Palace of the Provveditore

The Venetians, wishing to make their own mark on the palace changed the façade of the entrance, extending it outwards, building basket arches and incorporating massive granite pillars imported from the ruined city of Salamis. Over the central arch are the arms of Giovanni Renier, the Venetian Governor in 1552.

The courtyard is now a public car park, and the gardens are adorned with displays of ancient cannons, cannon-balls and statuary.

Also of note within the garden precinct is the room in which Namik Kemal, a rather progressive Turkish poet and playwright was imprisoned in 1873. The Sultan had disliked his modern ideas and he was deported from Turkey to spend his exile in the room that can be visited today. A bust dedicated to him was erected in the main square in  1953.