Cyprus: The ghost town of Famagusta | Focus on Europe - Spotlight on People | DW | 22.01.2022

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Focus on Europe

Cyprus: The ghost town of Famagusta

The once sophisticated seaside resort Varosha in the restricted area of Cyprus is open to visitors again. The Famagusta hotels were once graced by international stars. Turkey has now reopened the ghost town to tourists.

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16.07.21 *** A view shows abandoned buildings and hotels in the fenced off area of Famagusta, in the Turkish-occupied north of the divided eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus, on July 16, 2021. - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan heads to breakaway north Cyprus on July 20, to mark the anniversary of Turkey's 1974 invasion, a visit infuriating Greek Cypriots with island reunification talks in limbo. Varosha -- once the playground of celebrities and dubbed a Jewel of the Mediterranean -- was left a fenced off ghost town, where former luxury hotels have become overgrown by weeds. The Turkish army restored public access to parts of the beachfront last year and Erodgan is expected to extend that during his visit. (Photo by Christina ASSI / AFP) (Photo by CHRISTINA ASSI/AFP via Getty Images)

Backlash as Northern Cyprus reopens ghost resort 21.07.2021

The town has been unoccupied since the 1974 conflict between Greek and Turkish Cypriots left it in an inaccessible military zone.

08.10.2020, Zypern, Varosha: Menschen fotografieren eine Strandpromenade neben verlassenen Hotels (Blick durch einen Fensterrahmen). Trotz internationaler Kritik hat die türkisch-zyprische Regierung den türkisch kontrollierten Stadtteil Varosha in Famagusta nach über 40 Jahren teilweise geöffnet. Famagusta ist seit der Teilung der Insel 1974 militärisches Sperrgebiet. Foto: Nedim Enginsoy/AP/dpa +++ dpa-Bildfunk +++ |

Turkey's reopening of Northern Cyprus beach sparks controversy 09.10.2020

Varosha was a bustling beach resort frequented by celebrities in the early 1970s. Today, this seaside stretch of land in Northern Cyprus looks like a ghost town.

UNSPECIFIED - NOVEMBER 15: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Ersin Tatar (R) greet citizens during the ceremonies on November 15, 2020. Celal Gunes / Anadolu Agency | Keine Weitergabe an Wiederverkäufer.

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18.10.2020*** , Zypern, Nikosa: Ersin Tatar, Präsidentschaftskandidat der konservativen Nationalen Einheitspartei (UBP), gibt seine Stimme bei den Präsidentschaftswahlen ab. Nachdem bei einer Abstimmung am 11.10.2020 kein Kandidat die erforderliche absolute Mehrheit der Stimmen erreicht hatte, stimmen die türkischen Zyprer heute bei einer Stichwahl über ihren nächsten Präsidenten ab. Dabei könnte sich entscheiden, ob sie mehr Autonomie erhalten oder noch enger an die Türkei rücken. Foto: Nedim Enginsoy/AP/dpa +++ dpa-Bildfunk +++ |

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