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, .