Looking at the crumbling and abandoned city of Varosha, Famagusta, in Cyprus today, it’s hard to imagine it being a luxurious resort and celebrity hotspot back in the 1970s.
However, that’s exactly what Varosha was before Turkey invaded in 1974, when the city with miles of stunning coastline became a ghost town overnight.
Content creators behind Yes Theory explained that, while Cyprus’ history is a complicated one, the UN buffer zone now separates Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus and the Republic of Cyprus.
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The footage gives us a peek at what remains of the now-crumbling, desirable beach location that sits amidst the conflict.
Decades after the invasion that changed everything, Varosha remains empty and unoccupied.
Turkey made the controversial decision to reopen the Varosha seafront in 2020, however, the situation is still a delicate one.
Permission was required from both the Turkish military and the UN to explore it, military and Turkish press office escorts were required, and entering buildings is still an offense.
The city itself lies crumbling and desolate – a stark difference from occupied areas mere streets away.
While eerily, tables and chairs remain outside cafes and restaurants and once luxury apartment blocks sit empty, the decay makes it appear post-apocalyptic.
Damaged and crumbling, the results of bombing and gunfire from years ago are still evident.
A view of the now-defunct airport even shows planes decaying on the spot.
The team managed to talk to some locals who were forced to flee and everything they had to leave behind – and it seems as if their emotional scars are the real casualty of the conflict.
And this isn’t the only abandoned city currently on our radar, as this $100 billion eco-friendly ‘Forest city’ is now a ghost town with no change in site.
What’s more, this incredible drone footage and images show the truth behind Chernobyl after 37 years.
In happier news, this car parked on the same spot for nearly 50 years became a local icon.
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