This high-rise coastal city in Turkish Cyprus (also known as Gazimagusa), developed as a tourist resort decades ago, was Cyprus' primary port before the island was divided. Most of the former resort area has been closed to travelers since 1974, and it is now primarily a bizarre ghost town of sky-scrapers running along the coast.
Even so, a number of attractions in the old walled city can still be visited. See the Roman cistern and the remnants of medieval fortifications, including a citadel known as Othello's Tower (Shakespeare is said to have based his play on the story of a Venetian who occupied the tower). Another interesting sight is the gothic Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque (the structure was originally the Cathedral of St. Nicholas).
Take a day for the city itself and another day to explore the ruins of nearby Salamis and Engomi. Famagusta also has arguably the best beaches in Cyprus. Gazimagusa is situated just 35 mi/55 km east of Nicosia, but must be accessed by roads through Turkish Cyprus.
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