Information
Landmark: St. Nicholas CathedralCity: Famagusta
Country: Cyprus
Continent: Europe
St. Nicholas Cathedral, Famagusta, Cyprus, Europe
Overview
In the heart of Famagusta, Cyprus, stands the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque-once St. Nicholas Cathedral-a towering Gothic landmark with weathered stone and pointed arches.Built as a Catholic cathedral in the 14th century under the Lusignans, it later became a mosque after the Ottomans seized the island in 1571, its tall spires giving way to slender minarets.The cathedral stands as one of Cyprus’s finest Gothic landmarks, its pointed arches and towering windows telling the story of the island’s tangled history and shifting faiths.Between 1298 and 1312, under the Lusignan kings who ruled Cyprus after the Crusades, the cathedral rose stone by stone and was dedicated to Saint Nicholas, patron saint of sailors-a tribute well suited to Famagusta’s bustling harbor.Its design drew on French Gothic tradition, with pointed arches, flying buttresses, and ribbed vaults catching the light in lofty patterns.By the late 15th century, Cyprus had passed into Venetian hands (1489–1571).For centuries, the cathedral stood as a key Catholic place of worship, its bells once echoing through Famagusta’s narrow streets.After the Ottoman conquest in 1571, it was transformed into a mosque and renamed Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque, honoring the commander who led the siege.A slender minaret rose at the northern corner, a mihrab and wooden minbar were installed, and Christian imagery was stripped away.Yet the French Gothic grandeur endures-soaring pointed arches, flying buttresses, an ornate rose window, and two unfinished towers that give the façade a haunting, incomplete beauty.Inside, ribbed vaults and high stone arches remain, now softened by rows of patterned prayer rugs and Islamic calligraphy in place of saints and angels.Once the coronation site of Lusignan kings, it is today one of Famagusta’s most important mosques, a quiet symbol of the island’s layered history and shifting faiths.The mosque stands as a powerful emblem of Famagusta’s intertwined Christian and Islamic past, its walls echoing centuries of change.Today, it’s still alive with regular prayers and community gatherings, the soft murmur of voices carrying through the air.Visitors are welcome inside, provided they dress modestly, and many come to see one of the city’s most treasured landmarks.With its striking Gothic arches and centuries of history, the mosque is a must-see for anyone drawn to Cyprus’s rich cultural and architectural heritage.At times, the scent of polished wood drifts through its halls during cultural events and exhibitions that shed light on its past.Known as St. Nicholas Cathedral (Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque), it welcomes visitors during daylight hours, though it closes for prayers.You’ll find it in the heart of Famagusta’s walled city, steps from Othello Castle and the eerie Ghost Town of Varosha.Guided tours offer deeper insight into its story and design, and its central location puts you within easy reach of the Famagusta Marina, the Salamis Ruins, and St. George of the Greeks Church.
