The walled city is compact (about 20 minutes across); Salamis is about 8 km north, St Barnabas just inland of it. Allow a full day for both.
1 Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque (St Nicholas Cathedral)
Built in the early fourteenth century in the style of the great French cathedrals, St Nicholas was where the Lusignan kings of Cyprus were crowned kings of Jerusalem. After 1571 it became a mosque, and a minaret was built on one of its towers. The west front, with its three portals and rose window, is breathtaking.
Practical: In the centre of the walled city. Free; visitors welcome outside prayer times; dress modestly and remove shoes.
2 The Venetian walls
Massive Venetian ramparts and bastions encircle the old city, among the finest of their period. Walk sections of the walls or follow the moat, passing the Land Gate (Ravelin) and the Sea Gate.
Practical: Free to walk around; some bastions are open as viewpoints or cafés.
3 Othello Castle
A citadel guarding the old harbour, built by the Lusignans and strengthened by the Venetians, whose lion of St Mark still sits over the entrance. Its name comes from Shakespeare’s Othello, set in a Cypriot seaport.
Practical: Ticketed (in Turkish lira). Allow about an hour.
4 Salamis: the gymnasium
Salamis was the principal city of Cyprus for much of antiquity. The most striking remains are the gymnasium, a colonnaded courtyard re-erected with marble columns, and the baths beside it with fragments of mosaic and fresco.
Practical: About 8 km north of Famagusta. Ticketed. Allow 2 hours; little shade.
5 Salamis: the Roman theatre
A large theatre from the Roman period, partly restored, with seating that once held thousands of spectators. Elsewhere on the site are a basilica, the agora and the remains of the harbour.
Practical: Included in the Salamis ticket. Paths are sandy and uneven.
6 St Barnabas Monastery and the Royal Tombs
Near Salamis, the monastery dedicated to St Barnabas, founder of the Church of Cyprus, now houses an icon museum and a small archaeological collection; his tomb is in a chapel nearby. Close by are the Royal Tombs, monumental burials from the eighth and seventh centuries BC.
Practical: Each ticketed; check opening hours. A car or tour makes it easy to combine with Salamis.
