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All Cyprus Famagusta Varosha Beach Resort
AO Edited

Varosha Beach Resort

A 1970s resort city now stands abandoned, caught in the middle of a divided island.

Famagusta, Cyprus

Added By
ser flac
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  Michael Kirian/CC BY-ND 2.0
  Michael Kirian/CC BY-ND 2.0
  Vikimach/CC BY-SA 3.0
A soldier patrols the wall on the beach that skirts the Varosha quarter in Famagusta, Cyprus.   Awakening/Getty Images
  Julienbzh35/CC BY-SA 3.0
  Pablo/CC BY 2.0
Deserted buildings in Varosha   User submitted
Cars still parked in the same spot 35 years after the division of Cyprus   User submitted
Streets of the beautiful resort town   User submitted
Ruins of Varosha on the beach in Cyprus   simon-james/Flickr
Crossroads   fredengren / Atlas Obscura User
Croesus Jewelley   fredengren / Atlas Obscura User
town bazaar   fredengren / Atlas Obscura User
Hoover   fredengren / Atlas Obscura User
Airline company   fredengren / Atlas Obscura User
UN lookout post   fredengren / Atlas Obscura User
Taxi stand   fredengren / Atlas Obscura User
  bluebug207 / Atlas Obscura User
No trespassing   fredengren / Atlas Obscura User
Varosha Beach Resort   Benjorama / Atlas Obscura User
Varosha Beach Resort   Benjorama / Atlas Obscura User
Varosha Beach Resort   Benjorama / Atlas Obscura User
Varosha Beach Resort   Benjorama / Atlas Obscura User
Varosha Beach Resort   Benjorama / Atlas Obscura User
New smokey joes   fredengren / Atlas Obscura User
Disco   fredengren / Atlas Obscura User
New smokey joes   fredengren / Atlas Obscura User
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About

In 1974, the Greek military junta backed a coup in Cyprus that sparked a Turkish invasion of the island.

The Turkish forces advanced as far as the Atilla line, which is now the United Nations buffer-zone between the Greek and Turkish administrative areas of Cyprus.

Located about two miles north of this buffer-zone was the beach resort city of Famagusta. In the early 1970s, Famagusta was one of the most popular beach holiday destinations in the world and was a favorite destination of the rich and famous. It was known for its sunny beaches, glamorous shopping and dining experiences, and excellent luxury hotels. But on July 20, 1974, at the height of the summer tourist season, the impending Turkish invasion suddenly drove all 39,000 inhabitants and hundreds of guests out of the city. Fearing a massacre, they fled and after a short battle, the city was taken by Turkish forces.

Turkey remains in de facto possession of the city despite a bill attempting to return it to Greek control. The city is now home to around 40,000 inhabitants. The Varosha quarter, which was the tourism center of the city, has remained abandoned since the Turkish government fenced it off immediately after the conflict.

Today, the district stands as a monument to what the world would look like without its human inhabitants. Tables are still set for breakfast, model 1970s cars still sit in their garages, and designer clothing still hangs on the racks of hastily abandoned shops. Nature has begun to take over, and many of the buildings are slowly collapsing, the cars rusting, the pavement cracking and overgrown with weeds.

The Varosha Quarter is only accessible to Turkish military forces, the occasional journalist, and UN officials. It is also being used by writers and scientists as an ongoing study of how cities fare after their inhabitants have disappeared.

Update as of October 2020: The breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus began to reopen sections of the beachfront at Varosha. It is possible to walk in parts of the city, between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm. There are bikes to rent in the area, as the distance can be quite long, especially during a warm summer day.

Related Tags

Abandoned Islands Ghost Towns Ruins Beaches

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2 miles North of border between Turkish and Greek territories

Community Contributors

Added By

serflac

Edited By

littlebrumble, joemo, katielou106, fredengren...

  • littlebrumble
  • joemo
  • katielou106
  • fredengren
  • Allison
  • atimian
  • Anika Burgess
  • Benjorama
  • bluebug207

Published

September 14, 2011

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Varosha Beach Resort
Varosha
Famagusta
Cyprus
35.116534, 33.958992
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