Hotels near Famagusta Gate

Famagusta Gate (Porta Giuliana) is the largest and most impressive of the three original gates in Nicosia's Venetian Walls. Built in 1567 as part of the Venetian fortification project, it takes its name from the road that led east to the port city of Famagusta. The gate is a vaulted stone tunnel roughly 35 metres long, passing through the massive Caraffa Bastion. The exterior portal features a carved marble plaque from the Venetian era, while the inner facade was added during the British colonial period.

Since its restoration in 1981, the Famagusta Gate vaulted passage has served as one of Nicosia's main cultural venues. The municipality uses it for art exhibitions, concerts, and events. Even when nothing is scheduled, the tunnel itself is worth walking through for its scale and acoustics. The surrounding area has been landscaped into a small plaza with benches, making it a good spot to rest during a walls walk. It sits at the eastern end of the old city, about a 15-minute walk from Ledra Street.

Pro Tip: Check the Nicosia Municipality events calendar before visiting. Free exhibitions inside the gate tunnel rotate every few weeks, and evening concerts in summer take advantage of the natural acoustics.