Famagusta is one great city that is believed to have been founded in the 11^th century BC and after the influences of the many conquering nations notably the Romans the city was finally abandoned in 648 AD, following the combined catastrophe of earthquake and raids by pirates when the population moved to Famagusta.

The town was known as Arsinoe (after Arsinoe of Egypt) in antiquity, then Ammochostos (meaning “hidden in sand”) that is how it is today referred to in Greek. The same name developed into Famagusta, used in Western European languages and the Turkish name of Ammochostos (Gazi is a Turkish prefix meaning glorified).

Founded as Arsinoe by the Macedonian Egyptian king Ptolemy II (308–246 BC). It seems to have had its heyday in the 13th century when Christians fleeing from Syria and Palestine settled there and developed it into a wealthy city.

It was one of the principal markets of the Eastern Mediterranean, the rendezvous of rich merchants and the headquarters of many Christian religious orders as revealed by numerous churches of various denominations still to be seen in the town today. This was the time of the Crusades and when the rich Lusignan family ruled Cyprus, and hence the period 1200 to 1489 in Cyprus history is called the Lusignan dynasty. The period 1300 to 1400 is known as the golden age of Famagusta and was regarded as such by visiting merchants who brought back tales of fabulous wealth in the various places. After 1400, rival factions of Genoese and Venetian merchants settled there. The Genoese caused much strife until finally the Venetians took command of all Cyprus and transferred the capital from Nicosia to Famagusta in 1489. The Venetians were in command for 82 years and it was from Famagusta that the whole island was governed. The Venetians redeveloped the place, building a massive wall round the old town, still mostly remaining. The Martinengo bastion is an excellent example of expert fortification as it provides protection for the walls on either side of it.

The Ottoman forces took over after that, converting churches into mosques or using them for secular purposes. The Cathedral of St Nicholas became the Lala Mustapha Pasa Mosque.

In later years the British demolished many buildings to provide material for Port Said and the Suez Canal. The Turkish armada arrived outside the town in I 570 and put it under siege for a year. In 1571 not only Famagusta, but also all Cyprus was under Turkish rule and remained so until 1878. Famagusta was attacked and subsequently occupied by the Turkish military during the invasion of the island by Turkey in 1974 and its Greek Cypriot inhabitants fled, never to return again. As a result of the invasion most of the then-modern parts of the city were deserted, becoming a closed-off military zone.

Apart from that sad aspect, the rest of it is a vibrant town and has many fascinating buildings. Today, it is located in the Turkish occupied side of Cyprus. The city of Famagusta has one of the finest examples of medieval architecture in the Levant and, in its present state of preservation, is equal to that of the old cities of Carcassone or Ragusa. One full day spent in Famagusta will reveal the history of Cyprus in a nutshell.