AN ABANDONED ghost town has been left to rot for decades despite housing a seven-star hotel believed to be owned by King Charles.
The luxury building still stands intact as the centerpiece of what was once an idyllic resort that was quickly turned into a no-man’s land after years of looting and total neglect.
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The seven-star luxury Golden Sands Hotel was the center of Varosha in the 1970s before remaining derelict and derelict for decades Credit: Facebook
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King Charles is believed to own the Golden Sands Hotel according to the government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus despite the royal family denying the rumorsCredit: Getty
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The resort has remained a ghost town full of abandoned buildings as tourists were banned from entering for more than 40 yearsCredit: AFP
The ghost town is located in the quiet Cypriot town of Varosha, which was once loved by the stars and celebrities of the time.
According to the government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus – which controls part of the island – King Charles owns the Golden Sands mega hotel.
The huge hotel complex was first opened in 1974 and was proudly declared “the world’s first seven-star hotel”.
It was even so big that it even had a train track inside to transport clients from room to room.
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But according to reports, the hotel was only open for a few months before it was left abandoned.
Tables, cupboards, crockery and crockery sets have been eating away at the mountains of dust within the glamorous walls for decades.
But unlike the rest of the resort’s facilities, the Golden Sands Hotel was left untouched by the robbers and has been preserved – giving it the nickname “the untouched hotel”.
It is still closely monitored and patrolled by several guards and permission is required to enter the nearby grounds.
Although the royal family has previously denied that the king owns it.
The Defense Force also dismissed rumors that it was being protected by British security forces.
Inside the Mediterranean ghost town of Varosha where A-listers once spent their summers before it fell into ruins
The town of Varosha was considered a top resort and a turning point in tourism when it was on the rise in the 1970s.
It was once even described as the “tourist mecca of Cyprus” and the “Vegas of the Mediterranean”.
Elsewhere in the deserted resort, there are 45 hotels, 3,000 commercial establishments, 60 apartment hotels, 21 banks, 25 museums, 20 theaters and museums, and 99 entertainment venues.
The vast amount of property left behind has been described as a “monument to diplomatic failure”.
One estate belonged to Italian Hollywood superstar Sophia Loren, and the resort was also a favorite vacation spot for Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Raquel Welch and Brigitte Bardot.
Of the over 3,000 properties, outside the Golden Sands Hotel, all were vandalized and hit by looters – leaving them far from their exes.
WHAT HAPPENED TO VAROŠA?
Varosha was hit hard when in 1974 it was engulfed in fierce conflicts between Turkey and Greece.
The Turkish army has reportedly arrived in the city to protect the Turkish Cypriots from the Greeks.
The inhabitants of Varoša were forced to flee, fearing that they might be massacred by the Turks.
Soldiers then cordoned off the area, preventing anyone from entering, with signs warning that it was a “no-go zone.”
Tourists are prohibited from entering and taking photographs inside the fenced area, but some managed to sneak in to document the deterioration.
These days, the crumbling buildings and rubble on the streets only hint at the city’s former glory days.
It has since been used by the United Nations to try to bring the two warring groups together, but is controlled by the self-proclaimed state of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar said he hoped Varosha would soon reopen properly as it could bring benefits to trade and tourism.
He explained: “Varoša will most certainly open up. The tide has shifted, a new page has opened.
“We are successfully continuing on our way. The inventory is nearing the end, we are in the opening phase.”
People were forbidden to set foot on Varosh until 2017 when only a small part was reopened to the public.
Since reopening, people have been exploring the city to see what else the once regal and luxurious resort has to offer.
One tourist wrote on Tripadvisor: “Very emotional and thought provoking to see such a beautiful place with bullet holes and nature to restore it.
“You can’t help but feel for the people who used to live here.”
As another said: “It’s a really remarkable place, straight out of ‘Planet of the Apes.'” Full beach resort, closed, many buildings with marks of shelling or bullets from 47 years ago.
“Every part is fascinating and everywhere there are abandoned hotels, houses, unfinished buildings.”
Before the third he said: “It’s amazing and sad at the same time to see this place go from heaven to nothing.”
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The hotel complex was one of over 3,000 buildings in the city popular with stars Credit: Facebook
The city of Varosha was back in its heyday when thousands flocked every year to enjoy the sun and luxurious places
Varosha now sits abandoned as a ghost town
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A view of Varosha from afar as tourists are still not allowed to visit the area up close Credit: Rex
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