The area around Famagusta has always been favourable to growth and prosperity. There was a large fertile plain and a natural harbour. In addition, the prevailing winds and sea currents have made it an ideal location for trade with the near East.

The first city in the area was Enkomi, originally a small farming community, but eventually it became a large commercial city around 1500 BC.

Salamina, in turn, is considered founded by Teucer, son of the king Telamone of the island of Salamina. The city is thought to have been originally limited to a small area around the port, and gradually expanded, particularly from 1100 BC, when Enkomi was abandoned and its inhabitants moved to Salamis.

In the 8th century BC, Salamis had become an important commercial centre and a royal city. Until the end of the 4th century it reigned over a much more extensive and fertile stretch of land than that possessed by any other city, there was a phase in which it extended to the Troodos mountains. The first coins were minted in Salamina in the 6th century BC, and in the inscriptions throughout the island of this period one speaks of Salamina.

At that time, the city was part of the Persian Empire, which lasted until the conquest of Alexander the Great of Asia Minor. However, his untimely death caused the split of the empire, with Cyprus falling under the Ptolemies and the beginning of the decline of the city.

During the Hellenic and Roman period, Salamis again became an important commercial centre with countries bordering the Mediterranean. Although Paphos was the official capital of the island, Salamis was the most important commercial city. Most of the Salamina excavations date back to this period.

In 46 AD Paul and Barnabas, a native of Salamis, went to Paphos where they revealed the Gospel to the Roman governor Sergius Paulus. He was converted and thus became the first Christian ruler in the world. Barnabas later preached in Salamis where he was finally martyred by the Jews.

The mission of Paul and Barnabas had far-reaching implications, allowing the church in the following years to demonstrate its apostolic origin and justifying its claim to be independent of the patriarch of Antioch.

After their revolt was quelled, in Jerusalem in 70 AD by the Romans, many Jews settled in Cyprus, particularly in Salamis. Here in 115 AD, they rebelled again, and the carnage that followed in the next two years pushed Rome to expel all Jews from the island.

The earthquakes of 332 and 342 AD caused much damage, and the city was rebuilt by the Byzantine emperor Constantius, naming it Constantine, making it the capital of the island again. The city became the seat of both the Byzantine governor and the Orthodox archbishop. At that time, however, the port was starting to decay and the city was subject to Arab raids.

In 648, after another Arab raid, the citizens moved to Arsinoe, which later became Famagusta, although there is evidence of occupation until 1300.

For many years, the city was treated as a source of building materials, and during the Venetian period many columns and pieces of sculpture were removed from the site. The sands, however, covered much of the city and protected it from the hands of looters. Some small-scale excavations were undertaken in 1887, but it was only in 1952 that the site was largely excavated, and these excavations continued until 1974.

The centre of Salamina during the Roman period was North of the city, where the current entrance is located. Excavations so far include the gym and theatre, which have been extensively renovated. The theatre is frequently used for concerts.

Far from the Roman area, the temple of Zeus Salaminos was discovered. This is thought to date back to the founding of the city. From the Byzantine times, there are the remains of the Basilica of San Epifanio and the Basilica of Kampanopetra, both dating back to the 4th century.

In 2002, archaeologists unearthed the Salamina North / South axis road. At the Northern end of this road there was a hill, and excavations here found that there was an intersection with a door below. From here, one road leads to the baths, while the other leads to the gym and amphitheatre.

This road is, in fact, made up of two roads. The first is a low and irregular road dating back to before the great earthquake hit Salamis. The second was built on top of it after the earthquake. The lower part of the street is believed to date back to the first century AD. A second discovery was that the Northern entrance had been blocked, probably during the time of the Arab invasions for protection. In the space behind the closed section, two capitals of richly decorated Corinthian columns were found, in almost perfect condition.

In 2003 the works were carried out on the Southern part of the road. This led to a part of the site where a residential area of the ancient city is believed to have existed. The road that was discovered is thought to be the main road linking the residential area with the public areas of the city. So far, almost 300 meters of road have been discovered, but it seems that many of the stones used to pave the road have been subsequently removed to build city walls at a later date to protect the city.

Another important discovery made in this period is a chapel, located near the amphitheatre, which is believed to have been built in the late 6th century.

Although 90% of the city remains buried in the sand, the site is still impressive and well worth a visit.