Deryneia: Famagusta Cultural Center and the view of Varosha

A view of Varosha, the events of August 1996, a crossing point to the north

Local name: Πολιτιστικό Κέντρο Δήμου Αμμοχώστου (Δερύνεια)

Collection: Cyprus Basics Exam · Cyprus · Open in OpenStreetMap

The story

The Cultural Center of the Municipality of Famagusta stands in Deryneia, by the line that divides the island. Its building was officially opened in 2001. It tells the story of Famagusta and of the Cyprus problem, that is, the division of the island. From the viewing platform you can see Varosha through binoculars. It is a fenced-off part of the city whose residents left it in 1974. Famagusta is in the north of the island, which the Republic of Cyprus has not controlled since 1974. In August 1996, near Deryneia, two Greek Cypriots were killed during demonstrations in the buffer zone, the neutral strip under UN control: Tassos Isaac on 11 August and Solomos Solomou on 14 August. On 12 November 2018 a crossing point to the north opened nearby.

From Deryneia you can see fenced-off Varosha, part of Famagusta. Near Deryneia, in August 1996, Tassos Isaac was killed on 11 August and Solomos Solomou on 14 August, and on 12 November 2018 a crossing point opened here.

Visiting

Free entry. According to the Famagusta Municipality website, the center is open Monday to Saturday from 07:30: from about May to early November until 17:00 on weekdays, and until 15:00 on Saturdays and in winter. According to visitcyprus, it is closed on public holidays. Better confirm the hours by phone: +357 23 740 860. There is parking. The crossing point to the north is nearby.

Sources

• UN Security Council, S/1996/1016 (10.12.1996): Report of the Secretary-General on the UN operation in Cyprus, paras 4–7: clashes of 11 and 14 August 1996 near Dherinia
• UN Security Council, S/2019/37 (11.01.2019): Report of the Secretary-General on the UN operation in Cyprus: crossing points Deryneia/Derinya and Lefka-Aplici opened on 12 November 2018
• Δήμος Αμμοχώστου: Ιστορία Πολιτιστικού Κέντρου (by the οδόφραγμα in Deryneia; foundation since December 1996, building officially opened in 2001, under the municipality since 2010)
• Cyprus Mail, 10.08.2025: Statues unveiled to mark anniversary of Isaac and Solomou deaths (names and dates of death)

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