Varosha: Rare Photos Inside Northern Cyprus' Ghost City

varosha Varosha: Rare Photos from Inside Northern Cyprus Ghost City (All images (unless stated) reproduced with the permission of Sometimes Interesting)

One of several ghost cities of Eurasia, the abandoned resort of Varosha in Famagusta was once Northern Cyprus’ most exclusive tourist destination frequented by the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and Brigitte Bardot. But since the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cypress, the Varosha quarter has been abandoned, its hotels, restaurants and highrise structures slowly decaying amid the ruins of this once thriving millionaires’ playground. In this incredible series of photographs courtesy of Sometimes Interesting, we take a rare trip beyond the fence.

varosha 1 Varosha: Rare Photos from Inside Northern Cyprus Ghost City

varosha 2 Varosha: Rare Photos from Inside Northern Cyprus Ghost City

varosha 3 Varosha: Rare Photos from Inside Northern Cyprus Ghost City

Highlighted in Alan Weisman‘s book The World Without Us as an example of the relentless and unstoppable power of nature, Varosha is now considered to be beyond repair. Any potential future development would require the site to be leveled, as aging infrastructure and decades of neglect have seen the structures begin to collapse.

varosha 4 Varosha: Rare Photos from Inside Northern Cyprus Ghost City

varosha 5 Varosha: Rare Photos from Inside Northern Cyprus Ghost City

varosha 6 Varosha: Rare Photos from Inside Northern Cyprus Ghost City

varosha 7 Varosha: Rare Photos from Inside Northern Cyprus Ghost City

Elsewhere in the former tourist quarter, clothes still hang in the closets of long abandoned buildings and a car dealership remains fully stocked with now-vintage 1974 model vehicles.

varosha 8 Varosha: Rare Photos from Inside Northern Cyprus Ghost City

varosha 9 Varosha: Rare Photos from Inside Northern Cyprus Ghost City

varosha 10 Varosha: Rare Photos from Inside Northern Cyprus Ghost City

varosha 11 Varosha: Rare Photos from Inside Northern Cyprus Ghost City

Meanwhile, some highrise structures remain relatively intact while others are little more than crumbling skeletal relics of Famagusta‘s most exclusive hotels.

Varosha before the 1974 Invasion

varosha then Varosha: Rare Photos from Inside Northern Cyprus Ghost City

These historic photographs show Varosha in its heyday, boasting crowded beaches, seaside bars and swimmers enjoying the pleasant temperatures of the eastern Mediterranean. The scene is a far cry from the ‘ghost city’ of today.

Also Abandoned – Nicosia International Airport

nicosia airport Varosha: Rare Photos from Inside Northern Cyprus Ghost City (Images: (1, 2, 3) Dickelbers; Cyprus Gallery, cc-sa-3.0)

Once the main airport serving the island of Cyprus, Nicosia International Airport has also been abandoned since the 1974 Turkish invasion. Principally the headquarters of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, the commercial flight terminal and solitary passenger jet have suffered almost 40 years of decay.

Subscribe to our RSS feed and email alerts, or connect via Twitter and Facebook.