Abandoned places stand as silent witnesses to the ever-changing footprint of human existence, frozen in time and shrouded in mystery. They have a magnetic pull on our imagination. These forgotten relics of human endeavour offer a unique glimpse into the past.I, Andrew Avraam, am a Cypriot/British Photographer who has documented all the abandoned places on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus for the last 10 years. I have documented a variety, from abandoned mansions and military bases to the derelict/hostage city of Varosha and the notorious UN Buffer Zone, one of the most militarized places on earth and Europe’s last divided capital.More info:Instagram|flickr.com|FacebookThis post may includeaffiliate links.
Abandoned places stand as silent witnesses to the ever-changing footprint of human existence, frozen in time and shrouded in mystery. They have a magnetic pull on our imagination. These forgotten relics of human endeavour offer a unique glimpse into the past.
I, Andrew Avraam, am a Cypriot/British Photographer who has documented all the abandoned places on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus for the last 10 years. I have documented a variety, from abandoned mansions and military bases to the derelict/hostage city of Varosha and the notorious UN Buffer Zone, one of the most militarized places on earth and Europe’s last divided capital.
More info:Instagram|flickr.com|Facebook
This post may includeaffiliate links.
My work provides a window into the past, showing what lies behind closed doors where I have discovered belongings from vintage vaults, family photos, cars left to rot, 1950s love letters, and antiques. When exploring, it feels like stepping back in time, and I believe it is my duty to reveal to the world the secrets of these forgotten and once-thriving sites, untouched for over half a century. Remnants from various historical periods can be found at these abandoned places, ranging from the ancient Greeks, Crusaders, Byzantine, Venetian, Ottoman, and British empires.
Where the Temple of Zeus used to be, in an ancient Greek city dating back to 3000 years ago has been under the rule of the Romans, Greeks, Alexander the Great, Persians, Byzantines and Christians. It currently falls within the illegally occupied areas of the Turkish military since the 1974 war. The Turkish government forbids archaeologists from digging at the site, in fact, much of it has been neglected and fallen to ruin, Many people have looted and damaged the precious historical site over the years - Salamis.
Most of the abandoned places I have photographed date from when the conflict began in the 1960s up to the present. Several of my trips were conducted with the protection of the UN and the British military on various occasions.
The first amusement park in Cyprus, most of it has been destroyed though. While there, the seats were slowly swinging even though there was no wind blowing which was quite creepy to be honest. We also discovered a homeless man to be living inside one of the arcade rooms, he certainly wasnt pleased with us being there so we swiftly left - Nicosia.
I literally sat for 2 hours in this abandoned building just going through and reading all these magazines and books, dating back to between the 1920s - 1970s, it was amazing. Some of the interesting pages we see in the photo is 60s lingerie, cigarettes ad, slumberland mattresses, an article about Che Guevara and a children’s comic book - Paphos.
A young man curiously looking over a military defence position at the United Nations Green Line - Nicosia.
A long lonesome road in the downtown part of Varosha.
Abandoned vintage vehicle graveyard of over 500 vehicles left untouched since 1974. With well-known cars such as Land Rover, Volvo, Volkswagen and vehicles not in production anymore - Cyprus.
The all girls school in the abandoned city of Varosha, Famagusta. Under control of the Turkish military, where the city has been held hostage for 50 years.
A vintage bed in an old stone house, around a few hundred years old - Nicosia
These streets were like the Oxford street of London but for Cyprus pre 1974 and when the war happened they turned into a brutal and bloody battleground between Turkish and Greek Cypriot troops - Nicosia No Mans Land.
Here we can see a piano and chair from an apartment that was abandoned in the war, there were belongings everywhere from books, clothes and furniture, notice the handbag on the chair as well. I went to play the piano however many of the keys did not work - Nicosia No Mans Land.
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I really find it interesting how nature really does take over when it comes to places abandoned for so long. A whole tree somehow grew inside a bedroom of a house and broke through the roof. This house was also quite old, notice the teddy bear, laced blankets and bottles of alcohol in the cupboard too - Nicosia district.
A church in Famagusta region, looted and vandalised.
The abandoned Nicosia Airport saw the most brutal battles of the whole 1974 military conflict. After the war, the United Nations declared the airport as part of their buffer zone and since patrol the restricted area just like the rest of the buffer zone to ensure no one enters - Nicosia.
The abandoned city of Varosha, with original 7up and Cocacola signs from pre-1974.
Abandoned British Chieftain Mk10 tank and other military vehicles in an active military firing range. The tanks were introduced into the British military in the early 1960s. After 1974 and the UN’s increased military presence on the island, the British soldiers of the UN had the Chieftain tanks in their force. Then at some point the tanks probably couldnt compete with newer versions of tanks and ended up on a firing range for practice.
An abandoned house in the UN buffer zone - Nicosia.
On the left, a Greek and Cypriot flag placed in the Republic of Cyprus and in the background across the United Nations No Mans Land/Buffer Zone is the flag of Turkey and the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus flag - Nicosia.
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