Famagusta

Famagusta faces the eastern Mediterranean from a sheltered harbour on the coast of Cyprus. In the kingdom of the Lusignans it became a wealthy port, drawing merchants and religious communities from across the sea. Around its main square stood the royal palace and the soaring Gothic cathedral of Saint Nicholas, where the Lusignan kings were crowned as kings of Jerusalem. Churches and the great walls of the town testified to its prosperity and its exposed position.

Genoese forces seized Famagusta in 1373–74 and held it until 1464. The long occupation and its financial strains interrupted the city's development. When Venice acquired Cyprus in 1489, its officials reshaped the fortifications for artillery and rebuilt prominent buildings, including the sea gate and the palace. These defences faced their greatest test during the Ottoman invasion: after Nicosia fell in 1570, Famagusta held out under siege until 1571. Its capture ended Venetian rule over Cyprus, while the cathedral was converted into a mosque under the new rulers.