Namık Kemal Dungeon

Located in the historic heart of Gazimağusa, Namık Kemal Dungeon is known as the temporary residence of the famous Turkish writer Namık Kemal. Often referred to as the ‘Shakespeare of Turkish literature,’ Kemal spent 38 months in this building between 1873 and 1876.

Seen as a potential revolutionary and a threat to the Ottoman Empire, Kemal was exiled by Sultan Abdülaziz on April 9, 1873, shortly after the premiere of his play Vatan Yahut Silistre (Homeland or Silistre) at the Gedik Paşa Theatre in Istanbul. The play, which promoted nationalism and liberalism, was considered dangerous by the government.

The structure in which Kemal was exiled was originally part of the Palazzo del Proveditore in Venice, but during the Ottoman period, a prison was built within the ruins where Kemal was held.

The building features two different architectural styles: the lower floor, displaying pre-Ottoman Lusignan design, and the upper floor, reflecting more Ottoman characteristics. It has an L-shaped layout, with the lower level made of cut stone, while the upper level is constructed of wooden beams and plaster.

The ground floor, with a small arched entrance and barred window, opens into a rectangular room with a domed ceiling and leads to the courtyard of the former Venetian Palace. Despite being called a ‘dungeon,’ it is not an underground cell.

Kemal initially stayed on the lower floor but later described it as dark and unsuitable for living. The room was only ten square meters in size and lacked any furniture. He was later moved, with permission from the local governor, to a more comfortable upper-floor room, accessed by a stone staircase, which had large windows, a marble floor, and a view of the front.

Kemal was pardoned by Sultan Murad V after Sultan Abdülaziz was deposed, and he returned to Istanbul on June 29, 1876. During his time in Gazimağusa, he wrote some of his famous plays, including Gülnihal and Akif Bey.

The prison was later restored in the 1990s and converted into a museum, preserving many artifacts and documents related to Kemal’s life. It is also believed that the dungeon was used by British authorities during World War I.

Today, a bronze bust of Namık Kemal overlooks the square that bears his name, symbolizing his enduring legacy as a literary hero in Turkey and Northern Cyprus. His works also influenced Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey.