GAZIMAGOSA( Magosa) in
Cyprus
If Girne is the tourism capital of Northern Cyprus, then
Famagusta is the historical capital. The walled town and the
areas around the city are peppered with ruins of
civilisations ranging from Assyrian, Greek, Persian, Roman,
Byzantine, Louisianan, Venetian, to le interest in history
will enjoy visiting the walled town of Famagusta and hearing
about the Ottoman siege of the then Venetian city. The town
has the usual selection of shops, restaurant, bars and
cafes. Accommodation available from Cyprus hotels in town. And with a large student population, Famagusta has a
night- life rivalled only by Girne. This area also boasts
some of the best beaches on the island.
Gazimagusa Past
The town of Gazimagosa was built on the ruins of the
ancient city of Arsine which itself was built to replace
the city of Salamis after its sacking by Arab raiders in 648
AD.Aand grew into a small fishing port
In 1291, after the fall of Acre, Crusaders began to settle
in the town bringing with them the vast wealth had
accumulated in the their conquests in the Holy lands, in
Gazimagusa,
the richest city in the Eastern Mediterranean.
To proclaim the superiority of Christianity and to appease
God for their sins, the inhabitants built churches all over
the city.
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At one time there were 365 churches in Gazimagusa-oine
for every day of the year. Later conflicts between the
Venetians and the Genoese in the city, coupled with the
increasing amount of resources and energy being
channelled into defence in fear of an Ottoman invasion,
seriously hampered trade and further development of the
city.
In 1571 the Ottomans took the city and Gazimagusa, no lender
having strategic or economic importance, reverted to the
insignificant port town-that it had been before
During British rule much of the architectural heritage of
Gazimagusa was lost when stone was taken from many
historical sites to build the Suez Canal. |
Places of interest to visit
Ancient city of Alaska:
The partially excavated ruins of the city can be found
strewn across fields just outside the town of Gazimagosa.
Archaeological findings at Alasia show that there was
settlement in the area during the Middle Bronze Age
Alasia`s wealth and subsequent growth was based on trade in
Cypriot copper which during the sixteenth century B.C. was
being exported to Anatolia, Syria and Egypt. Alasia`s heyday
came in the fifteenth century B.C. when Mycenaean trade in
cooper with both eastern and western lands was on the
increase. In fact, at that time Alasia was regarded as the
capital of Cyprus and some regarded Alasia so important
that name became synonymous with the whole of the island
During the eleventh and twelfth centuries fires, migration,
and earty-guakes lead to the gradual demise and abandonment
of the city and its remaining population recoated to the
nearby newly established city of Salamis.
Gazimagusa City Walls:
The defensive walls surrounding Gazimagusa were built by the
Venetians primarily to keep the ottomans out of the
city-something which they managed to delay, but not
prevent. The walls are almost completely intact today and
vary in height from 15-17 metres and are up 9 metres thick..
The total circumference of approximately 3.5 kilometres is
fortified with towers and bastions.
Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque (St.Nicolas Cathedral)
The construct cathedral began around 1300 AD. and was
completed in 1336.it was used by the Louisianans for the
coronation of the Kings of Jerusalem and was later used as a
mosque by the ottomans who renamed it after the general who
led the 1571 invasion of
Othello Tower
This structure was build by the Louisianans as part of the
defences of the city and is sait to be the setting for
Shakespeare's Othello.
Palazzo de Provveditorre:
Originally the palace of the Lusignan kings of Cyprus, the
building later became the residence of the Venetian military
commander.
Royal Tombs
These incredible structures build during the seventh and
eighth centuries B.C. can be found a short distance outside
Gazimagusa and are the burial grounds of the ancient Kings
of Cyprus. The tombs generally show influences of Assyrian
and Egyptian cultures. Some of them, however, were opened
and reused in Roman times.
Salamis Ruins:
A
according
to Greek mythology’ the city of Salamis was, founded by Teucer on his return from the Trojan wars but it is perhaps
more likely that the city was ,established early in the
eleventh century B.C after the abandonment of the nearby
city of Alasia. Salamis is said to have been a highly
developed, urban centre blending the cultures of the Orient
and the Phoenicians while having its own distinctively
Cypriot chaoracter.By the eight century B.C. Salamis was
Cyprus leading city in terms
Of culture, wealth and size. During Roman times a number of
server earthquakes destroyed much of the city, and repeated
Arab raids during the seventh century A.D. resulted in its
abandonment.
Sinan Pasha Mosque (The Church of Saints Peer and Paul)
This church is sait to have been
built during Gazimagusa`s heyday from the profits of a
single business venture by the merchant Simone Nostrano.Due
to its conversion into mosque by the Ottomans it remains in
very good condition and today houses the city library.
St. Andrew's Monastery:
The monastery is dedicated to St. Andrew, the protector of
travellers who, it is told, landed covered fresh water with
healing properties. The site has become a popular place for
pilgrimages.
St. Barnabas Monastery and Icon Museum:
The monastery was built close to the site site of St.
Barnabas was stoned to death by citizens of Salamis to whom
he attempted to preach the gospel, and his tomb and
monastery are of great religious significance to the Greek
Orthodox Church and now houses a museum of icons which
depict the events which led to the establishment of the
independent Church of Cyprus.
St.George of the Greeks:
This was once the Greek Orthodox cathedral of Lefkosa and
was built in the fifteenth century AD in Byzantine style.
St. George of the Latin's:
This early Gothic, based on St.
Chappell in Paris, was built during the thirteenth century