Famagusta Old Town and Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque
A fortress town behind Venetian walls: the Gothic St Nicholas Cathedral, ruins of dozens of churches and quiet lanes.
In the 14th century Famagusta was one of the richest ports in the Mediterranean; merchants competed in building churches. Their Gothic ruins are scattered all over the old town.
St Nicholas Cathedral (1298–1328) resembles Reims; the Lusignans were crowned kings of Jerusalem here. Since 1571 it has been the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque.
The town is fully enclosed by walls with the mighty Martinengo Bastion.
Tips
- Take a map of the old town.
- Visit the mosque outside prayer times, shoulders and knees covered.
- Combine with Othello Castle and Salamis in one day.
Getting there
About an hour from Kyrenia. Buses from Nicosia.
Prices, opening hours and entry rules change — check official sources before you travel.
Nearby
Famagusta and the eastOthello CastleFamagusta’s harbour citadel, linked with Shakespeare’s “Othello”, set “in a seaport in Cyprus”.
Famagusta and the eastVarosha (Maraş) – the closed resortFamagusta’s former resort, fenced off since 1974; part of its streets has been open to visitors since 2020.
Famagusta and the eastSt Barnabas MonasteryA monastery by the tomb of the Apostle Barnabas, founder of the Church of Cyprus — now an icon and archaeology museum.