Photos: A Cypriot Ghost Town

In the southern quarter of Famagusta, a city occupied by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, lies a resort town called Varosha. It’s riddled with five-star hotels, restaurants, palm trees and lavish and sunny beaches. There’s only one problem; it is entirely abandoned.

The desolate and eerie city has been untouched since the 1970s. Since then, everyone but the Turkish military has been prohibited from entering, and only in the past few years have people (Turkish nationals) been allowed to use the beaches.

In 1974, a war broke out in Cyprus between the Turks and the Greeks. Famagusta was left barren and broken, and the quarter of Varosha never recovered.

The journey from Limassol, Nicosia, or Larnaca is a little complicated. To get anywhere near Varosha, one has to pass through a border between Cyprus and Turkish Cyprus.. Or officially the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Notably, only Turkey recognises the independence of this state. Upon approaching the border there is a passport check, which tends to be concluded quite swiftly, and then about a mile of ‘no man’s land’, which is also known as the UN territory. After this minute long drive, there is once again a passport check – although this time for the Turkish side. Funnily enough, it is necessary to insure your car and pay a small fee as soon as you cross the border.

The landscape drastically changes. Churches become mosques, and tzatziki becomes cacik. After entering, its illegal to film or take photos for a short while, but I tried my best to capture the Northern side of the island.