Greek and Turkish Cypriots have lived estranged for decades. A power-sharing government crumbled soon after independence from Britain in 1960 and the island has been divided since a Greek Cypriot coup was followed by a Turkish invasion of the north in 1974. Four decades on, a United Nations-controlled buffer zone splits Cyprus east to west, with Cyprus's ethnic Greeks living in the south, and its Turks in the north. The buffer zone still contains crumbling relics of times gone by – abandoned houses, businesses, and even an airport.

Cars sit abandoned in a former shopping centre in the United Nations buffer zone in central Nicosia March 12, 2014. The cars were imported from Japan to be sold at a Toyota dealership. They were stored here during the 1974 conflict and have not been moved since. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)

A warning sign is seen on a wall marking the boundary of the United Nations buffer zone in the Turkish Cypriot area of central Nicosia March 13, 2014. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)

A former commercial street is seen in the United Nations buffer zone in central Nicosia March 12, 2014. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)

The passenger departure area is seen at the abandoned Nicosia International Airport near Nicosia March 10, 2014. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)

A Cyprus Airways passenger jet stands in the abandoned Nicosia International Airport near Nicosia March 10, 2014. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)

A street lies abandoned in the United Nations buffer zone in central Nicosia March 12, 2014. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)

A Cyprus Airways passenger jet stands in the abandoned Nicosia International Airport near Nicosia March 10, 2014. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)

A former residential street lies abandoned in the United Nations buffer zone in central Nicosia March 12, 2014. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)

A view shows the abandoned Nicosia International Airport near Nicosia March 10, 2014. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)

A former residential property stands abandoned in the United Nations buffer zone in central Nicosia March 12, 2014. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)

The kitchen of an cafe lies abandoned in the United Nations buffer zone in central Nicosia March 12, 2014. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)

Photographic slides found and collected by soldiers are seen in an abandoned commercial area in the United Nations buffer zone in central Nicosia March 12, 2014. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)

A sign marking the boundary of the United Nations buffer zone stands in the village of Pyla in Cyprus March 11, 2014. Pyla is one of a few villages in the UN buffer zone, and it is home to a mixed community of both Greek and Turkish Cypriots. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)

A Cyprus Airways passenger jet stands in the abandoned Nicosia International Airport near Nicosia March 10, 2014. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)

Advertising billboards are seen at the abandoned Nicosia International Airport near Nicosia March 10, 2014. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)

Old televisions found and collected by soldiers are seen in an abandoned commercial area in the United Nations buffer zone in central Nicosia March 12, 2014. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)