The city of Famagusta is one of the finest examples of medieaval architecture in the Eastern Mediterranean and, in its present state of preservation, is equal to that of the old cities of Carcassone or Ragusa. One full day spent in Famagusta will reveal the history of Cyprus in a nutshell. Much of Cyprus is an outdoor museum, but only here is so much historical interest concentrated, that is a show- place for all tourists.

 Much of the history of the town is obscure as there are no written records and our only source of materialis from travellers' accounts of merchants passing through. Some historians declare that it 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 markets of the Eastern Mediterranean, the rendezvous of rich merchants and the headquarters of many Christian religious orders as revealed by numerous churches of various denominations still to be seen in the town today. This was the time of the Crusades and when the rich Lusignan family ruled Cyprus, and hence the period 1200 to 1498 in Cyprus history is called the Lusignan dynasty. Famagusta was protected by ramparts which encircle the town and the citadel castle guarding the harbour, the best in Cyprus. This citadel or Othello's tower is the first main focus of attention for visitors.

 The period 1300 to 1400 is known as the golden age of Famagusta and was regarded as such by visiting merchants, who brought back tales of fabulous wealth in the various places. After 1400, rival factions of Genoese and Venetian merchants settled there. The Genoese caused much strife until finally the Venetians took command of all Cyprus and transferred the capital from Nicosia to Famagusta in 1489. The Venetians were in command for 82 years and it was from Famagusta that the whole island was governed.

 The invention of gun-powder and the use of cannon made it necessary for the Venetians to remodel the entire defences for the use of artillery, the new type of warfare. The medieaval square towers were replaced with round ones and all along the walls and citadels numerous cannon portholes were inserted.

 The Turkish armada arrived outside the town in 1570 and put it under siege for a year. In 1571 not only Famagusta, but all Cyprus was under Turkish rule and remained so until 1878. The end of the British colonial rule in 1960 led to the intensification of inter- communal strife between Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots which concluded in 1974 with the Turkish-Cypriot rule in North Cyprus.

 The new town of New-Famagusta (also known as Maras or Varosha) lies just to the south of the walled old-city of Famagusta. After the 1974, the Varosha area has never been repopulated and closed for settlement, eventually turned into a ghost-town. In Varosha, history was frozen in 1974.

 Our city is also known with multiplicity of its names. Famagusta, Magusa, and Gazimagusa are some of the names that are being used to define our beloved city.

 Today, Magusa is a lovely modern port town, hosting the biggest university of the island and 13,000 university students from all over the world, who are giving city a unique character.

(Compiled from www.magusa.org)