Why is Varosha Famagusta forbidden?

Why is Varosha Famagusta forbidden?

Varosha, in Famagusta, has been unoccupied since the 1974 conflict between Greek and Turkish Cypriots left it in an inaccessible military zone. The move prompted backlash from the Greek Cypriots in the south of the island, who view it as an indirect land grab.

Can you visit Varosha?

Signs label Varosha a “forbidden zone.” Tourists are banned from entering or taking photos inside the fenced-off areas, but some have managed to slip through over the years and document what has been left behind. After the town was reopened, Turkish Cypriots were allowed through the fences to explore what remained.

What is being hidden in Famagusta?

Varosha (Maras in Turkish) is an abandoned part of the city of Famagusta. It was left unpopulated after the war so there wasn’t a Turkish settlement that close to the South Side. Civilians where not allowed to enter until 2019, now you can go and visit what Cypriots call the “Ghost town”.

Is Varosha the same as Famagusta?

Varosha (Greek: Βαρώσια, locally [vaˈɾoʃa]; Turkish: Maraş [maˈɾaʃ] or Kapalı Maraş) is an abandoned southern quarter of the Cypriot city of Famagusta. Before 1974, it was the modern tourist area of the city.

Is Cyprus still divided?

Cyprus has been divided, de facto, into the Greek Cypriot controlled southern two-thirds of the island and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus a third. Its territory, a result of the Turkish invasion of 1974 and whose status remains disputed, extends over the northern third of the island.

Who does Cyprus belong to?

The Republic of Cyprus occupies the southern two-thirds of the island (59.74%). The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus occupies the northern third (34.85%), and the United Nations-controlled Green Line provides a buffer zone that separates the two and covers 2.67% of the island.

Which country owns Cyprus?

The island is shared by the Republic of Cyprus, Northern Cyprus (a country only recognized by Turkey), and the British Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The Republic of Cyprus has a population of 888,000 (2020), about 1.2 million people live on the island (including Northern Cyprus).

Is the town of Varosha still in Cyprus?

Varosha, an eerie collection of derelict high-rise hotels and residences, has been deserted since a 1974 war that split the island, a military zone nobody has been allowed to enter. Cyprus’ reunification: What next after failed talks?

What was the area of Varosha known for?

Up until then, Varosha has been an affluent, tourist area with hotels, restaurants and bars. It was popular among travellers from north and west Europe, as well as wealthy Greeks.

Who are famous people that have abandoned Varosha?

There has been talk recently about reopening Varosha however this has yet to amount to anything. For now, the former favourite holiday spot of celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and Brigitte Bardot remains abandoned.

What did the UN Security Council say about Varosha?

The UN Security Council Resolution 550 states that it “considers attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the United Nations”.