On the western coast of the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean sea, what was once luxurious and glamorous seaside resort is now an abandoned and spooky ghost town.
This is the story of Varosha, once regarded as one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations during the early 1970's, surrounded by turquoise blue waters and white sandy beaches, it was enjoyed by millionaires and movie stars such as Brigitte Bardot and Elizabeth Taylor, who were regular guests at the grand high rise hotels.
It’s kind of fascinating and sad that this place that once was visited by thousands of people is now left to the mercy of nature.
Varosha was once home to over 39,000 residents but today the coastal town is completely empty, forbidding anyone from entering. None can be seen on the streets except for the rare brave explorer who dares find a way in.
It was a regular, common summer season in Varosha, when in the middle of the summer in 1974, the town became a battlefield to the ongoing war between the Greeks and Turks. The Turkish invasion took place with ground forces and air strikes.
While the seaside resort was being bombed and buildings toppled, tourists and residents were fleeing their homes and hotel rooms, leaving behind everything, never to return. The Turkish military quickly gained control and began to seal off the area with patrolled fences, banning anyone and everyone except Turkish military or UN personnel.
Over thirty years later, the sun still shines on the once bustling luxury shopping boulevard and the waves still stroke the sands of the old beach clubs but Varosha remains desolate.
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