A Day Trip to Medieval FAMAGUSTA (Kyrenia, Nicosia or Famagusta )

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

• 1

  Today will start our day by driving to the north east of the island. Our first stop of the day will be St.Barnabas Monastery and Icon Museum. Barnabas was Jewish and for his higher studies he went to Jerusalem. When Christianity was spreading he believed in Christianity and came back to Cyprus and started to spread the religion. There were people against his ideas.They killed Barnabas but the believers who had converted into Christianity burried him in a cave under a carob tree but the believers were chased all the way to Egypt and no one knew where he was burried for decades. How did they find his Tomb? Today you will visit his Tomb and the Icon Museum and your guide will tell you more about Barnabas......

  2 hours • Admission ticket included
• 2
  Salamis

  Our next stop of the day will be Salamis Ruins.The mythical foundation of Salamis dates back to 11BC. The Trojan war hero Teucer was exciled from the Greek island of Salamis for not taken care of his half brother Ajax who had died during the war. He sailed all the way to Cyprus and settled here and named the Kingdom as Salamis. You will visit gymnasium, theatre, Roman baths and your guide will tell you more about Salamis.

  1 hour • Admission ticket included
• 3
  Famagusta Walled City

  The city was surrounded by walls by Lusignans. Later on adittions were made during Venetians. There are many historical sights remaining from many heritages who had passed thru Cyprus. You will see many of them today while you take a walk in this Medieval city.

  1 hour • Admission ticket free
• 4
  Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque

  It was built by Lusignans as a Cathedral in 1298-1312. It was named St. Nicholas Cathedral and its one of the nicest Cathedrals as a Gothic style. They were being crowned as the Kings of Jerusalem for many years. When Ottomans took over the island they added minaret and converted into a Mosque. Nowadays its still used as a Mosque. The place was first named as Ayasofya and later changed to Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque. 'Ficous Sycomorus' tree which is planted on the side of this amazing gothic architecture dates back to 1299.

  1 hour • Admission ticket free
• 5

  During the Ottoman time Famagusta was used as a place for excile for many people. Namık Kemal, the writer was against the Sultan so he was prisoned to Famagusta and stayed for 38 months. On this tour your guide will tell you a lot more about him and about his books. His prison is located within the Venetian palace. He also has a statue right infront of the square which is named after him. The statue was replaced in 1953. A lot more will be told by your local guide.

  1 hour • Admission ticket free
• 6
  Ghost Town Famagusta

  .Once this place was known as Varosha. Beautiful houses,hotels, full of tourists and much more was going on. It was abondened in 1974 and after 46 re-opened. Your guide will tell you allabout the place while you have your walk in the area.

  1 hour • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Specialized infant seats are available
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

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