{{Short description|Castle in Cyprus}} {{Infobox military installation | name = Othello Castle | native_name = {{langx|el|Πύργος του Oθέλλου}}<br>{{langx|tr|Othello Kulesi}} | partof = the Fortifications of Famagusta | location = Famagusta, Northern Cyprus | image = Famagusta 01-2017 img26 city walls Othello Tower.jpg | image_size = 300px | caption = Othello Castle | type = Castle | coordinates = {{coord|35|7|39.7|N|33|56|35.7|E|type:landmark|display=inline}} | ownership = | controlledby = | open_to_public = | built = 14th century<br>late 15th century (modifications) | used = | builder = Kingdom of Cyprus<br>Republic of Venice (modifications) | materials = Sandstone | height = | condition = Intact | battles = | events = }}
'''Othello Castle''' ({{langx|el|Πύργος του Oθέλλου}}, {{langx|tr|Othello Kalesi}}), also known as '''Othello's Tower''', is a castle in Famagusta, in the eastern part of Cyprus. It was built by the Lusignans in the 14th century, and was later modified by the Venetians. The modern name of the castle comes from a stage note in Shakespeare's play ''Othello''.<ref name="Lonely">{{cite book |author1=Jessica Lee |title=Cyprus |date=February 2015 |publisher=Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd |location=Singapore |isbn=978-1-74220-756-8 |page=183 |edition=6th |language=en |chapter=Famagusta & the Karpas Peninsula |quote=The tower's name stems from a vague link [...] which has a modest stage note referring to 'a seaport in Cyprus'.}} The note is in [http://shakespeare.mit.edu/othello/othello.2.1.html Othello, act 2, scene 1].</ref><ref name="Rough">{{cite web |title=North Cyprus Travel Guide {{!}} What to do in North Cyprus {{!}} Rough Guides |url=https://www.roughguides.com/cyprus/north-cyprus/ |website=www.roughguides.com |publisher=Rough Guides |access-date=18 November 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
==History== thumb|left|Relief of the Lion of St Mark on the walls of the castle thumb|Ground plan 1918 Othello Castle was built in the 14th century by the Lusignans (who ruled the Kingdom of Cyprus) to protect the port against 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.
After Cyprus was sold to the Republic of Venice, the castle's square towers were replaced with circular ones to suit more modern artillery. After these modifications, a relief of the Lion of St Mark was engraved above the castle's main entrance. The name of Captain Nicolo Foscari, who directed the alterations to the castle, and the date 1492 are inscribed near the relief. Apparently Leonardo da Vinci advised the refurbishment in 1481.<ref name="Lonely" /> The castle gets its name from Shakespeare's famous play ''Othello'', which is set in a harbour town in Cyprus.<ref name=cypnet>{{cite web|title=Othello's Tower and Citadel|url=http://www.cypnet.co.uk/ncyprus/city/famagusta/othello.htm|website=cypnet.co.uk|access-date=3 October 2015}}</ref>
In 1900, the castle's ditch was drained of water to reduce the risk of malaria.<ref>{{cite web|title=Othello Tower and Castle|url=http://www.cyprus44.com/famagusta/othello-tower.asp|website=cyprus44.com|access-date=3 October 2015}}</ref>
The castle began to be restored in 2014,<ref name=greekreporter>{{cite news|last1=Tsagari|first1=Daphne|title="Othello" Castle in Cyprus to be Restored|url=http://greece.greekreporter.com/2014/07/05/othello-castle-in-cyprus-to-be-restored/|access-date=3 October 2015|work=Greek Reporter|date=5 July 2014}}</ref> and it reopened to the public on 3 July 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=Othello Tower/Citadel to reopen this week|url=http://www.cy.undp.org/content/cyprus/en/home/presscenter/pressreleases/2015/06/29/othello-tower-citadel-to-reopen-this-week.html|website=United Nations Development Programme|access-date=3 October 2015|date=29 June 2015|archive-date=9 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009220225/https://www.cy.undp.org/content/cyprus/en/home/presscenter/pressreleases/2015/06/29/othello-tower-citadel-to-reopen-this-week.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Layout== The castle contains four circular towers. It contains a refectory and a dormitory, which were constructed during the Lusignan period. The castle's yard contains cannonballs left behind by the Spaniards and Ottomans, relics of its turbulent history.<ref name=cypnet/>
== See also ==
== External References == [http://ephemera.cyi.ac.cy/?q=OthelloTower Othello's Tower 3D]
==References== {{Commons category|Othello Castle}} {{Reflist}} '''Notes''' {{notelist}}
Category:Buildings and structures completed in the 14th century Category:Castles in Northern Cyprus Category:Venetian fortifications in Cyprus Category:Buildings and structures in Famagusta Category:Othello
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