Famagusta s a large walled city and is quite different to any other place on Cyprus. Formerly a buzzing tourist resort attracting huge crowds, the fortunes of Famagusta changed dramatically in the 14th-century, following a serious attack by the Ottomans when it was under Genoese control.History began to repeat itself in 1974, when the Turkish Invasion took place and the city's exceedingly popular Varosia (Maras) beach and hotel strip was sealed off behind barbed wire.

However, Famagusta is still a fairly sizeable city and although its distant crumbling buildings create a ghostly atmosphere, there really is something quite appealing about this place, such as its ancient ramparts and sites of archaeological interest, large harbourfront and understated, relaxed tourism scene, which is considerably quieter than that of nearby Ayia Napa.

Source: Wikitravel