A historic landmark in Northern Cyprus, the Kanbulat Bastion in Famagusta has been restored. The restoration work was funded by the European Union (EU) and carried out under the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
As a result of the restoration, the entire structure was strengthened: the fallen stones were replaced, the retaining walls and the northeastern part of the bastion platform were restored. Plants and modern paintings were removed from the walls. General cleaning of the territory was carried out along the entire perimeter. Workers installed a new drainage system. At the entrance to the bastion there is an information stand for visitors with virtual reality technology. With its help it is possible to visit other historical sites in Northern Cyprus.
Mario Nava, Director General for Structural Reform Support of the European Commission, said at the ceremony of completion of the restoration: “The preservation of cultural monuments is one of the tasks of the people of Northern Cyprus. The repair and maintenance of ancestral cultural heritage is not just a tribute to the past. It is an opportunity to connect people, to preserve a historical past that unites and strengthens.”
The Kanbulat Bastion was erected during the period 1489-1571, also called the “Venetian” period. It was built to control and protect the southeastern part of the harbor and Famagusta.
