Famagusta is a city found on the east coast of Cyprus, located in a bay between Cape Greco and Cape Eloea, east of Nicosia.  It possesses the deepest harbor in the island and serves as the capital of the Famagusta District. 

Famagusta is the name of the city which Turkish Cypriots call Gazimağusa, or simply Mağusa, and Greek Cypriots Ammókhostos.  Since the 1974 Turkish invasion, the city has remained in the de facto Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is only recognized by Turkey.  The city’s old tourist quarter of Varosha has been left abandoned for thirty years, serving as a UN buffer zone, and pending its settlement until the resolution on the Cyprus dispute.

The town was founded as a small fishing village in 300 BC on the old settlement of Arsinoë.   It later developed into a small port with the destruction of the neighboring Salamis, the former capital of the island.  The small fishing village’s turning point came in 1192, with the onset of Lusignan rule, where in, Famagusta increased in importance in the Eastern Mediterranean due to its harbor and the walls that protected its inner town.  During this period, it had become one of the principal markets of the Eastern Mediterranean, a popular rendezvous place of rich merchants, and the headquarters of many Christian orders.

Its growth accelerated in the 13th century as Famagusta became a center for commerce in the east and in the west.  It was later transformed it into one of the riches cities in Christendom when an influx of Christian refugees fled from the downfall of Acre in Palestine and settled into the then village of Famagusta.

In 1489, the port was seized by Venice which resulted in the town’s affluence fed by mercantile trade that spanned across the globe from England to India.  This period was known as the golden age of Famagusta, and its new wealth spurred frenzy for building medieval churches that had consequently hailed the town as the “District of Churches”.  Famagusta was the last stronghold in the island to holdout against the Turks’ invasion in the 16th century.  In 1571, Famagusta and the entire island of Cyprus fell under Ottoman Turkish rule and had remained so until 1878.

During the British period, the port grew in influence and the town grew outside the confines of the city walls, which was predominantly centered on the Varosha district.  During this time, the Turkish population settled in the inner town, while the Greek population settled in the upper and lower Varosha.  The British had set up their administrative base between the two quarters in Varosha.  By the end of the period, new residential developments were built together with commercial, tourist, and recreational areas while Varosha was developed as a tourist resort.  The resulting tourist industry contributed largely to the city’s dynamism and its growth into a modern commercial and tourism-oriented city.

Famagusta flourished both culturally and economically from its independence from British rule in the 60’s to the Turkish invasion of 1974.  In the 1960’s, the town grew in reputation as a well-known tourist and entertainment center, complimented by its reputation as a city that merges history with the trends of the modern architectural movement.  In addition, the local economy of the Famagusta district gave significant contributions to the country’s economy as it possessed over 50% of all the total accommodation in Cyprus and a port that handled a large portion of the total general cargo and passenger traffic to and from the island.

The second phase of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in August 14, 1974 had resulted in the sealing off of Varosha by the Turkish army as a buffer between the Republic of Cyprus in the south and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the north.  This UN buffer zone has been described by many as a ghost town, where everything stands as if frozen in time.  Turkish Cypriots continue to live north of Varosha, particularly within the walled city.  These sections of the city remain vibrant with fascinating and historical buildings.

Today, Famagusta is a bustling university city where the Eastern Mediterranean University, the island’s oldest and largest university is located.  The city also boasts of some of the finest examples of medieval architecture in the Eastern Mediterranean, wherein at its present state of preservation, the city is equal to that of the splendor of Carcassone and Ragusa.  Any visitor of the city can experience the entire history of Famagusta in just a day as the city is filled with various interesting historical places.  Most modern visitors to Famagusta head straight to the old walled city where most of these historical sites are located.

Certainly, the foremost of the attractions within the old walled city are the Venetian walls.  This sprawling Venetian defense completely encompasses the old city, wherein it forms a 3.5 kilometer enclosure punctuated by fifteen bastions and gates.  The Othello's Tower was built in the 12th century as an extension of the main wall and as a protection for the harbor.  It was strengthened in 1492 as an artillery post, comprising of several towers and a large courtyard with the artillery chamber, refectory, and a few living quarters.  After its destruction in 1571, the Venetian palace was used as a prison during the rule of the Ottoman Empire.

Housed within a former city wall armory, along the harbor-side of the town, is the Canbulat or Djanbullat Museum.  According to legend, an Ottoman soldier drove himself and his horse into a spiked wheel mounted at the entrance gate, destroying himself together with the wheel.  This event is said to have precipitated the fall of the city to the Ottomans in 1571.  This soldier’s tomb is part of the museum’s exhibits, together with various cultural and religious artifacts.

One of Famagusta’s well-known landmarks is the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque, The construction of this enormous mosque started in 1298 and took about a century to finish.  Upon its completion, it was converted into the Cathedral of Agios Nikoloas, which is an excellent example of Lusignan Gothic architecture.  It was badly damaged during the Ottoman siege, destroying its two towers that were replaced with a minaret.  Inside, Christian murals were whit-washed in property Islamic fashion with remarkable details.

Inland from Famagusta is the church and monastery dedicated to Saint Barnabas, who founded the apostolic Cypriot Orthodox Church in 45 AD.  Saint Barnabas was a Cypriot from Salamis that visited the island with Saints Paul and Mark, who was later martyred in Salamis in 52 AD.  The church of Saint Barnabas stands well-preserved as it was when it was abandoned in 1976.

Famagusta is more than a medieval town as it also offers fantastic golden sandy beaches.  Famagusta has long been known as one of the island’s best beach destinations, long before the Turkish invasion in 1974.  Offered in the beaches are more than the usual leisure activities on the sand.  Famagusta beaches also offers facilities for various water sports activities, such as sailing, scuba diving, deep sea fishing, and wind surfing.

Also found in the city are other warm and accommodating  attractions, such as shops, cafes, restaurants, clubs, and casinos-- all of which suggests that Famagusta is more than a tourist town, but a town that has continued with its life in face of a conflict.

There are many options for residences in Famagusta and in the nearby areas.  These properties may range from apartments and villas to houses and plots of land. Property prices in the city had been steadily increasing, albeit at a much lesser rate than in recent years.  High demands are shared between off plan and resale properties, showing that the city did not lose its attraction for homebuyers and investors.  With the state of the Famagusta property market, a healthy appreciation of these properties’ values could be expected.  Some of the areas in and around Fmamgusta that are most ideal for  setting  up a house or for purchasing for an investment are the residential area of Paralimni, the quaint village of Dherynia, and the coastal district of Kapparis.