25 June 2023 , 10:42
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Eerie images show a once-ritzy seaside resort which played host to celebs like Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton but now lies abandoned.
The town of Varosha in northern Cyprus was once one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world, and was a favourite of stars including Raquel Welch and Brigitte Bardot.
At one time the charming seaside town was home to 39,000 people and in the early 1970s was one of the most fashionable places to take a vacation.
But events overtook the town and today just 226 people live there, with abandoned overgrown buildings as a reminder of its former glory.
During the Turkish takeover of Cyprus in 1974, they took control of just over a third of the island nation, drawing up a border that runs right through the capital of Nicosia, which today, is Europe‘s only divided capital.
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Empty and abandoned shops (mediadrumimages/MacorleeTravels)When the tanks entered the city of Varosha, the entire population of the city fled leaving behind their property, possessions, businesses and more.
Since then the town has sat more or less abandoned, with its gift shops and tourist bars slowly falling into disrepair.
The ghostly abandoned city (mediadrumimages/MacorleeTravels)The town was open to the public in 2017 but there are very strict rules to follow.
These stunning images of the abandoned town were captured by explorer Macorlee Farnaby (26), who goes by the name of Macorlee Travels.
Blank windows stare out along JFK avenue (mediadrumimages/MacorleeTravels)Sprawling over 2.39 square miles, The main features of Varosha included John F. Kennedy Avenue, a street which ran from close to the port of Famagusta, through Varosha and parallel to Glossa beach.
Along JFK Avenue, there were many well known high rise hotels including the King George Hotel, The Asterias Hotel, The Grecian Hotel, The Florida Hotel, and The Argo Hotel which was the favourite hotel of Elizabeth Taylor.
An old, abandoned cafe (mediadrumimages/MacorleeTravels)"There was every type of building abandoned and the size was insane,” said Macorlee.
“Gift shops, bars, butchers, opticians, other businesses, hotels, apartments, villas, everything you can imagine.
Abandoned residences (mediadrumimages/MacorleeTravels)“It is still in control of the Turkish army and they walk around making sure everyone follows the rules and that people don’t go in the forbidden zones.
"We spent about five hours there and the sunset going behind the backdrop of high rise buildings was stunning and had an unusual mix of beauty and decay.
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Homes left untouched after residents fled the war (mediadrumimages/MacorleeTravels)“You could see roofs caved in, rusty outside staircases going up blocks of flats.
“The nature was really taking back its land.
Broken signposts (mediadrumimages/MacorleeTravels)“Walking around you could really feel how much of a thriving town it must have been back in its time.
“Seeing homes with shoes still outside and knowing the people just grabbed a handful of items and ran thinking they could return in the near future but knowing they never did really touched the heart.
Eerie derelict mailbox (mediadrumimages/MacorleeTravels)“Walking around I couldn’t help but stop and look at each building and try to imagine the history of the building and knowing the amount of memories it must have held.
“It was really nice having a free roam around the town, obviously not crossing into the forbidden zones or crossing the ropes blocking people from entering the buildings.”