LALA-MUSTAFA-PACHA MOSQUE

This Gothic-style mosque (Lala Mustafa Paşa Camii, Τέμενος Λαλά Μουσταφά Πασά/Temenos Lala Moustafa Pasa) is Famagusta's major monument. It is the former Catholic cathedral of St. Nicholas, built under the Lusignans between 1298 and 1312. It impresses with its dimensions (52.5 m long), the beautiful honey color of its stones and its superb facade. It was inspired by Notre-Dame de Reims (completed in 1275), where the kings of France were crowned. It's no coincidence: Famagusta Cathedral played an important role in the rituals of the Frankish kings of Cyprus. Once enthroned in Nicosia's Hagia Sophia (today's Selimiye Mosque), the sovereigns received here the symbolic title of King of Jerusalem. Damaged by the Ottomans during the siege of 1570-1571, the cathedral lost the upper part of its two facade towers. Never repaired, it was converted into a mosque in 1571. A 32 m-high minaret was added to the north tower. The frescoes, sculptures and stained-glass windows were destroyed. Some sculptures remain, however, as do the tombs of Frankish nobles. For almost four centuries, the mosque was called Ayasofya, in reference to the Church of Saint Sophia in Constantinople, which had also been transformed into a mosque. Since 1954, it has been renamed in homage to the conqueror of Cyprus and Ottoman grand vizier of Bosnian origin, Mustafa Pacha (1500-1580), who bore the title of lala ("tutor to the sultan").