Varosha: how a once luxury resort turned into a ghost town. Dead ghost town Famagusta in Cyprus; history, sights

Famagusta and the gated area of ​​Varosha

Varosha (Greek Varosia, tour Maras) is a quarter in the city of Famagusta in Cyprus. It was a popular tourist destination before the Turkish invasion and later became a "ghost town".

In the 1970s, Famagusta was the main tourist destination in Cyprus. Due to the growing number of tourists in the city, many new hotels and tourist facilities were built, and especially many of them appeared in Varosha. In the period from 1970 to 1974, the city was at the peak of its popularity and was recognized by many famous people of that time. Stars who visited him included Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Raquel Welch and Brigitte Bardot. There were many modern hotels in Varosha, and on its streets there were a large number of entertainment establishments, bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

On July 20, 1974, the Turkish army invaded Cyprus in response to a political coup in the country, and on August 15 of the same year, the Turks occupied Famagusta. As a result of these actions, the country was split into two parts: Greek and Turkish. The Greeks who lived in Varosha were evacuated and since then they have been prohibited from returning there. Journalists were also banned from entering the area. Thus, the quarter is frozen in time, with shops filled with clothes that were fashionable 35 years ago and empty but fully equipped hotels. Since no repairs have been made there during all this time, all buildings are gradually being destroyed. Nature is gradually recapturing its territories again, as the metal rusts, and numerous trees and other plants fill its streets. Swedish journalist Jan Olaf Bengtson, who visited the Swedish battalion of UN peacekeeping forces and saw the closed area, called it a "ghost town":
"The asphalt on the streets is cracked from the heat of the sun, and bushes are growing in the middle of the road. Now, in September 1977, dining tables are still set, clothes are still hanging in the laundries, and lamps are still burning. Famagusta is a ghost town."

Everyone knows about Pripyat - a city left by people after an accident on Chernobyl nuclear power plant... But only a few are aware that such a dead locality exists not only in the forests in the north of Ukraine, but also on the island of Cyprus. It is about the Varosha district - once fashionable Mediterranean resort, in a matter of days turned into a ghost.

The fact is that on the small island of Cyprus two states are now forced to exist in parallel - the Greek and the Turkish. They were not a single country for long, in the period from 1960 to 1974, after gaining independence from Great Britain and before the outbreak of the Civil War.

The latter was caused by the growth of nationalist sentiments of the Greek Cypriots, which led to a military coup and the announcement by the junta of the annexation of Cyprus to Greece. Turkey, one of the guarantors of the country's independence, did not hesitate to send its troops to protect the Turkish population of the island.

During the unfolding war, the ghost town of Varosha appeared. Before the conflict, it was one of the most popular and luxurious resorts in the region, which attracted wealthy people from all over the world, including music and film stars. However, in 1974, the area was in the line of fire, and the authorities were forced to evacuate local population mainly composed of Greeks.

People left their homes, thinking that it was only for a few days until the conflict was resolved. But history had other plans for that. For almost 40 years, Varosha has been standing empty, surrounded on all sides by a fence guarded by Turkish troops and UN peacekeepers.

Once luxury hotels and villas are empty and crumbling, they stand without windows, without doors and without furniture inside. Vegetation makes its way through the asphalt and turns Varosha into a dense forest with separate military roads cleared by hands for patrol cars.

And, most interestingly, in the immediate vicinity of the abandoned quarters, there are quite inhabited areas of the city of Famagusta (Turkish part of Cyprus), including several coastal hotels. And the beach of one of them bites its appendix into a ghost town, fenced off from it by a fence of black matter. At the same time, the border passes only a few tens of meters from sun loungers and umbrellas.

Annan's plan in 2004 called for the return of Varosha to the Greeks, but in the end this did not happen, because it was rejected by the Greek Cypriots.

Varosha is mentioned in Alan Weisman's book "The World Without Us" as an example of the irrepressible forces of nature.

The beach in Famagusta, the best in Cyprus - with fine sand and the purest water... Despite this, the beach is not crowded.

When I pointed the camera at the abandoned hotels in Varosha, one of the vacationers immediately approached me, and pointing to the towers located along the perimeter of the fence, advised me not to shoot - it's forbidden!

We drove around the block, along the fence. In some places, the fence is low, and there are no guarded towers around at all. I was so attracted to sneak into the territory and make a photo report. But the fellow travelers stopped him. First, they say the territory of Varosha is still mined in many places. Secondly, the soldiers guarding Varosha are very determined. I am sure that having noticed the violator, they will not observe political correctness and diplomacy. The problems can be extremely serious.

Varosha makes a depressing impression. The spirit of hopelessness soars around, which extends to the whole of Famagusta. The complete opposite of Cyrene:

To change our mood, we visited the main attraction of Famagusta, the Cathedral of St. Nicholas.

The Cathedral of St. Nicholas is the main medieval temple of the city of Famagusta on the east coast of Cyprus. Built in the 14th century on the model of the late Gothic Reims Cathedral by the Cypriot kings of the Lusignan dynasty. It is called in travel brochures.

The cathedral was consecrated in 1328 and has since been used by the Lusignans for the crowning of the Jerusalem throne. During the siege of Famagusta by the Turks in 1571, it was badly damaged by cannon fire. The Turks destroyed the figurative sculptural decoration of the temple and turned it into a mosque, which they began to call it. Significant damage to the safety of the building was caused by frequent earthquakes... In 1954, it was renamed the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque in honor of the military leader who commanded the siege of Famagusta in 1571.

When it got dark, we left the territory of Northern Cyprus through the checkpoint located at Famagusta. Finding him was not easy. No pointers, no additional information... Lost in some inconspicuous village, I had to turn to local residents for help. As a result, they found it.
At the checkpoint, our passports were checked as standard, we briefly inspected the car and, having slapped the stamp into the insert, let us go in peace ... an hour and a half later we were already in Limassol.

The city of Varosha (Cyprus) is actually not a city, but a district of Famagusta. Famagusta is now located on the territory of Northern Cyprus, an unrecognized state. Varosha is called a ghost town and it has interesting fate... Many tourists would like to visit this territory, but for certain reasons this is impossible.

Varosha before 1974

Embankment in the city of Varosha before 1974

The history of the ghost town began in 1974, and before that time Varosha was a resort area. And not simple, but fashionable. The most modern hotels, private villas, expensive shops were located on this territory. According to eyewitnesses, Brigitte Bardot rested in one of the hotels in the early 70s. The fame of the fashionable resort Varosha was brought not only by the excellent infrastructure, but also by the peculiarity of the sand on the local beach. It is very small and pleasant to the touch. If not for the tragic events, the Varosha beach would surely have been awarded the Blue Flag.

Villas and hotels were located closer to the beach. And then there were residential quarters in which local residents lived. Many of them were employed in the hotel infrastructure. And since the resort was expensive, the local residents were not deprived of their salaries, and the entire area was considered prestigious for living. But all this prosperity came to an end in a matter of days.

Coup d'état

In 1974, Famagusta was captured by the Turks. Not only this city came under their jurisdiction. After a while, the entire northern part of the island was Turkish. As a result, Northern Cyprus- a state not recognized in the world. However, this does not interfere with the existence of Northern Cyprus even now, after a long time. And the island is a completely calm environment for tourists. They can even visit both parts of the island - the Republic of Cyprus and the unrecognized state. True, for this you will have to cross the buffer zone along certain rules... Partly (and perhaps completely) this order is maintained thanks to the UN troops who control the buffer zone.


But back to the events of 1974. The Turks, having captured Famagusta, cordoned off the Varosha area and ordered the residents to liberate the area within 24 hours. True, some of the inhabitants of Varosha fled to the south of the island and to other countries a little earlier, when the bombing from the Turkish side began. Nevertheless, the area was quickly deserted. Many residents, and almost all of them were ethnic Greeks, hoped that the military conflict would soon end and they would return. Therefore, many families left light, leaving their property. But these hopes did not come true, and the Turks firmly settled in the northern part of Cyprus.

Perhaps, at first, the area was really guarded, not allowing looting. However, then Turkish soldiers began to take out other people's property. They were joined by the residents of Famagusta, who welcomed the new government, mostly ethnic Turks. In general, after a few years, the fashionable area was plundered and dilapidated. Now Varosha is controlled by the army of Northern Cyprus and the UN troops. The area is fenced in and guarded by soldiers.

Is it possible to see a ghost town?

Varosha in Cyprus could be a great attraction for tourists like Pripyat (Chernobyl zone) or Fukushima in Japan. And even better, because there is no radiation hazard in Varosha. Abandoned urban landscapes are popular with many tourists. But the area itself cannot be officially entered, it is guarded. On the fence separating other districts of Famagusta from Varosha, there are warning signs about the restricted area.

However, photos of the ghost town of Varosha appear from time to time in the media and on the Internet. It is visited by:

• journalists (rarely, the authorities allow them to enter the territory and even less often allow them to take pictures),
• stalkers (illegal visitors who find loopholes in the fence, or (according to some information) who managed to bribe the guards).

We strongly advise against trying to enter the territory of Varosha, since the soldiers of the Turkish army are armed and have the right to use weapons. You can't even be photographed behind a fence. But you can take pictures from the coast, where access is open. Even from there, abandoned high-rise buildings with empty window sockets make an eerie impression.

Perhaps someday the authorities in Northern Cyprus will understand what benefits can be derived from tourists visiting a ghost town. And they organize excursions there. In the meantime, you can look at it from afar or in the photos taken by the lucky ones who have been inside Varosha.

Varosha. Ghost town in Cyprus

The city of Varosha (Cyprus) is actually not a city, but a district of Famagusta. Famagusta is now located on the territory of Northern Cyprus, an unrecognized state. Varosha is called a ghost town and has an interesting destiny. Many tourists would like to visit this territory, but for certain reasons this is impossible. Varosha before 1974 The history of the ghost town began in 1974, and before that time Varosha was a resort area. And not simple, but fashionable. The most modern hotels, private villas, expensive shops were located on this territory. According to eyewitnesses, in one of the hotels in the early 70s ...

Overview

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Here was a city, here was a resort ...

There is such a famous place in North Cyprus - Famagusta. Once upon a time there were the best beaches on the island, and real estate in the fashionable Varos district is the most expensive in Cyprus. But that was once. Now Varosha is a dead city, which was abandoned by ABSOLUTELY all residents and in which it is strictly forbidden for anyone to be. It is forbidden even to photograph the fence and what is visible through the fence, under the threat of imprisonment!

Everything that is on this moment- the result of the confrontation between greed and pride. And it's not about ancient times, but about the 20th century. First, a coup d'etat took place in the country and the president was removed from power. Then another state brought its troops into part of its territory, annexing them and calling it a "peacekeeping operation." At the time when someone flew into space, there was a civil war on the island. Short but tragic. As a result - divided cities, destroyed destinies, unrecognized territories and a "ghost town" ...

2. It is no exaggeration to say that the beaches in Famagusta are the best in Cyprus, with fine sand and clear water. The ancient Greeks were the first to appreciate this, behind them were the Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, Romans, Venetians and the Ottomans for the longest time, they already knew a lot about pleasures ...
Including for the beaches, the "tasty" island has always been the subject of claims of the closest neighbors - Greece and Turkey. This was intensified within the insular confrontation of two ethnic groups - Cypriot Greeks and Turks, Orthodox Christians and Muslims. However, ethnic differences did not prevent local residents from living peacefully side by side, growing olives together and building their own state. Independence from Great Britain, which since 1925 considered Cyprus as its colony, a small but proud country received in 1960.
Given this nature and climate, it is logical that tourism has become the main branch of the Cypriot economy. In just a few years, the oldest port in the southeast of the island of Famagusta (Greek Ammochostos, tur. Gazimagosa), stretching for 4 km along the coast of the bay of the same name, became a fashionable resort. Especially famous was its modern prestigious quarter on the coast - Varosha (tour. Maras). In addition to nature, Famagusta had more to surprise tourists: the remains of ancient Salamis, the largest Hellenic polis in Cyprus, a Venetian fortress, an Armenian monastery, and several Gothic churches. All this, together with the climate, sandy beaches and Mediterranean Sea it turned out to be enough for Varosha to transform into the local Cote d'Azur.

3. This is what Famagusta looked like

4. But that was more than 40 years ago ... What about now? Is the surrounding ruins the very prestigious resort?

5. Now it bears the name - "dead city" Famagusta ... Although, in fact, Famagusta is by no means a dead city - tourists relax on the beach next to the fence and look through the lenses of its suburb Varosha, which was once a fashionable resort with a predominantly Greek population, and now a "ghost town", a vivid evidence of the contrast and advantages of "legal" Cyprus over "illegal", is guarded by the Turkish army and is a restricted area.
It became ...

6. It was ...

7. In 1974, the Greek military attempted a coup d'état, resulting in the establishment of the dictatorship of "black colonels" in Cyprus, which became a convenient excuse for Turkey to send its troops to the island. The Turks declared about the occupation of about 30% of the island (this is the ratio of Greeks and Turks that existed at that time). But in three days, Turkish troops occupied almost 40% of the territories, including Famagusta with Varosha. One of the results of the division of the island into Turkish and Greek halves was the appearance of a "ghost town" on its map. Dozens of high-rise hotels, sanatoriums, residential buildings and private villas were abandoned in an instant, surrounded by barbed wire and placed at the disposal of marauders and nature for many decades.
View of Varosha from the beach. You can still get here. Under the two flags of Turkey and the unrecognized republic of Northern Cyprus, the post where the sentry usually sits.

8. Green grid demarcation and warning poster. The entrance to the closed area is allowed only to the military of Turkey and the UN.

9. This is a former postcard view of the current ghost area as seen from the beach in the open part of Famagusta. Hotels Aspelia, Florida, the TWIGA residential complex and the Salaminia hotel ... Concrete boxes with empty floors - this is how they look now.

10. Tourists from all over Europe aspired to Varosha, celebrities acquired mansions. One could only dream of buying real estate in this area. The quarter was the economic center of the Famagusta region and the entire southeast of the island. His hotels were so popular that the most fashionable rooms were booked by the prudent Germans and the British right up until 2007 (!!!).

11. Golden Sands, Grecian, Argo, King George, Asterias - these and other hotels in Varosha, lined up along the front street named after John F. Kennedy, formed the new modernist face of Famagusta. The infrastructure developed rapidly, striving to meet the needs of the wealthy public - luxury apartments, expensive shops, recreation areas. From all this now there are only old bright postcards that tourists, who have found the golden decade of the city, managed to buy as a keepsake or send to relatives who were unlucky to be in Varosha.

12. Fences are laid along former beach and go out to sea.

13. Everywhere fences and barbed wire.

14. Not only streets, but also buildings are divided. By different sides borders.

15. Famagusta found itself in the Turkish sector, and Varosha, its resort area, closely adhered to the Green Line, a buffer demilitarized zone controlled by UN forces and dividing the island into Greek and Turkish parts. Mostly Greeks lived in Varosha and owned most of the hotels here - for them the war for Cyprus ended almost overnight. 109 hotels and residential complexes of the region, capable of receiving about 11 thousand guests, were instantly empty.

16. Local residents (and at that time there were more than 35 thousand) for a swift evacuation, and in fact, flight, were given 24 hours to leave the city. They left, fully confident that they would return in a maximum of two weeks. But 40 years have passed since then, a whole generation has grown up, and the opportunity to re-enter their home for none of them has not yet appeared.

17. There is evidence that this area has undergone total plunder, since it was here that the main center of beach tourism of the entire island was concentrated and wealthy Greeks lived in their villas. All of them, leaving the city during the day, the Turks were allowed to take with them only what could fit in two bags.

18. All the petrol stations in Famagusta belonged to the Petrolina company, the Greek oil monopoly of the time.

19. In places the Green Line dividing Cyprus is a series of metal barrels. For 40 years, they managed to rust, and the line of division of the island itself is not so insurmountable - after the accession of Cyprus to the EU, the EU law on free movement was extended to the island, after which three additional checkpoints were opened between the south and north. People who have not seen their own houses since 1974 were given the opportunity to return to their native quarters at least for a while.

20. Abandoned houses are gradually surrendering under the onslaught of lush vegetation. Not only does the poster prohibit the entrance to the courtyard, but the prickly pear has become a mountain.

21. Fences are not so impregnable, but penetration into the adjacent territory can be tragic.

22. From the memoirs of the participants in the events: “August 14, 1974 At 08:00 am the Turks began to bomb the Cypriot capital and international Airport... Famagusta was shelled from the sea, the Turks launched an offensive from the bridgehead in Kyrenia on the road to Nicosia and further to Famagusta. The Turks moved quickly without encountering strong resistance. They seized an international airport near Nicosia and two days later reached the border of the division of Cyprus (the "Attila" line), which was previously assumed by the Turkish government. At the same time, they managed to establish control over the ports of Famagusta, Bogaz and Morphu. On August 17, the Cypriot government announced that Turkish troops occupied about 40% of the island's territory. About 200 thousand Greek Cypriots were expelled from their homes in northern Cyprus. More than a thousand of them are still missing ”.

23. These houses, too, will soon become "missing", maybe not without a trace, after all, somewhere the street plans have not been preserved. stone Age, but already irrevocably.

24. Varosha was bombed, but not too much, apparently, only for the sake of exaggeration. But she became a victim of total plunder by marauders. First of all, these were the Turkish military, who took furniture, televisions and dishes to the mainland. Then the inhabitants of the nearby streets, who stole everything that the soldiers and officers of the occupying army did not need. Turkey was forced to declare the city a closed zone, but this did not save the area from total plunder: everything that could be taken away was taken away.

25. According to some analysts, the Turks did not dare to settle in Varosha, because almost all real estate here belongs (until now!) To Western capital, and not to the Greeks. They did not want to develop a conflict with the West, but they were in no hurry to give up the territory, leaving it as an element of bargaining in negotiations.

26. And the negotiations were not alone. They go constantly. But the whole problem is in the document adopted in May 1984 by the UN Security Council - Resolution No. 550, which, in particular, states: "Attempts to populate any part of the Varosha quarter with anyone other than its inhabitants are unacceptable."

27. Where is former residents? Someone settled in the southern part of the island, someone moved to mainland Greece, who immigrated to the UK and the USA. Return? Probably, they would like to, but in what, who is able to restore it and does it really make sense ... Only the former refugees themselves can answer this.

28. In 2004, following the accession of Cyprus to the EU, the border between the north and south of the island became more transparent. Many Greek Cypriots went to the Turkish side to see what happened to their homes. There were cases when people returned things to each other and family albums…

29. Unlike many other places in Cyprus, where the abandoned houses of the Greeks were occupied by their Turkish neighbors or migrants from Turkey (the Greeks call them Anatolian settlers), the Turks from Famagusta did not settle Varosha. In the form in which the Greek Cypriots once left it, it appears before us even now, as a terrible monument civil war that divided bi-national Cyprus

30. The city froze in time, which is ruthless to him

31. Although, officially Varosha cannot be photographed, many people secretly take pictures of her, and there is information that the Turkish sentries themselves contribute to this for a "small reward." Well, those who still managed to visit there and not get caught by the Turkish patrols talk about complete desolation and devastation. That can be seen from behind the fence. Few people know about this, but the former residents there are sometimes allowed to be there inside. Well, it is clear that everything that was left there was taken away. Moreover, there is even one hotel in Varosha. This is a rest house for the officers of the occupying Turkish army.

32. What can be observed here now gives a strange impression. By the way, there is a steam locomotive on the rails near the Famagusta City Hall. It turns out that Cyprus existed Railway and she led here. But ... Varosha became a ghost, so did the road.

33. Tourists come here regularly, and therefore the locals perceive them without surprise. But they warn that those who are caught in the Zone will face a fine of 10,000 euros, or even arrest. You see, in front of the still decent-looking Folkstagen, there are posters on the fence: "Forbidden Zone" or "Know fotos, know cameras." And these are not horror stories. A striking example... In Famagusta, in early October 2016, near the Palm Beach hotel, a Russian was arrested for ignoring the ban on photographing the closed zone of Varosha by the Turkish military police. The detainee was released on recognizance not to leave with a bail of 1,500 euros. The suspect faces a trial and faces a 5-year prison sentence if found guilty of photographing a war zone.

34. The network stubbornly cites the story of the Swedish journalist Jan Olaf Bengtson, who visited a closed area with UN soldiers, and was the first to call Famagusta a "ghost town" about the covered dining tables, linen that is still dried on clotheslines in some places, price tags in shops and bars in 1974. But it was written in 1977 !!). They just forget about it. In fact, in Varosha, there is nothing but rusty scrap metal, crumbling concrete, which has filled all the vegetation.

Photo from here

35. On the border street, you can also find this - in fact, the remains of a skeleton next to quite "live horses".

35. It is difficult to get used to the sight of a city divided right along the street. But even in such a pretty devastated state, Varosha has a lot of interesting things, including for those who appreciate the "abandoned". For example, 1970s cars abandoned in garages and on the streets (including an entire Toyota fleet in a former dealership). But, alas, it is now much easier to get to Pripyat, occupied by radiation, than to the quarters of Varosha.

36. On one side there is a fence made of barbed wire, in some places already thoroughly crumpled, behind which there are residential houses and roses grow, and on the other - almost the same houses, near which the Turks sit and swarthy children run around.

37. Oddly enough, there is an opinion that the Greeks benefited mainly from the division of Famagusta. Until 1974, the most famous resorts were located on the Turkish side, but even the unrecognized status of the TRNC proclaimed in 1983 did not help to attract tourists to this part of the island. A striking example of this is the former fishing village of Ayia Napa on the Greek side, which has turned into a tourist center of Cyprus, and the once fashionable Varosh has become a "ghost town".

38. According to experts, alas, many buildings in Varosha are no longer amenable to reconstruction and restoration. 40 years of oblivion, the consequences of the actions of the military and looters, the weather and nature pass a harsh sentence on the area. Even if the situation on the island returns to normal and returns local residents home, a significant part of the houses, especially high-rise ones, will have to be demolished here.

39. It is estimated that 100 billion euros are needed to restore Varosha. It is clear that it is almost impossible to find such money, and recently an alternative project has appeared. At the beginning of 2016, in the village of Derinya, from where the full volume of disasters in Varosha can be seen, the Ecocity project was presented - a new eco-city on the site of the “dead”. The initiator is director Vasia Markides, a Cypriot woman whose family fled from Varosha to the United States in 1974. The plan for the restoration of the region is, of course, very approximate, since specialists do not have access to the site of the planned construction. By promoting the project, they believe they will be able to accelerate the resort's revival. But whether it will be, and most importantly - when, no one knows!

40. Attempts to solve the problem of the so-called Northern Cyprus each time run up against one problem: the Turks insist on recognition independent state TRNC, Greek Cypriots are reminded of their real estate abandoned in the occupied territory.
#ButCyprusTurkish

In the early 1970s, the city of Varosha (Cyprus) was a very popular tourist destination. At one time such celebrities as Elizabeth Taylor, Brigitte Bardot, Richard Burton and many others rested in this city. Today the city is abandoned. The online magazine Factinteres will tell the sad history of the city of Varosha.

History

Until 1974, Varosha was the most popular resort town in all of Cyprus. At that time, about 39,000 people lived here. However, in 1974 a coup d'etat took place in Cyprus, the consequences of which put an end to the future of the city.

In response to the coup d'état, on July 20, 1974, the military invaded Cyprus Turkish Republic Northern Cyprus (TRNC). On August 15 of the same year, the Turkish military completely captured the city of Famagusta, of which Varosha was a part.

After the attack air force practically all the inhabitants of the city fled from the city. The rest of the people fled after the advance of the Turkish army. After the capture, the city was instantly fenced off and it was simply impossible to get here.

Today the city of Varosha remains fenced and guarded by Turkish troops. According to Resolution 550 of the UN Security Council, only residents of this city can enter the city. However, no one wants to return home.

Dozens of hotel buildings rise on the coast of the city of Varosha. In the period from 1970 to 1974, the most popular hotels around the world were opened here. No one expected military action. One of the hotels was even opened 3 days before the outbreak of hostilities. The sudden attack of the military TRNC came as a surprise to everyone.

Wardrobes with clothes can still be found in abandoned houses. various subjects household items. Cars and other equipment are still in the garages. In one of the areas you can see tower crane, who at one time was building another large hotel.

Why won't the city be returned?

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According to UN Security Council Resolution 550, only former residents of the city can enter the city. This resolution does not allow the authorities of the TRNC to populate the area, but the inhabitants of Cyprus simply cannot get here. Thus, the city was doomed to complete decay and destruction.

It is believed that the TRNC holds the city as a bargaining chip that can be exchanged for some concessions to Greece. In the meantime, the city is patrolled by the military and any violations of the borders are suppressed. Some violators are shot, some are given impressive prison terms.

What is the future of Varosha?

Many engineers agree that there is no point in restoring the city. It's easier to demolish absolutely all buildings and rebuild them. Roads in the city have become completely unusable, bushes and trees grow everywhere. The power grid infrastructure is outdated, and the sewer system is rotten and decayed. It is possible that the complete demolition and restructuring are hampering the solution of the issue of this area.

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I confess that I would like to start this post with the words "... the mysterious and unknown abandoned city of Varosha", but it does not work. For he is not a bit mysterious and used by many people. It got to the point that guided tours have already begun along the perimeter of the dead zone (the city is fenced with fences). Two thoughts occurred to me when I was driving my own car along this "perimeter": very bad things happened here back in 1974, and the second thought - the Turks could make millions if they allowed tourists to get inside the perimeter. Unfortunately, the dead city will remain so for a very long time, the reason for this is UN Resolution 550, adopted on May 11, 1984, which literally states that this area can only be inhabited by its former inhabitants (Attempts to resettle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible). What does this resolution mean in practice? Greek Cypriots will still not be able to return to their homes, and Turkish Cypriots will not be able to master and put in order what was abandoned by the Greeks. So Varosha will remain dead, surrounded by fences with barbed wire and gendarmes watching over us (tourists) so as not to photograph the exclusion zone. You may ask, what happened there on these wonderful beaches at the very blue sea that they are not even allowed to be photographed?

Without going into a retelling of the history of the Cyprus conflict, I'll start in 1974, when Turkish troops landed on the island and occupied it. northern part... Traditionally, it is customary to take the side of the Greeks, they are more "their own" than the Turks. But I will try to be neutral and propose to honestly admit that the Greeks made a mess with their military coups and the deprivation of their rights by the Turkish minority. Turkey's reaction was undoubtedly disproportionate, but on the whole, both sides were inadequate and, exclusively through joint efforts, led to a bloody drama on the sunny island of Aphrodite.

Varosha is the southern suburb of the old Famagusta, there were several dozen multi-storey hotels and boarding houses stretching along the beautiful beaches (the best in Cyprus), and on the second line - the Greek quarter with private estates, churches, parks. The Turks traditionally lived to the north, in Famagusta. In the early 70s, it was literally one of the coolest resorts in the Mediterranean! Then no one knew about Antalya and Croatia, but Elizabeth Taylor, Brigitte Bardot, Richard Burton and many others rested in Varosha. Grace ended in an instant, on July 20, 1974, when Greek troops, under the onslaught of the advancing Turkish army, announced the urgent evacuation of Famagusta and Varosha. In a matter of days tens of thousands of Greeks, fearing a massacre, fled from Famagusta and Varosha, abandoning literally everything; there were food in the refrigerators, unmade beds, scattered things, family albums, cars in garages. People fled so rapidly that if the Turks today opened Varosha for visits, it would become the most amazing museum of the apocalypse in the world, in which everything remained as if people had just disappeared, evaporated. The trees sprouting in the apartments give an additional flavor to this drama.

Particularly sensitive read will rightly remark, they say, how are you not ashamed to treat the unfortunate people who have lost their homeland so cynically? The answer is simple: it is certainly a pity for people, but the past cannot be returned, we must learn to live with what we have.

Closed military zone

A huge area, approximately 4 kilometers long and one and a half kilometers wide, is surrounded by fences on all sides. On the one hand, the zone is washed by the sea, on the other, ordinary Turks live right next to the fence. Their windows overlook the houses former neighbors... But cross closed area it is forbidden. I'm sure local Turkish boys climb over the fence and hang around dead city... But it is almost impossible for an ordinary tourist to do this. The military, the police, and just vigilant citizens - darkness. Even the very fact of your appearance in the immediate vicinity of the fence causes bewilderment and discontent among the military. And some local activists will happily "snitch" on the phone, they say, here tourists are taking pictures of the church behind the fence.