WorldTravelGate.net® - Culture of Famagusta, Cyprus.

Famagusta - Culture

Once the richest city in the world, Famagusta has now gone romantically to seed. A Venetian city wall surrounds the decaying old town, while the new town sprawls outside its boundaries. Just north of the Green Line in the country's east, Famagusta sits at the base of the eerie, desolate Kárpas Peninsula. Wealthy to the point of vulgarity in the 13^th century, levelled by the Ottoman Empire in the 16^th, the old city is now mostly notable for its few remaining churches.

The cathedral of St. Nicholas is the largest medieval building in Famagusta and was commenced in 1300 A.D. It must be noted that the great cathedrals of the middle ages often took more than 100 years to complete, so possibly St. Nicholas was completed about I 400.

Othello's tower is the medieval fortress or citadel guarding both harbour and town. This is referred to in one of Shakespeare's plays in which Othello is described as a Moor. This is not so; it is the name of a Venetian governor of 1506. However, Shakespeare knew little about Cyprus and had never been there.

The old city of Famagusta is encircled by the historical walls - Venetian Walls - that are massive and on average are 60 feet high and 30 feet thick and date back to mediaeval times. The walls stand intact to this day, well preserved. Two of the original gates of the Famagusta Castle, (the walls) still stand: Porta Del Mare (The Sea Gate), and Ravalin / Akkule Bastion (The Land Gate). Two more gates have been opened during the British period, which are the Djamboulat Gate, and the New Gate.

Opposite the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque (St. Nicholas Cathedral), and across the square, only the grand facade of the Venetian Palace is left, it having been destroyed in 1571 by the Ottomans. There are three arches in Roman style supported by four granite columns and over the central arch are the arms of Giovanni Renier, Captain of Cyprus in 1552. There was another more ancient palace on this site in which the Lusignan kings and queens of Cyprus were crowned. Beyond and inside the courtyard are numerous cannon balls and pieces of a large granite column.

The word antiquities are used here to imply any building or monument dated before about 1880, and thus being an antique may be worth looking at, or preserving. The Cypriot peasantry welcomed the Turkish conquest in 1571 because serfdom was abolished. For hundreds of years, under the feudal tyranny of the Lusignan barons, peasants were forced to work without pay several days a week. This system was continued under Venetian rule, but again by military power, so when the Turks swept this old system away a sense of relief was felt all over Cyprus.

There are excellent and comfortable hotels and hotel apartments of all categories. The whole of this area is very fertile, with many of the vegetable crops grown for export.

To the southeast of Famagusta is an area famous for golden sand beaches ideal for children. Fig Tree Bay, Flamingo Bay and Pernera beaches are among the most popular, each with cafés and beach bars; there is also an aquarium at Protaras. Inland, the little town of Paralimni also provides entertainment for the tourist with restaurants, discotheques and cafés.

The golden sandy beaches of the Ammochostos district gently embrace the eastern corner of the island. The popular holiday resorts of Agia Napa and Paralimni have been called a veritable paradise for anyone who loves the sea and water sports. The charming scenery includes the tiny fishing harbour at the heart of the village and the windmills and small churches in the surrounding villages, which spread out to the area of Paralimni and Protaras.

Agia Napa, once a small fishing village, is as lively a resort as any in the Mediterranean. But historic sites such as a 16th-century Venetian monastery lend character to a town that's best known for its colourful shops, tavernas and discos. Another focal point is the crescent harbour, crowded with bright fishing boats. The day's catch is tonight’s dinner at the popular restaurants nearby. Once a small fishing village boasts a superb Venetian decorated monastery with central octagonal fountain. It lends character and substance to a village that's better known to holidaymakers for its colourful shops, tavernas, discos and bars. A small Marine Life Museum presents exhibits of past and present marine fauna. The focal point of the resort is the small harbour, where the tavernas specialise in fresh fish harvested by the colourful fishing vessels.

Life in this south-eastern corner of Cyprus revolves around the sea, with water sports of all kinds readily available - from scuba diving to water-skiing to paragliding.

Explore the rugged coast toward Cape Greko, with its string of calm sandy coves, and stay for the indescribably beautiful sunset. Or head north, toward the basket-making community of Liopetri, stopping at Sotira to take in the pretty village churches that date to the 15th and 16th centuries.

East to Protaras, more glorious beaches spread out under the sun, while just inland the whitewashed town of Paralimni boasts open-air tavernas known for their succulent grilled fish. Only a few miles from the most contemporary of resort scenes, you'll feel eons away.

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