Famagusta Mini Tour

Excursions

Overview

“Explore with Us an in-depth history of the Ghost-town of Famagusta”

A half day tour into the spine-chilling Ghost-Town of Famagusta frozen in time.

Famagusta was once upon a time be Key and the Heart of Cyprus, the hub of the Mediterranean, the port that merged East and West, where the spice routes met the silk roads, where pilgrims and merchants met Kings, knights and crusaders; where Greek, French, Armenian, Genoese, Venetian, Jewish, Syrian, Catalan, Pisan, Turkish and Arab merchants lived side by side, each in their own quarter, celebrating within their own traditions, their own religions.

A city adorned with 365 churches, one for every day of the year. A city, or rather now a living museum.

The trip begins with a visit to the Famagusta Cultural Centre, where we can view the abandoned city from just a short distance away.  Here we will also see a short film on Famagusta before the invasion and its evacuation in 1974.  We then proceed crossing the border and drive along the fence which surrounds this once glamorous city, before arriving to the area of Famagusta’s notoriously known as the “Ghost City” where you will witness the devastation, the empty hotels and abandoned homes. You will stroll these streets till you reach the coast line where you have a chance to walk barefoot along the golden-sandy beach in the crystal clear waters of Varosia once upon a time was one of the most popular resorts in Europe, and certainly one of the most glamorous. The rich and famous celebrities including Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, and Brigitte Bardot came here for their holidays and many a tourist from far and wide enjoyed sunning themselves on the golden beaches and staying at one of the many luxury hotels that graced the resort.

A drive around the gothic city then guided tour inside the fortified walls of Famagusta. You will be given some free time to either see the remains of the Latin Church of St George, the Greek Church of St George, Arsenal (Martinengo Bastion), Othello Castle (Venetian governor of Cyprus), St Peter and St Paul Church, St Nicolas Cathedral originally (now known as Lala Mustafa Pasa Mosque), Nestorian Church (of St George), remains of St Francis church and the remains of the Venetian Palace or just browse the many shops for something different to buy or simply sit back and enjoy something to eat from a great selection of exotic food and sweets before we start heading back to the hotels.

Famagusta Mini Tour