Stark images have emerged of Varosha, a once-thriving Cypriot resort that hosted celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, now lying derelict and fenced off since the Turkish invasion of 1974. The southern suburb of Famagusta has been sealed and abandoned for nearly 46 years, its golden beaches and high-rise hotels crumbling into decay.
The town’s downfall began on July 20, 1974, when Turkey invaded Cyprus following a Greek-inspired coup five days earlier. A second wave a month later forced 39,000 residents to flee, and Varosha has remained eerily silent ever since. Only Turkish military personnel are permitted entry, with a 1984 UN resolution barring resettlement.
Once a millionaire’s playground, Varosha boasted a population of 39,000 and was famed for its luxury apartments and vast beaches. Today, smashed windows, overgrown vegetation, and abandoned businesses—including a Toyota garage and a Jaguar car showroom—paint a post-apocalyptic scene. The land alone is estimated to be worth around $100 billion, according to local media.
Despite decades of neglect, the untouched beach and crystal-clear waters remain inviting, attracting photographers from around the world to this famous ghost town. A 2004 UN-backed plan to allow original inhabitants to return was rejected by the Republic of Cyprus in a referendum.
