Major Towns

Gazimagusa (=Famagusta), which was originally founded as a small commercial port and fishing town, flourished in the 12th Century during the Lusignan period, and became an important trading centre between the East and the West.

With nearly 365 places of worship and numerous palaces belonging to the nobles of the age, it was one of the most prosperous cities of the Mediterranean. Among the churches of Gazimagusa, the cathedral of St. Nicholas, where the Lusignan Kings were crowned, remains today as a particularly fine example of Gothic architecture. Soon after the Ottoman conquest in 1571, an elegant minaret was added to this cathedral and it was converted into a mosque and named after Lala Mustafa Pasha, the commander of the Ottoman forces who conquered the island. The Venetian walls surrounding the historic city are one of the best examples of Medieval architecture still existing today.The golden sandy beaches of Gazimagusa are well known throughout the world and it is the most important centre of tourism.

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