GAZIMAGUSA (Famagusta) Reception Booklet
Gazimağusa (Famagusta)
General Information: Official language
Turkish
Population
69.273
Currency
Turkish Lira
Temperature
Avg. 16C / 61F in Winter, to 32C / 90F in Summer
Situated on the south eastern coast of Cyprus, Gazimagusa possesses the eastern Mediterranean’s finest examples of medieval architecture. The three kilometer long Venetian Walls which encircle the entire ancient city, the Cathedral of St. Nicholas (the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque) where Lusignan kings were crowned Kings of Jerusalem, and the dungeon where, during the Ottoman Period, Turkey’s national poet Namik Kemal, spent thirty eight months in exile, are but a small selection of Gazimagusa’s rich historical and cultural heritage. Just to the south of Gazimagusa are the ruins of Salamis, one of the ancient City Kingdoms of Cyprus. Its Roman Period gymnasium, theatre and baths are particularly fascinating. The Monastery of St. Barnabas, which lies within the Salamis Protected Area, is another site which is hugely important from the point of view of belief tourism. St. Barnabas is one of Christianity’s most important saints and the founder of the Christian Church in Cyprus. The tomb and the monastery dedicated to him make this site one of North Cyprus's most important attractions. Gazimagusa was founded between 285-247 B.C.E. by the Egyptian King Ptolomeus Philadelpus who is said to have named it originally after his sister, Arsinoe. Around 647 A.D., as a result of the Arab raids which laid waste to many towns and cities in Cyprus, including the nearby great city of Salamis, the inhabitants fled to Gazimagusa, whence it developed into a small port town. In the hope that it would deter the Arab pirates it was named 'Ammochostos', meaning “hidden in sand”. An influx of Christian refugees fleeing the downfall of Acre in Palestine in 1291 transformed it from a tiny village into one of the richest cities in Christendom and in the Lusignan Period (1192-1489) it became, after Lefkosa (Nicosia), Cyprus’s second largest city, it was at this time that the name ‘Ammochostos’ developed into the Frankish corruption, ‘Famagusta’, by which name it is still known around the world today. As an important trading station between the east and west its importance and wealth increased. In 1372 the port was seized by Genoa and in 1489 by Venice under whose control it remained until 1571 when it fell to the Ottomans. In the British period, with the construction of new docks, the port regained some of its earlier significance and became an important center for trade
Namik Kemal Dungeon
The Gazimagusa walls
Water Sports
If you are interested in water sports then North Cyprus offers them all. Windsurfing in North Cyprus, Scuba Diving, Water skiing and Monoskiing, Jet skiing, Power boating, Banana Boats rides and more available.
Night Life
There are nightclubs – some in town & some in the hotels that cater for those wanting to party until the small hours. Some clubs will have entry fees especially those attached to hotels that are open to non-residents. Some of the hotels have casinos which attract visitors from all over including the Turkish mainland. These often serve food too .Smart casual attire is usually required. There are plenty of bars in the town (and many on the Salamis road) some will offer a quiet atmosphere to relax & unwind; others will be livelier with music or live music or even karaoke. Some of the bars get very busy at weekends when the local student populace comes out to play but there are always off the beaten track places to enjoy a quieter evening.
The Northern Cyprus’s Culture
Cypriots are very proud of their cultural heritage, which stretches back more than 9000 years. However, you'll probably find that Cyprus today is more concerned with the events of the last 20 years than those of a millennium ago. The north of the island is busy re-creating itself in the image of Turkey, changing names to Turkish and embracing the life and culture of its northern neighbor. The traditions and customs of a culture can best be observed in ceremonies and on special occasions. Between the Turkish Cypriot communities, some of these are wedding ceremonies, feast days (Ramazan), birth, children starting school, etc. Another important characteristic of the Turkish Cypriots is their hospitality. In the past, the importance of the guest was relative to their social status and their age. Serving the guests usually started with coffee or sherbets, especially those of honey, rose and carob. Fruit paste serving was also of importance Carnival is one of the best known Cypriot and throughout the year there are also exhibitions, concerts, drama and folk festivals
North Cyprus Cuisine
The Turkish-Cypriot cuisine owes its heritage to a mixture of Mediterranean, Southern European and Middle Eastern influences. Local dishes are delicious, particularly the "meze". This is a specialty of Cyprus and consists of a large number of cold and hot hors d'oeuvres such as different salads, meats, vegetable, and fish dishes. It is taken either as an appetizer or a main course. Other typical dishes are: "Yalanc覺 Dolma" (vine leaves stuffed with rice, onions, and tomatoes); "Sish Kebab" (marinated lamb, skewered and grilled over charcoal; "Musakka" (layers of mince, potatoes, and aubergines baked in the oven with cheese topping).
Money
The unit of currency in Northern Cyprus is the new Turkish Lira (YTL). We suggest interns to bring 500 USD to cover a mounth’s expenses , also you can bring dollars , Pounds or Euros and exchange them in ERCAN Airport
Bread Cigarette Water (1L) Beer Cola Chicken (1 Kg) Movie Ticket Milk
3 TL 9 TL 1 TL 3 TL 5 TL 15 TL 12 TL 2.5 TL
US Dollars GB Pounds Euros
2.2 T. Lira 3.7 T. Lira 3.0 T. Lira
Sites to see
The island of Cyprus is one of the most magical places in the world and North Cyprus is part of this landscape, full of mystery-land Mediterranean fragrance. A journey to this most Mediterranean paradise will reward you wit glimpses of historical sites which have witnessed a 10,000 year history, and impressive cultural heritage and different glorious treasures of the material world at every season of the year
Salamis The ancient city of Salamis became the capital of Cyprus as far back as 1100 BC. The city shared the destiny of the rest of the island during the successive occupations by the various dominant powers of the Near East, viz. the Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, and Romans. The ancient site covers an area of one square mile extending along the sea shore. There is still a large are a awaiting excavation and this is forested with mimosa, pine and eucalyptus trees.
Kapaz Karpas peninsula (or the panhandle) is the easternmost part of the island of Cyprus, where the land tapers into a thin strip which stretches out towards Turkey. The area is rich in subterranean water reservoirs and thus crops such as tobacco are grown in abundance. Another main source of income in the region is fishing. Boğaz and Kumyalı are the fishing centres in the Karpas.
Girne Situated on the north coast of Cyprus, Kyrenia, with its 6,000 year long history, unique remains of countless civilisations, miles of natural beaches, calm sea, and mild climate is an idyllic Mediterranean town. Bounded to the north by the sea and to the south by the greenery of the BeĹ&#x;parmak (Fivefinger) Mountain range, it offers the most magnificent scenery on the island.
Welcome to Gazimagusa
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