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The name 'Akkule' was given to this bastion by the Turks, because it was the first part of Famagusta conquered and where the white surrender flag was hoisted by the Venetians. (Ak = White, Kule = bastion.) This was originally a medieval gate or barbican, and the main entrance to the town during the Middle Ages. It remains so today, but mainly for pedestrians. The Venetians drastically remodelled the whole barbican for the needs of artillery and it is only in the interior that one can see parts of the older structure. The Land Gate has a huge size. The moat is deep and wide, and today such places are ideal for football pitches, sports centres, or municipal parks. This has been done with effect in the Turkish moats of Lefkosa, while on the Greek side they are used for car parks. Many gun ports are on either side of the barbican.

This massive structure suffered little damage in the Turkish bombardment, since the attackers avoided all strongly defended bastions and chose instead to attack between them.

Inside the barbican, one can wander around a maze of passages connecting the numerous gun chambers. When one sees the tiny gun ports along the walls it is difficult to realise the large gun chambers inside. Numerous recesses in the walls are storage cupboards for gunpowder barrels and cannon balls, whilst overhead are the usual chimney vent holes to allow smoke to escape. In places, the old foundations have been built on natural outcrops of rock; this was a great asset in preventing attempts by the enemy to mine their way in.

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