What was once a Mediterranean hotspot quickly turned into a complete ghost town for 50 years. Now, it’s still abandoned, and has become of the most controversial tourist attractions in Europe
A Mediterranean hotspot that once welcomed revellers from across the continent is now a ghost town.
The resort of Varosha in the ancient city of Famagusta, Cyprus, was like any other European gem, boasting luxury hotels, mouth-watering eateries, golden beaches and crystal clear waters. It was an opulent slice of paradise, attracting the likes of Elizabeth Taylor and Abba, and quickly becoming a must-visit destination.
But in 1974, Cyprus was divided in two following a coup backed by the Greek government was met with a Turkish military invasion. The country became separated into the Turkish-Cypriot north and Greek-Cypriot south – and Varosha found itself as the latest no-man’s land border.
The town shut down, seeing a staggering 25,000 residents flee and forced to settle in nearby neighbourhoods. A whopping 12,000 hotel rooms stopped welcoming guests, and were left totally abandoned for almost 50 years. But in 2020, Ersin Tatar, then Prime Minister of the proclaimed de facto state, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, unveiled Varosha was re-opening its gates once again. Turkey, naturally, welcomed the move – which sparked outrage amongst many Cypriots.
“How can someone not be upset by what they have seen today?” Famagusta’s Greek Cypriot mayor, Simos Ioannou, said at the time. “Varosha should have been handed over to its rightful owners … this is psychological pressure.” Nicos Anastasiades, President of the island’s internationally recognised and Greek-administered south, went on to dub the move as illegal and in ‘flagrant violation’ of UN resolutions.
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Despite the controversy, Varosha attracts around 700,000 tourists every single year now. Guides can show revellers the crumbling exterior of business and hotels that once stood proud, but have been left empty for more than half a century.
Visitors are not permitted to enter the inside of the buildings, are visiting hours are restricted to 8am-8pm. Varosha’s famed beaches have also re-opened. Sombreros and sun loungers make for a stark contrast against the backdrop of people’s homes they’ve been unable to visit or so long.
Even tourists have criticised the ‘attraction’, with one person writing on Tripadvisor: “The tour guide was pleasant enough but had very little knowledge of the situation which caused the division of the island and actually gave a lot of false information. Perhaps they need to make sure what they say is not biased and based on fact not opinion.”
Another agreed, scathing: “The visitor is given zero context about why the city was abandoned, nor any explanation for it being allowed to fall in ruin nor why the owners and inhabitants are not allowed back. It’s hard not to be fascinated by it, but there is something deeply distasteful and disrespectful about the way it is presented in such a historical manner.”
Have you visited Varosha? Let us know in the comments section below
