Othello Castle
| Othello Castle | |
|---|---|
| (Greek: Κάστρο της Oθέλλου, Turkish: Othello Kulesi) | |
  | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Medieval |
| Town or city | Famagusta |
| Country |
De jure  Cyprus De facto  Northern Cyprus |
| Coordinates | 35°07′40″N 33°56′36″E / 35.127688°N 33.943239°E |
| Completed | 14th century |
Othello Castle is a castle in Famagusta, Cyprus. It was built by the Lusignans in the 14th century to protect the port against a possible enemy attacks. It was also used as the main entrance to Famagusta. It used to be called "impenetrable fortress" due to it being nearly impossible to attack because of very deep ditches surrounding it. The tower was restored 3 years after Cyprus was sold to the Republic of Venice, under the command of captain Nicolo Foscari. After the restoration the Lion of St Mark was engraved on the entrance, along with captain Nicolo Foscari's name and the date (1492). The castle gets its name from Shakespeare's famous play Othello, which is set in a harbour town in Cyprus.
Directly above the castle's main entrance is a stone relief mark of the lion signifying St. Mark. Below that relief is inscribed the name of Captain Nicolo Foscari. It was he who restored the tower of the castle in 1492.
Towers are a prominent feature of the castle. The castle also has a refectory and a dormitory constructed during the Lusignan period. The castle's yard contains relics of its turbulent history. In it are canon balls left behind by the Spaniards and Ottomans.
See also
- List of castles