The
Harbour of Famagusta
(or:
Gazi Magusa)
The inner harbour as seen from the Citadel.
Tower on the land side of the harbour mouth.
As was usual with medieval ports, the harbour mouth was protected by two towers, which are clearly enough shown on the curious broadsheet engraving published by Stefano Gibellino, of Brescia, in 1571. (A reproduction of this is included in Enlart's L'Art Gothique, 1899.)
The harbour of Famagusta was considered of little importance even in the XVIth century (vide Paruta's 'Guerra di Cipro', c. 1590). It could then contain but a very few large vessels: its value depended on the fact that it was the only port of a secure kind existing in the island where the galleys of the period could take refuge and lie up for repairs during the stormy months of winter.
Jauna (Histoire de Chypre) states that the port could only be used by ships of war after they had discharged their artillery. The Arsenal consisted of a basin connected with the harbour by a sea gate. Mariti writing in 1760 says it was still used for the construction of galleys, and was complete with its workshops, etc. The galleys were built within the wall of the city, masted on the exterior and their ordnance carried to them in mahones. Nothing now remains of the Arsenal but a mass of ruins surrounding a staircase and a few walls.
After the Turkish Occupation of Cyprus (1571), Famagusta ceased to be considered a commercial port; the trade of the island passed through Limassol and Larnaca, where the foreign consuls had their establishments. Previous to the Venetian period Limassol had probably recovered its position as chief port of Cyprus owing to the Genoese Occupation of Famagusta. Larnaca came into prominence more especially after the events of 1571.
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