Famagusta has plenty to offer tourists, including stunning sandy beaches, an array of ancient relics to visit and cafes to relax in by day or evening.
Lying on the east coast many people enjoy the golden coastline where the sun beats down every day. There are plenty of historical sites to see, beginning with the ancient walled city of Famagusta itself. The walls date back to the time of the Venetians and you can spend hazy, lazy days wandering the walls, get lost in atmospheric streets within the walls and visit the traditional bazaar.
Not far from Famagusta is the ancient Roman settlement of Salamis where the many ruins give visitors an insight into what it was like to live in Roman times. Salamis was a very important city for the early Christians and St. Paul himself preached there. It is not as busy as some of the other archaeological sites on the Mediterranean and so you can escape the crowds and take your time discovering history for yourself. It’s probably best to avoid the middle of the day when the sun is at its hottest and perhaps bring along a guidebook to get the most out of your visit. The site is spread out therefore there will be plenty of walking so make sure to slap on the sunscreen, wear a hat and bring plenty of water.
Another important site is the Monastery of St. Barnabas, Barnabas was one of the founders of the independent Orthodox Church and was stoned to death for promoting the new faith. In the early 1990s the site became the St. Barnabas Icon and Archaeological Museum.
