The Famagusta City Walls built by the Lusignans were very high but not structurally sound. After the Venetians captured the island they brought over specialists from Venice to fortify the walls against artillery fire particularly. The wall on the sea front, the Mantinengo Bastion and the Kara (Land) Gate were built during this period. A ditch 50 yards wide was dug on the outer flanks of the wall and was filled with water. The wall is 2 miles in length and up to 30 feet thick in places. The city-walls have bastions, gates, ramps, embrasures, arms depots, depots and stables.

Othello’s Tower was built in the 12th Century during the Lusignan period as protection for the harbour and was originally surrounded by a moat. In 1492 the Venetians transformed it into an artillery stronghold along with the rest of the City walls. The Citadel consists of towers and corridors leading to artillery chambers. In the courtyard of the there are Ottoman and Spanish cannons, cannonballs and large spherical stones fired by catapults. The present day name of the tower came into use during the British colonial period and refers to Shakespeare’s famous tragedy, where the setting is a seaport in Cyprus.

Salamis is one of the most impressive historical sites in Cyprus and has been shown to originally date from the 11th Century BC. Archaeologists believe that the first inhabitants of the town came here from Enkomi after the earthquake of 1075 BC. When the 'Dark Ages' of the Mediterranean world came to an end in about the 8th century BC, Salamis appeared on the historical scene as an important trading centre. The necropolis which yielded the Royal Tombs belongs to this period and gives an idea about the richness of the city during the era. During the Hellenistic and Roman eras Salamis once again became an important trading centre between the empires surrounding the Mediterranean. Most of the ruins unearthed in excavations date from the more recent history of the city. Amongst the ruins worth visiting are:

The Gymnasium and Baths complex consisted of a courtyard surrounded by columned arcades on its four sides. It served as an exercising ground. In one corner there were latrines for 44 people while another set of latrines existed on the north side of the baths. Two swimming pools occupied the ends of the eastern colonnade and were decorated with marble statues. The baths consisted of two octagonal cold rooms between which there was the central sweating room. The hot water baths were flanked by two more sweat rooms. The stoking room was situated to the north of the complex.

The Theatre dates from the time of Augustus and its auditorium originally consisted of 50 rows seating 15,000 spectators. The performances took place on the raised stage whose background was decorated with statues. After it was destroyed by earthquakes in the 4th century the theatre was never rebuilt and served as a source of building material for other constructions.

The two-storey Roman Villa consists of a reception hall and central inner courtyard with a columned portico. The living quarters were grouped in the inner courtyard. After the city was abandoned this building was used as an oil mill. The large stone which was used to crush the olives, various mill stones and the straining device have survived.
The Stone Forum was the meeting place and market of the ancient City of Salamis, originating in the Hellenistic period. On two sides it was lined with columned arcades which protected the shoppers from heat in summer and rain in winter. Only one of the columns has survived to the present day. Its courtyard contained temples dedicated to gods related to commerce and was decorated with statues and fountains.

The ruins of The Temple of Zeus date to the Roman but it was built upon an earlier Hellenistic temple. The shrine had the right to grant asylum and this fact was confirmed by Augustus in 22 BC.

The “Vouta” was 30 mile long aqueduct brought water to the Salamis from Kyhrea. This Roman water system continued to function until the 7th century but the walls and the remains of 36 square pillars that supported the largest cistern have survived.

The Lala Mustafa Pasa Mosque was constructed between the years 1298-1312 and is one of the most impressive Gothic structures of the Mediterranean region. The Lusignan kings were first inaugurated as the King of Cyprus at the St. Sophia Cathedral in Nicosia and following this they would be crowned as the King of Jerusalem at the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Famagusta. These ceremonies continued to be held until 1571 when the cathedral was turned into a mosque by the Ottoman Turks. The architecture of the western front of the building has been influenced by the architecture of the cathedral in the French city of Reims.