Kemal Ataturk
by call_me_rhia
Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, is a well-known name and face in the Turkish Cypriot side, and you may see many monumensts dedicated to him. The largest of such is in Famagusta, in the new town, at the roundabout nearest to the Land Gate tleading to the old city.
His head is the one that appearears on top of the monument, the largest head in a monument full of people and heads. While North Cyprus is not exactly Turkey, it is clear that most people would like it to be so.
Namik Kemal
by call_me_rhia
Namik Kemal (1840-1888), was a Turkish nationalist poet and novelist, who had spent 38 month in Famagusta - not exactly as a resident but rather as an exiled person - which meant that he was imprisoned, starting from 9 April 1873.
His horrifying crime? Apparently one of his plays, 'Vatan or Silistre', performed at Gedik Pasha Theatre in Istanbul on 1 April 1873. You can see his bust next to the mosque in the main square, which was named after him, Namik Kemal Meydani
Maras - Varosia, the forbidden city
by call_me_rhia
Maras (also known as Varosia) is Famagusta's the forbidden city - a city within a city, uninhabited, abandoned, deserted, closed off to people, locals and visitors alike. Once upon a time in this area of town there was a thriving and wealthy Greek community - then in 1974 before the advancing Turkish Army they fled to the south and never returned.
I'm not sure this is the real story behind it... the area is sealed off with barbed wire, photography is not allowed and its streets cannot be walked, but you can stand by the "allowed" side of the fence and look into it. We saw houses with plates and glasses seen on the tables, and an old battered suitcase left on a window, as if someone was leaving in a hurry and had decided carrying his/her own suitcase would have slowed their escape.
Maras has left me puzzled. We did not see anyone near the area, except a few children from a nearby house, an old man and three UN vehicles. Despite begin a safe place, I felt very much uncomfortable and was longing to get away from it... something in the recent present went awfully wrong there, and I have the feeling that the stories told, by both sides, are hiding something... something I may not want to know.
Don't miss the Roman bits!
by leics
It would be easy to walk through the site of the Venetian governor's palace (opposite the cathedral), now gardens, without noticing the various Roman statues and carvings dotted about.
I imagine they all came from ancient Salamis, which is hardly any distance away up the coast.
The sarcophagus is particularly well-carved.
The Church of St George of the Greeks
by leics
With three apses, this Byzantine/Gothic church is well on the way to disintegration.....sadly.
You can wander inside, although the ground is rough.
Faintly, on the western wall, you may see the remains of a Crucifixion fresco. And, under the dome, a ghostly glimpse of what glories were once painted there.
Look up, and you will see terracotta amphorae were incorporated into the building structmre. One theory suggests this was to enhance the acoustics, another that it aided the structure by adding strength without weight.
I have no idea which is correct, although I like the acoustic idea...I have seen similar amphorae incorporated into the Circo Massimo in Rome, and my archaeolofy lecturer told me it was to enhance the roar of the crowd.
Who knows?
Hopefully, funds will come from somewhere to properly preserve this ancient church (and the others in Famagusta).
But I am not holding my breath.......
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memorial, Famagusta, Cyprus 2010
Port, Famagusta, Cyprus 2010
Land Gate, Famagusta, Cyprus 2010
Victory Monument, Famagusta, Cyprus 2010
