Situated in a large bay to the south east of the island, Famagusta is a town of dramatic contrasts. Encircled by massive medieval walls built by the Venetians, the old city was once one of the richest on the Mediterranean. The St Nicholas Cathedral is an extremely fine example of Gothic architecture, where the coronation ceremony of Kings took place from the 13th century. St Paul visited the area on his first missionary journey and no doubt marveled at the once great city of Salamis. The ruins of the ancient city, with its huge marble columns surrounding the gymnasium, pool and Turkish bath area remain for the modern visitor to savor whilst reflecting on its past history. The more recent history of Cyprus has left Famagusta as one of the world’s few divided cities. The border between north and south runs through parts of the city, where certain areas are restricted.