Ghost towns are rarely abandoned all at once. Whether caused by catastrophe or economic change, the decline is usually slow.
But the strange story of Varosha, Cyprus, shows how one of the world's most popular tourist destinations became an empty, crumbling ruin overnight.
But the strange story of Varosha, Cyprus, shows how one of the world's most popular tourist destinations became an empty, crumbling ruin overnight.
Prior to 1974, Varosha was an affluent southern quarter of the Cypriot city of Famagusta.
It was the modern, tourist area of the city, with around 39,000 residents, & the biggest tourist destination in Cyprus.
It was the modern, tourist area of the city, with around 39,000 residents, & the biggest tourist destination in Cyprus.
In the early 1970s, Varosha even rose to become one of the world's top tourist destinations.
But decades of inter-ethnic violence had been brewing in Cyprus. Its majority Greek Cypriot & minority Turkish Cypriot population were increasingly at odds.
But decades of inter-ethnic violence had been brewing in Cyprus. Its majority Greek Cypriot & minority Turkish Cypriot population were increasingly at odds.
In 1974, Greece's nationalist government, headed by a junta known as "the regime of the colonels", organised a coup in Cyprus with the intention of annexing the island.
For Turkey, this was a bridge too far. In the same year, the Turkish army invaded Cyprus.
For Turkey, this was a bridge too far. In the same year, the Turkish army invaded Cyprus.
The following month of fighting saw 150,000 Greek Cypriots and 50,000 Turkish Cypriots displaced.
The war ended with the eventual establishment of a Turkish Cypriot state in the north of the island, recognised by Turkey alone & decried by the EU & UN as an illegal occupation.
The war ended with the eventual establishment of a Turkish Cypriot state in the north of the island, recognised by Turkey alone & decried by the EU & UN as an illegal occupation.
From then on, Cyprus was divided along a UN buffer zone.
Famagusta had fallen on the Turkish side. So it remained, with no formal ceasefire or settlement between Greece & Turkey.
Famagusta had fallen on the Turkish side. So it remained, with no formal ceasefire or settlement between Greece & Turkey.
Turkey's ultimate goal was to achieve a peace settlement & make its new state in northern Cyprus official.
To do that, it saw the rich tourist district of Varosha as an invaluable bargaining chip.
To do that, it saw the rich tourist district of Varosha as an invaluable bargaining chip.
With the island's tourist industry in tatters, Varosha's luxurious high rise hotels were suddenly worthless. But to the rich Greek Cypriots that owned them, they were still valuable.
Turkey wanted to keep hold of Varosha & trade it back to Greece in exchange for recognition.
Turkey wanted to keep hold of Varosha & trade it back to Greece in exchange for recognition.
Soon after the invasion, Turkish soldiers quickly fenced off the district of Varosha, & made it illegal for anyone to enter. They assumed a peace deal would come soon.
But the peace deal never came.
But the peace deal never came.
In the decades since 1974, nature has taken over in Varosha. Prickly pears and grasses have cracked the roads & concrete buildings.
Some have even reported seeing sea turtles laying eggs on the deserted beaches where people once sunbathed.
Some have even reported seeing sea turtles laying eggs on the deserted beaches where people once sunbathed.
Apartments & hotels damaged by artillery fire were never repaired. They create a crumbling skyline that seems strange in the idyllic Mediterranean setting.
People fleeing Varosha left everything just where it was. People famously left meals half-eaten on the table.
One garage is even still fully-stocked with rusting 1970s automobiles.
One garage is even still fully-stocked with rusting 1970s automobiles.
Underground pipes have rusted, & the sewer system has almost collapsed, creating sinkholes that buckle the streets.
Turkish troops still patrol the area, & are authorised to use lethal force on trespassers.
Turkish troops still patrol the area, & are authorised to use lethal force on trespassers.
Sunbeds & umbrellas, along with other paraphernalia of the tourist industry still litter the beach of Varosha.
Bedding still lies on the beds of the hotels, & curtains are still drawn over the windows.
Bedding still lies on the beds of the hotels, & curtains are still drawn over the windows.
After decades of abandonment, images from Google maps tell you all you need to know: the shining white rooftops of Famagusta in the north, & the blackened husks of Varosha in the south.
It's hard to say what the future holds for Varosha. The city has fallen between the cracks of international diplomacy, held as a bargaining chip for decades, its life on pause.
Meanwhile, the sea & winds batter it, & turn the once thriving tourist resort into a crumbling ruin.
Meanwhile, the sea & winds batter it, & turn the once thriving tourist resort into a crumbling ruin.
Every ruined place is somewhere where the future was one day cancelled.
Varosha seems to wear that future more visibly than any other place, a future that never had a chance to live but lives on only in the traces left behind.
Varosha seems to wear that future more visibly than any other place, a future that never had a chance to live but lives on only in the traces left behind.
Thanks for reading! Many photo credits go to Paul Dobraszczyk for his brave photography inside Varosha: ragpickinghistory.co.uk/2013/03/30/int…
If you enjoyed this thread, I've gathered together more of my research into ruined & abandoned places here.
