Overview:

: Famagusta City Walls are defensive fortifications located in Famagusta, Cyprus. The walls surround the old city of Famagusta, which was built by the Venetian rulers of Cyprus in the 16th century. The walls form a rectangular shape around the city and are some of the best preserved fortifications in the Mediterranean Sea. The walls were constructed using limestone and are over 7 meters high in some places. Today, much of the wall is open to the public and visitors can see firsthand the impressive defensive engineering capabilities of the Venetians. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Cyprus
Prominent Features:

1. Bastions: The city walls of Famagusta contain several large stone bastions, which served both to defend the city and as vantage points for the defenders’ artillery. These distinctive rectangular structures, with their sloped sides, protrude from the walls at regular intervals. One of the most impressive of these is the Othello Castle Bastion, which is now open to the public. 2. Segments: The city walls are made up of a series of large and small segments, linked together to form a continuous structure. The southern wall of the city, for example, is composed of six large segments, which were built over several centuries and in different styles. 3. Gates: Several gates can be found along the city walls, which were used both to control the entrance to the city and as points of defence. Among the most famous of these is the Martyr’s Gate, which is said to date from the 14th century. It bears a relief carving of Saint Christopher carrying the infant Jesus, and is protected by a system of double-doors and drawbridges. 4. Towers: The walls of Famagusta are dotted with numerous towers, including the large Elephant Tower, which stands beside the Martyr’s Gate. These towers have several important functions: they served as lookout posts for the defenders, as storage points for gunpowder and ammunition, and as anchor points for the walls. This national monument of Cyprus portrays the history and culture of the country.

History:

The fortified walls of the city of Famagusta in Cyprus date to the 12th century, when the city was ruled by Richard the Lionheart of England during the Third Crusade. Following his death, the country was annexed to the Kingdom of Cyprus. The walls were expanded and strengthened under the rule of François Lusignan, who reigned from 1250 to 1358, and the expansion of the walls was completed by 1372. Famagusta's walls were among the strongest in the eastern Mediterranean, and proved their worth in 1571 when the city resisted the Ottoman siege of almost a year-and-a-half. Famagusta was finally captured, but the walls held firm. The city's fortifications were extended again during the rule of the Venetians, who ruled from 1489 to 1571. The city's original gates were renovated, and new bastions and other structures were built. In the 18th century, Famagusta's defences were improved by the construction of the Martyrs’ Bastion and the Campaniles of St Anne, St Nicholas, and St Agatha. The walls served their purpose again in 1878 during the British occupation of the city, when Turkish forces besieged the city again. The walls, along with other historical sites, were damaged during the 1970s and 1980s during the Cyprus conflict. Today, portions of the walls are in a state of ruin, including sections of the moat, many of the towers, and the gates of the old city. Other parts are being restored, such as the Martyr’s Bastion and the campaniles, and the surviving portions of the walls remain an important historical site and tourist attraction in Famagusta. You must visit one of these historical places in Cyprus on your Cyprus tour

Interesting facts:

1. Famagusta City Walls were originally built by the Venetians between 1372 and 1489 as a series of strong fortifications to protect the city from Ottoman invaders. 2. The walls stretch for 4km and occupy an area of 2.8 hectares, with seven bastions, five entrance gates and an impressive moat. 3. The walls are some of the best preserved examples of medieval fortifications in the world and have been put forth as a World Heritage Site since 1997. 4. The walls were built with stone from local limestone quarries, and additions were made to the walls over the years including the Russian bastion which was added to the fortifications in 1777 by the Russians. 5. The walls feature intricate and detailed carvings and inscriptions of animals, religious symbols and figures, including the Turkish crescent moon and stars, Italian coats of arms, Venetian lilies, the green cross of Famagusta and the fleur de lis. 6. The walls were badly damaged by an earthquake in 1790 and were further weakened by artillery bombardments during the wars of 1858 and 1870. 7. Today, the walls are mostly used as a tourist attraction and have become a symbol of the city. Visit one of the famous monuments of Cyprus with your friends and family.