Famagusta

The port city of Famagusta is a fine example of medieval architecture. If Cyprus is an outdoor museum then Famagusta is the showplace for this museum.

The history of Famagusta is obscure as there are no written records and the only source of information is the account of merchants and travelers passing through the town in different times.

It is stated by certain historians that Famagusta was founded by King Ptolemy Philadelphus of Egypt in 285 B.C. By the year 1300 A.D. the town was one of the principal trading places of the Mediterranean. Rich merchants traded goods in Famagusta and it served as the headquarters of many different Christian orders. From 1200 A.D. to  1489 A.D. Famagusta was ruled by the Lusignan family, and this period of Famagusta history is referred to as the Lusignan dynasty.

The period from 1300-1500 is also referred to as the "Golden age of Famagusta" by the visiting merchants who brought back tales of great wealth.

During the 1400 rival factions of Genoese and Venetians had settled in Famagusta; and Genoese in particular caused much strife among the different sects until the Venetians conquered all of Cyprus in 1489 A.D. Capital of Cyprus was same year was transferred from Nicosia to Famagusta. For eighty two more years Cyprus was commanded by Venetians from Famagusta.

Famagusta was conquered by the Ottomans in 1571 after a year long siege by the Turkish armada. By the end of 1571 all of Cyprus fell under the control of the Turks till 1878 when the British colonials took over. With the end of colonial rule in 1960 the inter communal strife between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots intensified and with the Turkish peace movements of 1974 resulted in liberation and of Turkish North Cyprus and the Greek South Cyprus.