Great town. Old churches (some ruined though) narrow streets, old Catholic Church converted into mosque. Nice to visit. You can find there old tree dated like 13th century.
Great town. Old churches (some ruined though) narrow streets, old Catholic Church converted into mosque. Nice to visit. You can find there old tree dated like 13th century.
We had visited Famagusta several times but on this occasion had time to explore more carefully. There is good parking but it is not that easy to find. I chose to use my buggy and was very glad I did as the pavements, where they exist are often blocked by cars or shops encroaching with their goods. We never found an accessible toilet and certainly not a disabled one.
There are plenty of places near the main mosque, the old cathedral, to eat either a snack or a meal.
There is plenty to see and it is worth doing your homework with the internet or a guide so as to get the most out of your visit
Take your time and explore this wonderful old city at leisure. There are so many hidden gems that you need to look where you're walking at every step. It would be fabulous to be able to hire a "Talk as you Walk" ear piece telling you all about the this old city.
Generally the state of the area in the walled city is poor.The Cathedral/ Mosque was disappointing- you could only go 10 foot inside & there were no artefacts or ornamentation.Various other Venetian buildings that are decaying. One street selling handbags or sportswear . Only one decent eating/ drinking place. 1 hour there is enough!
I would have enjoyed a half a day to visit and tour this area but when you're on a coach trip your freedom is limited. Instead of visiting the Cathedral/Mosque I wandered around and probably saw more of the area than my fellow coach companions. There is an abundance of history, some fine old buildings and the usual smattering of souvenir shops, restaurants and cafes. Next visit I'll go for a half a day at least.
Famagusta has had a long and turbulent history. Famagusta, or Ammohostos, was founded in the third century BC. In modern times it was the largest sea port of Cyprus. However since the island was partitioned after the Turkish invasion in 1974, Famagusta has had a rather sad history. The "walled city" refers especially to that part of the city was has been fenced off by the Turkish army and no one is allowed to enter. It has remained untouched since the day it was fenced off. It has been 'frozen in time"! The Greek residents of the city fled when the Turkish army invaded, hoping they would be allowed to return when things got back to normal. This has never happened. However tourists can see from a distance some of the remains. There are also medieval fortifications in the city dating from the times when the Venetians and others were on the island. There are some nice cafes and restaurants in the city for locals and tourists. It is an area worth visiting for a variety of reasons.