Famagusta: The History of Cyprus's Coastal Paradise

By Esha Bajaj

 By A.Savin (Wikimedia Commons · WikiPhotoSpace) - Own work, FAL, Link

The city of Famagusta is located on the eastern cost of Cyprus. The city is known for the fact that it houses the deepest harbor in all of Cyprus. Back in Medieval times, the city was crucial to Cyprus, as it was their portal to the outside world and all the economic benefits that came with foreign trade. It was especially crucial in order to access the ports of the Levant, which was from where Silk Road traders took their wares to Western Europe.

Famagusta, being a port city, is also very well known for its beaches. The Greek name for the city is Ammochostos, which literally translates to "hidden in sand".  The city also bears the nickname, "the city of 365 churches" due to stories that at one point, the city of Famagusta had a church to match every day of the year.

Come explore all the rich history and wondrous sights Famagusta has to offer with Philomobile's Yoga Retreat in Cyprus! For more information, click here.

First Stop: Karpas

By Esha Bajaj

The Golden Beach
By Franco Pecchio - originally posted to Flickr as 200709_Cyprus_7, CC BY 2.0

The Karaps Peninsula, the first stop on Philomobile's Yoga retreat in Cyprus, is a long sliver of land home to 46 beaches. Because of its geographical orientation, it has been left relatively untouched by humans, and as a result, the peninsula is home to many different species of wildlife. 

Many small farms can be found throughout the Peninsula, which are mainly used for personal consumption, although some crops are still sold commercially throughout the island. These farms are most well known for their watermelon harvests. 

The Peninsula's town of Rizokarpaso mainly caters to micro-tourism, and these watermelons, along with authentic Turkish-Cypriot Cuisine can be found throughout it. 

Join Philomobile's yoga retreat in Cyprus to get a taste for yourself!