North Cyprus - Famagusta - Lala Mustafa Paşa Mosque

Famagusta - Lala Mustafa Paşa Mosque.

Sent from North Cyprus by Leslie who's visiting.

This is from Wikipedia : The Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque originally known as the Saint Nicolas Cathedral and later as the Ayasofya (Saint Sophia) Mosque of Magusa, is the largest medieval building in Famagusta, North Cyprus. Built between 1298 and c.1400 it was consecrated as a Christian cathedral in 1328. The cathedral was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman Empire captured Famagusta in 1571 and it remains a mosque to this day.

The French Lusignan dynasty ruled as Kings of Cyprus from 1192 to 1489 and had brought with them the latest French taste in architecture, notably developments in Gothic architecture.

The cathedral was constructed from 1298 to 1312 and was consecrated in 1328. "After an unfortunate episode when the current bishop embezzled the restoration fund", Bishop Guy of Ibelin bequeathed 20,000 bezants for its construction. The Lusignans would be crowned as Kings of Cyprus in the St. Sophia Cathedral (now Selimiye Mosque) in Nicosia and then crowned as Kings of Jerusalem in the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Famagusta.

The building is constructed in Rayonnant Gothic style, quite rare outside France, though "mediated through buildings in the Rhineland". The historic tie between France and Cyprus is evidenced by its parallels to French archetypes such as the Reims Cathedral. Indeed, so strong is the resemblance, that the building has been dubbed "The Reims of Cyprus". The building has three doors, twin towers over the aisles and a flat roof, typical of Crusader architecture.

North Cyprus - Selimiye Mosque

Selimiye Mosque
The remarkable narthex, with its sculptured panels of Pantelic marble, remains as it was when built by Arc Bishop John de Polo in 1326.

The construction of this magnificent building was started in 1209 and was partially completed by 1326. Precisely in the middle of Nicosia stands its noblest and most arresting monument, Selimiye Mosque, once the cathedral of the Lusignan kings and now the chief mosque of North Cyprus.

One of the three postcards sent by Mehmet from North Cyprus.

North Cyprus - Salamis Ruins

The Roman remains of Salamis in North Cyprus.

One of the three postcards sent by Mehmet from North Cyprus.

"The remains we see to day at Salamis are from the Roman period, when Salamis was the main commercial centre of Cyprus. Salamis was a base for early Christianity, as the Apostle Barnabus lived and died in the city. In 116AD the Jews in Salamis revolted, and as a result all Jews were expelled from Cyprus.

When the Byzantines took over Cyprus, Salamis became the capital of the island, but the combined disasters of earthquakes and tidal waves in the fourth century, Arab raids in the seventh century and the gradual loss of the harbour due to silt from the river meant that nearby Famagusta grew in prominence. Salamis fell into decline, with medieval builders raiding the site for building stone."(Source)

North Cyprus - Saint Barnabas

Saint Barnabas Monastery at the western edge of Salamis metropolis in North Cyprus.
The Monastery was built in 477 A.D. The building got its present structure in 1756 during the Ottoman rule. The place was preserved and protected in its original form and opened to visit. Various icons, wall paintings and other items were displayed in the Church within the Monastery precints.

One of the three postcards sent by Mehmet from North Cyprus.