Ravelin Gate

When the Venetians took control of Cyprus from the French Lusignans in 1489, the city walls of Famagusta were long and thin, built to defend against simple attacks. However, with the evolution of warfare and the invention of heavy artillery, the Venetians realized that the walls needed to be remodeled and strengthened to withstand potential threats, especially from the Ottoman Empire and its powerful cannons.

In 1492, the Venetians began reinforcing the walls, bringing in experts from Venice to manage the renovation, which lasted over 70 years. The design of the fortified walls was inspired by the work of Michelangelo, the renowned Italian sculptor and architect of the High Renaissance.

The sea-facing walls stretched 3 kilometers and reached a height of 18 meters, with key fortifications such as the Martinengo Bastion and the Land Gate (later known as Rivettina Bastion) being significantly upgraded.

There were two main gates into the walls: the Land Gate (Porta del Mare) and the Sea Gate. Any tour of the Famagusta walls often starts near the southern end, close to Rivettina Bastion. This bastion, second only to the Othello Tower in terms of age, is one of the most fascinating areas for visitors interested in military architecture.

Over the centuries, the names of the bastions have changed according to the ruling power of Famagusta. The Rivettina Bastion was originally called “Ravelin,” a name derived from the old French term for a half-moon-shaped structure that was built by the Lusignans to guard the main entrance to the city.

When the Venetians took control and began their fortification efforts, they expanded the walls connected to Ravelin, turning it into Rivettina Bastion—a part of the massive defensive structure that included rooms and corridors used for storing artillery. The outer walls were designed to withstand attacks and to defend against forces approaching the ramparts.

The Ottoman threat was very real, and by 1570-71, the Venetians in Famagusta found themselves under siege. After the Ottomans captured Famagusta and the Rivettina Bastion, the name was changed to Akkule, likely in reference to the white flag flown by the Venetians during the siege.

Today, entry into the walled city is still made through Akkule, protected by a castle gate built by the Ottomans, complete with a drawbridge that has survived to the present day.

Visitors entering through this gate will first admire the Venetian-era frescoes and coats of arms. After passing the Akkule Mosque, built in 1619 by the Ottomans, visitors can climb the stairs to the top of the walls and walk along the Arsenal until reaching the Sea Gate (Porta del Mare).