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Old Famagusta: the Walls and Othello’s Tower

Venetian walls, the siege of 1570–1571 and the events of 1974

Local name: Τείχη της Αμμοχώστου – Πύργος του Οθέλλου

Collection: Cyprus Basics Exam · Cyprus · Open in OpenStreetMap

The story

The old town of Famagusta is surrounded by walls strengthened by the Venetians, who ruled Cyprus from 1489 to 1571. Othello’s Tower is the citadel on the sea side of the walls, by the old harbor. Above its gate, the lion of Saint Mark, the symbol of Venice, is set into the wall. The tower is named after the hero of Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello, most of which takes place in a port town on Cyprus. In 1570 and 1571 the Ottomans besieged Famagusta for about a year, and in August 1571 the city surrendered. In August 1974, in the second phase of the Turkish invasion, the Turkish army took the city. Since then it has been in the north of the island, which the Republic of Cyprus does not control.

Famagusta is the center of the district of the same name, but the Republic of Cyprus has not controlled the city itself since 1974; official texts call it “occupied”. Paralimni is named as the temporary center of the district. Othello’s Tower stands on the Venetian walls, with the lion of Saint Mark above the gate. The city fell to the Ottomans in August 1571 after a siege of about a year, and in 1974 it was taken in the second phase of the invasion, in August; Kyrenia was taken in the first, in July.

Visiting

Old Famagusta is in the north of the island, which the Republic of Cyprus has not controlled since 1974. The nearest crossing point to the city is at Deryneia, near Paralimni. Bring your passport; a car needs separate insurance in the north. Check the opening hours and entry price of the tower before you go.

Photos

Sources

• Δήμος Αμμοχώστου — Ιστορία της Αμμοχώστου (Venetian walls, Othello’s Tower, the lion of Saint Mark over the gate, Ottoman landing on 3 July 1570, siege of about a year, fall in August 1571)
• Δήμος Αμμοχώστου — Η πόλη σήμερα (Greek Cypriots driven out from 14 August 1974)
• Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia — Venetian Period (Venice ruled Cyprus from 1489; Famagusta surrendered in 1571 after a siege of about a year)
• Hallouminati, exam study guide — the 1974 invasion (two phases; Famagusta in the second phase, Kyrenia in the first)

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