The Palazzo del Proveditore (Governor`s Palace) was built in 1550 by the Venetians in front of the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Famagusta. At this place, the Royal Palace of Lusignan was before, but it was destroyed by an earthquake.
During the Lusignan rule, Famagusta had only part of the capital`s functions. As kings of Cyprus, they were crowned in the Hagia Sophia cathedral in Nicosia, but as kings of Jerusalem, they were crowned in the Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Famagusta.
Under the rule of Venice, Famagusta became a full-fledged capital. The city of Nicosia is located in the Central part of Cyprus, and for the Venetians it was important that the capital was a port city. With a powerful fleet, they could more easily control the region`s economy. The Governor`s Palace (Palazzo del Proveditore) was built to house the Venetian governors.
Only fragments of the Palazzo del Proveditore have survived to this day. It was badly damaged during the siege of the city by the Turks in 1570 and was not restored afterwards. On the square in front of the Cathedral, you can see the arched facade of the Palace with three Gothic arches and marble columns. These are real Roman columns that were brought here from Salamis. The arched facade is very similar to the Roman Triumphal arches. Above the Central arch is the coat of arms of Giovanni Rainier, who was the Venetian Governor of Famagusta at the time of construction.
The Western wall of the Palazzo del Proveditore and several other fragments of the walls are quite well preserved. They became part of later buildings. In the remaining rooms of the Palace, the Turks placed a prison.
On the ruins of the Eastern part of the Palazzo del Proveditore, the Kefer Pasha Bathhouse was built in 1571. It is named after the Turkish General who was responsible for the reconstruction of Famagusta after it came under Turkish rule. The changing room is located in the 14th-century St. Francis Church.
In general, the ruins of the Palace have survived to this day in the same condition as they were after the storming of Famagusta in 1571. Now you can see a Roman marble sarcophagus, fragments of sculptures, column capitals, cannon balls and cannons of the 16th century. Among the trees, there is a monument to the famous Turkish poet Namik Kemal Bey, who was a prisoner of this prison.
