Andreas Avraam Photography
Peace...
A pavement in Varosha built in 1973, a time when the hippie movement had not long been around. On this pavement people wrote things like their initials and where they were from. The pavements had plenty of writing from that year.
Varosha is a city worth $150 billion, abandoned in 1974 when the Turkish military invaded and captured the northern half of Cyprus, forcing 40,000 Greek Cypriot residents of the city to flee for fear of violence. When captured, Varosha was fenced off by the Turkish army. It has not seen anyone return or enter since, for 47 years as it was declared a Turkish military zone, with soldiers guarding it on orders to shoot “trespassers”. After the events of the invasion, not just Varosha but the entire north of Cyprus saw one of the greatest mass lootings in history. Countless historical, religious, and cultural sites vandalised and destroyed. 200,000 people had become refugees due to the war, 40,000 of which from Varosha. 1619 people had gone missing in Cyprus, with many still not found. Mass rape of Greek Cypriot women by Turkish soldiers, this lead to the church of Cyprus temporarily legalising abortion.
However, Varosha has seen better days, prior to the 1974 invasion, it was the Mediterranean's most glamorous location. A coastal town of golden sandy beaches, dozens of grand hotels where the likes of famous stars such as Sophia Loren, Richard Burton and Brigitte Bardot all dropped by, the Argo Hotel on JFK Avenue was said to be Elizabeth Taylor's favourite. Varosha was a thriving and lively place, known for its festivals and events, it was very advanced for its time, with 90% of all tourism in Cyprus there. though not only a place for tourists but where generations of families lived, a place people called “home”.
After the war of 1974 and the abandonment of the city for decades, In October 2020 for the first time ever, people were allowed to visit the inside of the fenced off area. In an illegal move against United Nations resolutions, the Turkish government opened up the city, however not for the former residents who still own properties there but for Turkey’s business and political interests which has caused uproar and condemnation in the international community. From my visit, the signs from 1974 to this day of attempts to erase anything Greek and Christian by Turkish troops was apparent everywhere. From crosses taken down off of churches to signs in Greek scrubbed away. It felt like an apocalyptic town from the 1970s when walking around the streets. The Turkish army monitored the area by setting up cameras everywhere to watch visitors, I even had a military drone follow me at times which put me on edge. I was only allowed to take photos from the outside as the army forbid anyone from entering buildings. In amongst the ruins of the city I met a group refugees from Varosha playing out memories of theirs on the very streets we were standing on. From their first love, to where they would go to wash laundry, favourite dining spots and even showing me their former childhood homes. Make sure to browse more of my work to see my other photos from Varosha.
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Shares, Likes and Comments are very much appreciated as it helps my Artwork grow.
Peace...
A pavement in Varosha built in 1973, a time when the hippie movement had not long been around. On this pavement people wrote things like their initials and where they were from. The pavements had plenty of writing from that year.
Varosha is a city worth $150 billion, abandoned in 1974 when the Turkish military invaded and captured the northern half of Cyprus, forcing 40,000 Greek Cypriot residents of the city to flee for fear of violence. When captured, Varosha was fenced off by the Turkish army. It has not seen anyone return or enter since, for 47 years as it was declared a Turkish military zone, with soldiers guarding it on orders to shoot “trespassers”. After the events of the invasion, not just Varosha but the entire north of Cyprus saw one of the greatest mass lootings in history. Countless historical, religious, and cultural sites vandalised and destroyed. 200,000 people had become refugees due to the war, 40,000 of which from Varosha. 1619 people had gone missing in Cyprus, with many still not found. Mass rape of Greek Cypriot women by Turkish soldiers, this lead to the church of Cyprus temporarily legalising abortion.
However, Varosha has seen better days, prior to the 1974 invasion, it was the Mediterranean's most glamorous location. A coastal town of golden sandy beaches, dozens of grand hotels where the likes of famous stars such as Sophia Loren, Richard Burton and Brigitte Bardot all dropped by, the Argo Hotel on JFK Avenue was said to be Elizabeth Taylor's favourite. Varosha was a thriving and lively place, known for its festivals and events, it was very advanced for its time, with 90% of all tourism in Cyprus there. though not only a place for tourists but where generations of families lived, a place people called “home”.
After the war of 1974 and the abandonment of the city for decades, In October 2020 for the first time ever, people were allowed to visit the inside of the fenced off area. In an illegal move against United Nations resolutions, the Turkish government opened up the city, however not for the former residents who still own properties there but for Turkey’s business and political interests which has caused uproar and condemnation in the international community. From my visit, the signs from 1974 to this day of attempts to erase anything Greek and Christian by Turkish troops was apparent everywhere. From crosses taken down off of churches to signs in Greek scrubbed away. It felt like an apocalyptic town from the 1970s when walking around the streets. The Turkish army monitored the area by setting up cameras everywhere to watch visitors, I even had a military drone follow me at times which put me on edge. I was only allowed to take photos from the outside as the army forbid anyone from entering buildings. In amongst the ruins of the city I met a group refugees from Varosha playing out memories of theirs on the very streets we were standing on. From their first love, to where they would go to wash laundry, favourite dining spots and even showing me their former childhood homes. Make sure to browse more of my work to see my other photos from Varosha.
Instagram: andrewavraam_photography
FB: Andrew Avraam Photography
Shares, Likes and Comments are very much appreciated as it helps my Artwork grow.