Church of St. George of the Latins


Traveling in Cyprus is interesting not only because there is a mild climate and clean sea air, but also because there are a lot of temples and churches scattered on this island. Some of them have preserved their original appearance, while others are almost completely destroyed. The latter is the church of St. George Latins in Famagusta , or rather its ruins.

History of the Church

Construction and the era of prosperity of the Church of St. George of the Latins fell on the days of the Kingdom of Cyprus. For several decades of the XIII century, it was erected on an empty spot, located next to the city citadel in the northern part of Famagusta. According to the researchers, the bulk of the building materials, of which the church of St. George of the Latins was built, was brought from the city of Salamis. The word "latinians" in the title was used to distinguish it from the temple of the same name, the parishioners of which were the Greeks. Between the two churches of Famagusta, named after St. George, only 5 minutes walk.

In 1570-1571, Famagusta was repeatedly subjected to a Turkish siege. As a result of numerous bombardments and bloody battles from the church of St. George the Latins in Cyprus, there were only ruins.

Features of the church

The Church of St. George of the Latins in Famagusta is a one-nave basilica, aged in a late Gothic architectural style. Externally it looks like the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, which is also located in the city of Famagusta. According to the researchers, during the construction of this temple, the architects were inspired by the views of the church of Saint-Chapelle, located in the French capital.

Despite the fact that from once the majestic Catholic church there were only ruins, this does not prevent it from being popular with tourists from all over the world. They come here to take a closer look at the surviving sites of the church, namely:

The Church of St. George of the Latins is located right next to the highway. It offers a beautiful view of the historic quarter of Famagusta and the world-famous city fortress.

How to get there?

The ruins of the Church of St. George of the Latins are located in the city of Famagusta on Vahit Güner Caddesi Street. Next to it is another local landmark - the bastion of Porta del Mare, so it's easy to get to the church. It is enough to take a taxi, public transport or rent a car .