Address
Namık Kemal Meydanı
Gazimağusa-Αμμόχωστος
Cyprus
Description
The Cathedral Fig Tree is located in the Old Town of Famagusta, overlooking the main Namik Kemal Square. It can be found directly in front of the Lala
[more]The Cathedral Fig Tree is located in the Old Town of Famagusta, overlooking the main Namik Kemal Square. It can be found directly in front of the Lala Mustafa Paşa, formerly St Nicholas Cathedral.
The very large fig tree, a Ficus Sycomorus of Eastern African origin, is believed to be the oldest living thing on the island. Botanists are convinced that the imposing tree was planted around the same time the former cathedral was built and date it back to 1220 AD, a truly stately age of almost 800 years.
The main trunk of the tree is supported by several smaller trunks that have developed over the centuries and its dense foliage offers much welcome shelter from the heat to visitors of the mosque.
The Cathedral Fig Tree is a minimal deciduous tree, which means it doesn't lose it's foliage for a long period, it will not bear any leaves in February but within around a month it's leaves grow back and it stands in its usual glory.
The Cathedral Fig Tree is cared for by the Department of Forestry of Famagusta and listed on the Culture's National Heritage List.
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