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In the past the mosque of Lala Mustafa Pasha was called the Cathedral of St. Nicholas. This is one of the most striking examples of medieval architecture in Northern Cyprus. It was built on the model of the Reims Cathedral in France and, like him, was used only for the most solemn occasions: coronations and weddings. Accordingly, the architectural appearance of the cathedral is in the best royal traditions.

The construction of the St. Nicholas Cathedral began in 1300. Together with the first foundation stone, next to the future building, a fig tree was planted, which to this day adjoins the cathedral. For the erection of the temple, personal funds were allocated to Bishop Guillaume de Aibelin, a relative of the Cypriot king. Construction lasted about a quarter of a century, until the building, in the end, did not acquire a modern look.

In the past the mosque of Lala Mustafa Pasha was called the Cathedral of St. Nicholas. This is one of the most striking examples of medieval architecture in Northern Cyprus.

With the cathedral Sv .Nicholas associated a lot of historical events and interesting facts .It is known, for example, that in 1326 g .when Famagusta was plagued by a plague, a religious procession was launched from the cathedral, designed to stop the epidemic .Whether there was a miracle at that time or the fate of the city was resolved by the will of chance, but the infection really receded .Here, in the cathedral St. .Nikolay, the ceremony of the wedding of the Cyprian King Jacques II Lusignan and "the daughter of the Venetian Republic" Catherine Cornaro .As a result of this alliance, the island passed under the control of Venice .

The construction of the cathedral was significantly damaged during the attack of the Ottoman Empire .Until now, on the facade of the cathedral there are traces of assault shells .However, the external structure of the cathedral was much more fortunate than its interior decoration .From the outside, the cathedral lost only a few towers, but the interiors were completely altered: a beautiful six-color stained-glass window was replaced with transparent glass, the frescoes and images were plastered, and the statues of the saints were destroyed in cold blood .Also, the royal graves were dismantled from the temple with the remains of the last Luzinyanov .The Christian church finally acquired the image of the mosque when the minaret was completed at its northern extremity .

The Lala Mosque Mustafa Pasha bears the name of the leader of the Ottoman Empire, the commander of the detachment, under whose guidance Famagusta was taken. However, the historical name of the Cathedral of St. Nicholas is recognizable to this day.

The Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque is located in the heart of the Old City of Famagusta. This is an amazingly beautiful area, surrounded by parkland and the embankment. In close proximity to the mosque is another important historical monument of Northern Cyprus - the Sinan Pasha mosque, the former church of Peter and Paul. In the vicinity you can find a dozen cafes and restaurants, one of which, by the way, is located right behind the cathedral in the building of a small Gothic chapel.

The Lala Mustafa Pasha mosque

Practical information

From the nearest bus stop - Itimat - to Lala Mustafa Pasha mosque about 10 minutes walk to Istiklal Cd. If you get by car, you will have to go around the park area by Fevzi Cakmak Bulvarı.

Address: Gazimagusa, Mahmut Celaleddin Sk.