Famagusta

Tigger - letz-go to Famagusta

The Turkish name for Famagusta is Gazimagusa or Magusa and the town, located on the far East coast of Cyprus, has experienced extremes of fortune throughout its long and fascinating history.
Today visitors to Famagusta’s old town will be struck by how ramshackle and ruined it appears... and yet it was once the most lavish and richest city in the Eastern Mediterranean.

To understand the Famagusta of today it is important to look into its past. In the 3rd century BC the town was founded by the Egyptians and it was indeed a town of some significance, but until the abandonment of the city kingdom of Salamis in AD648 its population was not great. It wasn't’t until around 1291 that the town became particularly prosperous. Following an influx of Christian refugees from the Holy Land the town benefited from this demographic lift and grew to become the most wealthy and successful city in the Eastern Mediterranean, as previously mentioned. It also became an important trading centre because it benefited from a harbour with naturally deep waters.