About Famagusta

On the east coast of Cyprus lies the city of Famagusta which is the capital of the Famagusta District. It is on a bay between Cape Eloea and Cape Greco which is east of Nicosia.

Famagusta is one of the finest examples of a medieval city. This is where east, west, Islam, Christianity, and Asian and European Cultures blend together in a sort of cultural cocktail.

During ancient times, Famagusta was a small fishing village called Arsinoe which developed into a small port. The town turned into a centre for commerce for the East as well as the West. Christian refugees during the late 13th century turned the small town into one of the richest cities in the whole of Christendom. The city has a lot of medieval churches. The merchants built a lot of churches because they believe that the city is wealthy if it had a lot of churches. This is why the city is known as the district of churches.

There have been a lot of changes in the cultural and social life of the city. These changes have had a major effect on the physical and architectural environment. The existing buildings have to be changed to adjust to the major changes. One of these architectural changes was when the main cathedral was turned into a mosque. Importance was given to the market place and bazaar. After Famagusta declared independence from Britain, it turned into one of the world’s best-known tourist and entertainment center for tourists.

Famagusta’s golden sandy beaches lie inside the government-controlled area. The beaches stretch out in the far eastern corner of Cyprus. Ayaia Napa and Paralimni are just some of the few paradises for those who love the sea as well as water sports.

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