive walls surrounding the old town are in good condition and accessible in places, but it seems slumbering and a bit neglected. Many of the old buildings and churches are damaged with limited access, however it is a spacious town center, full of character and relaxed to walk around and explore and not crowded or busy with traffic. You can find old cannons and plies of canon balls just lying around. There is steady growth in tourists shops selling dubious designer goods - buyer beware!

City of Famagusta was grounded by Ptolemeus Philadelfos in 280-250 BC and was named Arsinoe, then about 650 AD was renamed as Ammochostos, or Hidden in the Sands. The Famagusta walls we can see now were built by Venetians in 1492-1572 on older grounds of Lusignan walls, they are some 3 km in length, 18 meters as highest and some 9 meters thick, there are tunnels inside the walls, as well as stables and armouries. There are at all 13 bastions and castle of Othello incorporated in the city walls, the walls are protected by 46 meters wide ditch. The Land Gate ( Ravelin) had originally a drawbridge. There are some 15 churches can be seen inside the city walls, none is operating but is open to visiters, and a number of interesting buildings. Most interesting in my opinion are St Nicholas Cathedral - wonderful Gothic masterpiece called also Reims of Cyprus , St.Peter and St.Pauls Church, Twin Churches of Templar och Hospitaller Orders, St,George of the Latins Church, the Lusignan-Venetian Palace with a largest central square in all of contemporary Europe in front of, and the Othello Castle nearby the Sea Gate.Othello Castle is an internal citadel situated on the seaside of city walls, near the Sea Gate. It was built for protection of city harbour in 1310 and then remodelled by Venetians at 1492. There is a large marble bas-relief of Winged Lion of St.Mark of Venice over the entrance to the castle. It may or may not be a residence of Governor of Cyprus between 1505 and 1508 Lieutenant Cristoforo Moro, who character thought to be based the Shakespeares Othello-character on. Unfortunately castle is currently closed for renovation.Porta del Mare is one of the two original entrances to the Walled city of Famagusta, the second being The Land Gate. It is built in italian Renaissance style, and is very well preserved. The Gate has a wooden door, above the door arch and facing the harbour there is a large marble bas-relief of Winged Lion of St.Mark of Venice. Beside the gate is possible to see a big stone sculpture of laying Lion, the guard of the Gate.The area of Walled city is not very large, and can be explored in one day time.See pictures attached.

This beautiful old walled city, full of ruins and repurposed buildings, is also a working town. The port is right outside the gate (Sea Gate). You climb onto the Venetian walls and ramparts from several different points and this is where the best views are. There are also a few shops and restaurants in the narrow streets and squares. Simply wander round and explore. Some of my best holiday photos came from Famagusta. I will return!

I liked everything, so it's simpler to say what I disliked. Many monuments and all inner structures of ancient walls are closed to public. Maintenance and cleanliness are inadequate. Frescos in churches are unprotected and disappearing. The level of tourist guides is poor, therefore you need to study in advance Famagusta's history and beauties if you want to understand how can a French gothic architecture have flourished in the middle east. Read carefully in advance "In a contested realm" by Allan Langdale and see his film "The stones of Famagusta"