Museums in Famagusta

Namık Kemal Dungeon and Museum
After its destruction in 1571, the Venetian Palace was used during the Ottoman period, as a prison. Among the prisoners was Namık Kemal, the Shakespeare of the Turkish literature, who was held there between 1873 and 1876, having been exiled to Cyprus after criticising the Sultan. Next to the Namık Kemal prison is a museum about him and his works. There is a bronze bust of the poet facing the square, by the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque.

Djanboulat's Bastion and Museum
Djanbulat Municipal Museum where visitors can see some relics of the battle, as well as old costumes worn, tools used, and books, including an invaluable hand-written Koran. Nearby is the tomb of Djanbulat Bey of Kilis, the Ottoman Turkish general, by whose bravery this tower was captured and hence named after him.

Agios Ioannis Church and Icon Museum
The Agios Ioannis Greek Orthodox church in Famagusta has been recently renovated and opened as an icon museum. The museum, contains more than 120 icons, including those of Christ and Saint John, painted in the 18th century. Agios Ioannis is the third icon museum in Famagusta, alongside those at St Barnabas, and Yeni Iskele. The other icon museums in North Cyprus are: Archangelos Michael Church (near the harbour), and Bellapais Church Museum in Kyrenia, and the Church of St. Mamas in Güzelyurt.

St. Barnabas Monastery and Museum
The Monastery of St. Barnabas is at the opposite side of the Salamis-Famagusta road, by the Royal Tombs. You can easily tell it by its two fairly large domes. It was built to commemorate the foremost saint of Cyprus, whose life was so intertwined with the spread of the Christian message in the years immediately following the death of Christ.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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