The Dutch traveller Cornelis Van Bruyn left Larnaca for Nicosia:
Two hours later we arrived at the town of Piela, where we found the remains of a large building, and four small churches in the old style. A stream runs from the neighbouring mountains and supplies the town perennially with water.Beyond Piela we passed several other towns and villages and some small churches of no importance and about noon we reached a village Spigliotissa, where I was to stay, close to Famagusta. In the afternoon I went with two Greeks to see the outside of Famagusta, but as I got too near the Turks shouted to me from the walls to retire. I had to obey and turning down to the seashore sat down on an eminence to sketch the city as carefully as possible.