The abandoned resort frozen in the 1970s

A closer look

Once the French Riviera of Cyprus where Elizabeth Taylor sunbathed, Varosha was abruptly cordoned off by the Turkish military in 1974. For decades, it sat untouched, effectively trapping 1970s resort culture in amber behind barbed wire. Now that parts are open to dark tourism, you can stroll past decaying luxury hotels and car dealerships still showcasing zero-mile 1974 Toyotas, proving that geopolitics makes the ultimate time capsule.