Sweet Factory
Nicosia, Cyprus 1950's
Remnants of a Forgotten Time
Exploring the Abandoned Sweet Factory
By Andrew Avraam
Nicosia, Cyprus 1950’s
I have been exploring and photographing abandoned places for 10 years now, coming across all sorts from abandoned hospitals, military bases, the Buffer Zone, an airport and mansions. Though ive never seen a place quite like the mysterious abandoned sweet factory. Located in the heart of of the capital, Nicosia, lies a complex of old closed up buildings. It is easy to walk by and not think anything of them but you never know what is inside. Well I ventured in and to my discovery I was pleasantly surprised, I felt as though I had struck gold.
I had it on my list for over a year and one day, managed to arrange a spontanous trip with the founder of Circle Media to visit. I have personally visited thousands of abandoned places, some places offer spectacular photographic opportunities, and other times nothing, it just depends but until you go there and see for yourself, you wont know. The factory is part of a complex of other factories and a building where workers were once housed, the name of the confectionary company was called CeDe.
It was a British/Cypriot sweet factory that was abandoned in the 1950s. Its maybe the best preserved abandoned place ive been to, especially considering its been derelict for 70 years. I think its because the building is colonial and was built in a way made to last. It was full of original machinery and other fascinating remnants, which are now antiques. I feel like we literally stepped back in time to the 1950s, I could just imagine the tantalizing aroma of sugary delights that once permeated the air, however today, what actually fills the air is a stuffy, dusty and unpleasant smell.
But beyond the layers of dust and decay lies a haunting beauty that transcends time. The symphony of silence plays a melancholic tune as you wander through the forsaken factory, and the dilapidated machinery, once roaring with life, now stands as solemn sentinels to the passage of time. Amidst the rusted relics, broken glass, and forgotten tools, a sense of awe and curiosity takes hold, begging the question of what stories lie behind each artifact.
The factory had several floors and to my surprise, still filled with all its machinery, some dating back to the 1930s. It used to make all kinds of sweets from hard candy, licorice, chocolate and mints. I also found several items from clothes, remnants of sweets, bags, branded items, logbooks and dangerous chemicals.
There is almost no information about the place online but after asking the public about it, apart from being a sweet factory, some people told me its basement used to be a bomb shelter for families nearby during the 1974 war. Also in the 1990s, apparently a big rave was held there too.
Unfortunately, the factory was abandoned because the owner had died without a will, meaning no one could do anything with it, as well as a few other legal issues. I did find the abandoned house of the owner that was next to the factory and discovered a homeless man living there, the home was in a disgusting condition. It is a shame the complex has been left abandoned for so long but also fascinating to see as it felt like i had stepped back in time to the 1950s.
The 360 Experience
Below is the incredible 360 experience, allowing the viewer to get further up, close and personal in a full 360 view of several rooms. Also check out more photos by Andrew Avraam below.
Sweet Factory 360 Virtual Tour Experience by Circle Media. Click on the dotted icon to view other rooms as well.
More photos of the factory by Andrew Avraam.
About Andrew Avraam
Andrew Avraam, is a photographer based in Nottingham, UK with roots from Aradippou, Cyprus, and shares his personal photography and adventures of abandoned and historical places. He captures the neglected beauty of these once-thriving locations and their hidden and mysterious secrets. He has uncovered an array of items from antique cars, furniture, locked safes, clothes, and books. Andrew feels a duty to show the world these forgotten places, before they’re lost forever. Where required he has also patrolled with the United Nations and British military all as part of missions to visit abandoned places in heavily restricted areas. Most of his work focuses on Cyprus, highlighting the 1974 conflict and its enduring impact on the country.
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