The
capital city of Cyprus, Nicosia (or Lefkosia as it is known to the locals) is the only remaining divided city in Europe.
This is the true business and financial centre of the island, as well as being home to the president and the seat of the national government. Nicosia is made up of three distinctly different areas, Old Town, modern Nicosia, and its sprawling suburbs which carry the greater Nicosia boundaries as far as the Mesaoria valley.
Old Town, with quinessentially narrow streets, is surrounded by a 4.5km wall of the Venetian era. The wall has three gates, one of which, the Porta Guiliana or Famagusta Gate serves as a cultural centre. There is a foot-crossing to the Turkish-controlled northern side near the Ledra Palace Hotel. East of Eleftheria Square, the Laiki Geitonia district is full of narrow winding alleyways with mixtures of restaurants, boutiques, and art galleries side-by-side with traditional Cypriot urban houses. Ledra Street, a pedestrian area full of shops, garden restaurants, ice cream parlours and boutiques now also has a foot-crossing to the northern side. Almost all of the historical sites of interest are located within the old city walls. If you are pressed for time, ensure you visit the Cyprus Museum, St John's Cathedral, and the Archbishop's Palace. St John's Cathedral contains absolutely pristine 18th century frescoes, and the Cyprus Museum contains the largest collection of archeological treasures drawn from the entire island.
Nicosia is surrounded by Venetian era defense walls and bastions and has been the capital city of Cyprus for 1000 years. In the Lusignan period Nicosia was a magnificient city, filled with important churches and the Royal Palace. Today the old city still holds the memories and atmosphere of historical times, with its large number of historical and sacred buildings and varied collection of museums. The Omar Mosque is the largest mosque in the Republic of Cyprus. It was a former Augustinian church which was converted to a mosque in 1571 when the city fell into Turkish control. Its massive stone archways and raised galleries are interesting juxtapositions with its new use.
The Museum of the Liberation Struggle is located within a new building next to the old Archbishop's Palace. It holds an extensive collection of documents, photographs, and weapons and serves to thoroughly document the struggle of the EOKA from 1955 to 1959. The EOKA used guerrila tactics against the British occupiers and the Cypriots who opposed the armed struggle, and also included within the exhibition are records documenting the arrests, interrogations, reprisals and torture suffered by those captured.
The
Folk Art Museum features an extensive collection of 19th and 20th century Cypriot folk art. The exhibits highlight the diverse nature of Cypriot cultural artifacts, with external displays of carriages, olive presses and a water wheel, and indoor displays of costumes, artifacts, textiles and ceramics being featured along with lace and silver jewelry.
The
Archbishop Makarios Cultural Centre has an exceptionally high quality collection of icons and mosaics on display -- nowhere else in Cyprus are the displays as precious or unique. The
Byzantine Museum (or Icon Museum as it is commonly referred to) holds a collection of over 150 exceptional icons spanning the 8th to the 19th centuries. One is able to visually discern as icon style trends changed over the 1000+ year period and witness the gradual refinement in the representations of the various biblical figures depicted.
