Famagusta Travel Guide

In the book "Bizar cities on earth", Famagusta is definitely one chapter. Worth visiting for more than one reason. The city center, with it's Venetian Walls, is beautiful. But then there is Varosha (Turkish: Maras), the former Greek part of the city, Benidorm-like, on the most beautiful beaches of Cyprus, with 30+ hotels which were all abandoned after the Turkish occupation of the Northern part of Cyprus in 1974. The neighbourhood is in the UN-bufferzone, but effectively under Turkish control. It's not possible to enter Varosha, apart from one church/museum which is about 150 meters in the locked area. No one came there during the last 35 years, leaving buildings deteriorated and trees growing everywhere. Go there, if you want to see one of the most visable aspects of the separation of Cyprus.

Best described as ancient city which was once in bloom and has now very much gone to seed in the ravages of the sea air and sand. Recently subject to some modernisation in a bid to attract tourists, I actually like the decaying nature of its huge walls, many churches and stunning cathedral.

väldigt spännande stad. här finns en hel stadsdel som blev övergiven när turkarna kom och ockuperade norra delen av cypern. denna del är fortfarande avspärrad och vaktad av soldater. flera km med tomma och förfallna hotell ugör den sk Spökstaden.