City Walls
City Walls The Walls of the Old City were originally built by the Lusignans and later fortified by the by the Venetians by widening and heightening the walls and replacing the square towers with round ones.  Leonardo da Vinci himself was said to have advised on the construction of these walls during his visit to this island in 1481.  Today a fascinating old city lies behind these walls w...
Othello Tower
Built by the Lusignans in the 12th century to protect the harbour, city and sea-gate, this citadel is perhaps the most well-known element within Famagusta city walls. Originally surrounded by a moat, the Venetian Nicolo Foscarini transformed it (it is said that Leonardo de Vinci assisted in its design) into an artillery stronghold in 1492, making alterations similar to those at Girne castle.&nbs...
Salamis
Once the most important city in Cyprus, the ruins of Salamis are still impressive today. Set across a site of 1km fringed by a golden sandy beach, there is much to explore and inspire in these great Roman ruins – a definite must-see for anyone visiting North Cyprus. Excavations have shown that Salamis was founded as early as the 11th century BC, with the first inhabitants settling here from En...
Lala Mustafa Paşa Mosque
Standing formidably in the centre of the old city’s walls, this building, built by the Lusignans between 1298 and 1312, is one of the most beautiful Gothic structures in the Mediterranean. The imposing edifice, formerly known as the St. Nicholas Cathedral, boasts two tall towers, one topped with a minaret, which can still be seen from miles away despite having suffered some damage from earlier b...
St. George’s of the Latins Church
Constructed in the late 13th century using material from the Salamis ruins, this church is one of the oldest within the city’s walls. It is thought to have been modelled on the St. Chapelle church in Paris.  Although today it is mostly in ruins, you can distinguish its nave with five sections and a chancel, as well as its northern wall.  It is most likely that the church was constructed ...
City Walls
The Walls of the Old City were originally built by the Lusignans and later fortified by the by the Venetians by widening and heightening the walls and replacing the square towers with round ones. Leonardo da Vinci himself was said to have advised on the construction of these walls during his visit to this island in 1481. Today a fascinating old city lies behind these walls which measure eight metr...