Category: Cyprus

Nestled in the corner of Northern Cyprus, a country recognised by Turkey and literally no one else, lies the city that the Greeks call Ammochostos and the Turks Gazimağusa. The rest of the world knows it as Famagusta. This historical pearl testifies to a rich past, influenced by all the empires and countries that left their indelible marks upon these shores. But Famagusta is also one of the biggest cities in Northern Cyprus, home to a large university and a youthful and outgoing population. We made our base in Famagusta for a week and a half and discovered that there’s a lot to do and see.

Away from the touristy coastal areas, beaches and English pubs lie the Troodos Mountains. Wild mountain passes, ghost villages and not a metre of tarmac: this is definitely not the Cyprus you know from airbrushed travel brochures.

Hidden behind a barricade in Northern Cyprus lies Varosha, once a glamorous resort town on the Mediterranean coast, now a haunting ghost town frozen in time. We unravel Varosha’s secrets, confront the conflicting emotions of curiosity and guilt, navigate the geopolitical complexities and contemplate the ethical implications of visiting a place where lives were abruptly disrupted.