OVER 800 people packed into the famous Othello’s Tower next to Famagusta harbour last night 28th July 2015 to watch the bicommunal musical group "Kyproyenia” perform a mix of traditional Cypriot music at the event "Under the Moonlight".

Both Turkish and Greek Cypriots packed into the ancient venue, with many standing as the event was filled to capacity.

The concert was organised by the Technical Committee on Culture, with the two leaders President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci receiving a loud round of applause and cheers on their arrival.

The concert was introduced by Androulla Vassiliou and Zehra Sonya, the representatives of the
bi-communal committee for Culture.

"This is really a celebratory show,” one spectator told FG. "It is a celebration of a new era in Cyprus.”

"As you will remember on the 8th of June we were together with Mr Anastasiades, my friend Nicos, in Limassol for a theatre play we watched together. Tonight, we are here in Famagusta. So once in the south and now in the north the idea is that Cyprus is our homeland; be it Limassol or be it Famagusta that doesn’t make any difference," Mustafa Akinci told reporters.

The Othello Tower and Citadel in Famagusta re-opened earlier this month after extensive restoration works carried out by the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, the European Commission and the United Nations Development Programme Partnership for the Future (UNDP-PFF).

An opening event on July 2nd included a performance of the "Othello” by William Shakespeare by a young bi-communal performing group.


Credit: Famagusta Gazette Learn more »

"Our Music Under the Moonlight” will staged by the bi-communal music group "Kyprogenia” next Tuesday evening.

The concert is being organised by the Technical Committee on Culture and open to the public with free admission.

The two leaders President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci will attend the event.

The Othello Tower and Citadel in Famagusta re-opened earlier this month after extensive restoration works carried out by the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, the European Commission and the United Nations Development Programme Partnership for the Future (UNDP-PFF).

An opening event on July 2nd included a performance of the "Othello” by William Shakespeare by a young bi-communal performing group.

BACKGROUND

Othello Tower 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". Learn more »