Varosha in Cyprus seems to belong to a photograph suspended in time. Between the 1960s and 1970s, it was Famagusta's most modern tourist district, overlooking one of the Mediterranean's most famous beaches.
Hotels, apartments, shops, and clubs told a story of international holidays made of modernist architecture, optimism, and new ways of living. In 1974, everything suddenly stopped. The inhabitants left the district, the buildings were closed, and Varosha remained inaccessible for decades.
The photographs in this article were taken by us during our trip to Cyprus.
What Varosha is and where it is located
Varosha is the southern coastal district of Famagusta, on the eastern coast of Cyprus. It was not a separate city, but Famagusta's newest and most cosmopolitan residential and tourist area.
In the 1960s and early 1970s, its seafront rapidly transformed. Hotels, residences, villas, commercial activities, and bathing establishments created a modern urban landscape, frequented by international travelers and cultural figures of the time.
Varosha's skyline was dominated by tall buildings, continuous balconies, curved facades, large glass surfaces, and commercial signs. An architecture that today appears marked by time, but in which it is still possible to recognize the experimental energy of the post-war Mediterranean.
Varosha in the 60s and 70s
Before 1974, Varosha represented a precise idea of modernity. The new buildings directly overlooked the sea and offered bright apartments, panoramic terraces, swimming pools, restaurants, and spaces dedicated to social life.
What struck us were not only the monumental buildings, but also the details: the rounded canopies, the railings, the repeated geometries of the balconies, the signs, the proportions of the windows, and the direct relationship between architecture and landscape.
Observing them today, these elements tell a story of a period when design was associated with the future, travel, and a new domestic freedom. Varosha was not just a seaside destination: it was the constructed representation of an entire era.
Why Varosha was abandoned in 1974
In July 1974, a coup d'état shocked Cyprus. The subsequent Turkish military intervention and the conflict that swept across the island led Greek-Cypriot inhabitants of Varosha to rapidly leave their homes.
The district came under Turkish military control, was fenced off, and remained closed to the public for almost fifty years. Homes, hotels, and shops were left without maintenance, while time, the marine climate, and vegetation slowly began to transform the buildings.
The story of Varosha remains linked to the division of Cyprus and the properties of the inhabitants forced to abandon the area. For this reason, the district is not only a fascinating place, but also an ongoing testimony to an unresolved human and political history.
Varosha today: visiting the ghost town
Since 2020, some streets and part of Varosha's coastline have been opened to visitors. Access remains limited to authorized routes and it is not possible to enter abandoned buildings.
Walking along these streets produces a difficult sensation to describe. Empty hotels, apartment buildings, villas, businesses, and never-completed structures follow one another. The signs and facades seem to belong to a time that was suddenly interrupted.
Varosha's architecture and design
Looking beyond the decay, Varosha still retains numerous elements of the design language of the sixties and seventies. Curved volumes, ribbon windows, deep balconies, exposed concrete, modular elements, and facades marked by geometric rhythms define the character of the buildings.
It is not a single style, but a superposition of Mediterranean modernism, hotel architecture, and residential experimentation. Some constructions appear essential and rationalist; others use more decorative forms, rounded profiles, and proportions strongly linked to the aesthetics of the seventies.
It is precisely this stratification that struck us. Even without being able to access the interiors, the architecture continues to tell of the aspirations, taste, and way of life of those who had imagined Varosha as a city oriented towards the future.
A memory that continues to speak
Varosha should not only be viewed as an abandoned set. Behind every window, terrace, and entrance lies the memory of people who lived, worked, or spent their holidays in those places.
Its charm comes precisely from this tension: on one hand, the beauty of the architecture and landscape, on the other, the weight of a story that has not yet ended. It is a place that invites reflection on time, the fragility of cities, and the ability of design to preserve traces of life even when spaces remain empty.
The spirit of the 70s according to Vicode
The soft shapes, strong geometries, textured surfaces, and warm colors that characterized the seventies continue to influence interior design today.
Our collection of 70s objects stems from the same attraction to a free and experimental decade. Ceramics, sculptures, and decorative objects reinterpret that imagery without transforming it into a simple nostalgic reconstruction.
Like the architecture of Varosha, every object can become a trace of its time and, at the same time, find new meaning in contemporary interiors.
Frequently asked questions about Varosha
Where is Varosha located?
Varosha is located in the southern part of the city of Famagusta, on the eastern coast of Cyprus. It is also known by its Turkish name, Maraş.
Why is Varosha a ghost town?
The district was abandoned in 1974 during the conflict that led to the division of the island. The inhabitants left the area, which was subsequently fenced off and kept under military control.
Is it possible to visit Varosha?
Part of Varosha has been accessible to the public since 2020 along established routes. Entry into buildings is not permitted, and access conditions may change, so it is advisable to check for updated information before visiting.
