Story
The story of Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque
So closely does it echo the French cathedral that it has been dubbed “the Reims of Cyprus”. It is the largest medieval building in Famagusta, begun in 1298 as the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas and consecrated in 1328. The French Lusignan kings brought the latest Gothic fashion with them, and this is the Rayonnant Gothic style, rare outside France, with three doors, twin towers and a flat roof.
After being crowned kings of Cyprus in Nicosia, the Lusignans came here to be crowned kings of Jerusalem. The tops of the two towers, weakened by earthquakes and badly damaged in the bombardment of 1571, were never repaired.
That August the Ottomans took Famagusta, and the cathedral became a mosque; its statues, stained glass and frescoes were removed or plastered over, but the Gothic structure survived. Since 1954 it has carried the name of Lala Mustafa Pasha, the commander of the Ottoman conquest.
This story is compiled from Wikipedia and other open sources; dates and numbers are checked against the source. The text is shared under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Source ↗
Hear this story on the spot, in a natural voice
On Sightlore, the story of Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque is narrated in a natural voice in 5 languages. When you arrive, say "I'm here" and get your passport stamp.
8 more stories from Famagusta & Salamis in the app
More highlights in Famagusta & Salamis
- Nestorian Church (Famagusta)The Nestorian Church, officially known as the Church of St. George the Exiler is a church in the old town of Famagusta on the island of Cyprus.
- Namık Kemal DungeonNamık Kemal Dungeon is a historical building in Famagusta, Cyprus, known for being the abode of influential Turkish writer Namık Kemal between 1873 and 1876. The site of the building was originally part of the Palazzo del Provveditore (Venetian Palace), the building as it…
- St. Barnabas MonasteryThe monastery of Saint Barnabas (or Ayios Barnabas) was a church on the island of Cyprus, 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) west of Constantia. Today the site is in Northern Cyprus and functions as a museum.
- SalamisSalamis was an ancient Greek city-state on the east coast of Cyprus, at the mouth of the river Pedieos, 6 km (3.7 mi) north of modern Famagusta.
- Othello CastleOthello Castle, also known as Othello's Tower, is a castle in Famagusta, in the eastern part of Cyprus. It was built by the Lusignans in the 14th century, and was later modified by the Venetians.
- Enkomi (archaeological site)Enkomi (also Mallia) is a 2nd millennium BC archaeological site on the eastern coast of Cyprus a short distance from the village of Enkomi. The site appears to currently be under disputed governance.