Nicosia Lefkosia

It is a city that has been loved passionately by the poets over the centuries. The reasons are manifold.

Perhaps it is the rich sense of history and tradition that flovor's freely through every door and around every street corner. Perhaps it is the way that the kaleidoscopic elements of cuttures and nations past have fused together in perfect harmony and culminate the architecture of Its buildings and the faces of Its people.

CyprusToday

Lefkosia is a fascinating journey through the ages, with state-of-the-art buildings just footsteps away from streets and neighbourhoods redolent with the gravItas of the past. Given capital city status since the early 11th century, it remains the last divided capital of Europe, giving a particular strength, stoIcIsm and dignity to Its character.

Makarios Avenue lies at the crossroads of the city'S past and present, with a wide range of Shops that are continuously developing terms of variety, prestige and location. Fashionable cafes and InternatIonal-standard restaurants blend seamlessly to make the Avenue one of the most exciting the cIty and the place to see and be seen.

Stasikratous Street runs parallel to Makarios Avenue. Nicosia's answer to Bond Street and Rue Rivoli, it showcases rows of eχclusive boutiques and shops that are home to the latest fashions and cater to even the most discerning shopper.

Lefkosia - Nicosia, a city of powerful contrasts, is more than a capItal; it is a journey through the centuries.

Stops along the way some of what one can see. taste and do in Nicosia, Lefkosia

Cyprus Museum

Mouseiou 1, (22865854). Tue, wed, Fri: 8am . 4pm, Thur: 8am . 5pm, Sat: 9am ·4pm, Sun 10am . 1pm

The museum houses the best collection of archaeological finds ίπ Cyprus from the Neolithic {9th Millennium B.C.I to the Byzantine periods. Highlights include an eχemplarγ collection of terracotta figures eχcavated ίπ 1929 at Agia IΓίπί, three limestone lions and two sphinχes from Tamassos necropolis as well as the famous Aphrodite of Soli, which has become the symbol of Cyprus.

Rent Villas in Paphos

Laiki Geitonia

Laiki Geitonia is a restored pedestrian area of the old Town, within the walled city. Its narrow, winding cobbled streets carefully restored offer to tourists a wide range of shops, restaurants and galleries. Carefully restored houses are typical eχamples of Lefkosia's traditional urban architecture.

Panagia Chrγsaliniotissa Church

Located near the Famagusta Gate, it is believed to be the oldest Byzantine church of Lefkosia built 1463 by the Greek origin Lusignan Queen Eleni Paleologina. Α network of lanes and alleyways which makes υρ a miχed neighbourhood of artIsan and artIsts' workshops, the Crysaliniotissa Multicraft Centre, traditional and restored housing is sItuated near the church

Famagusta Gate

The Famagusta Gate, part of the fortified medieval town walls of Lefkosia, is a historic relic bequeathed to us by the island's turbulent past and is one of the entrances Into the old city of Lefkosia and market place. Restored to Its former glorγ, the Gate with it's' two halls and the passageway, has become Lefkosia's Cultural Center. The Gate continues to host a range of cultural actIvItIes either eχpressions of Cypriot culture and tradition, ΟΓ foreign.

Makarios 111 Cultural Centre

Within the Archbishopric, Archbishop Kyprianou square {224300081 Open. Fri: 9am·4.30pm, Sat: 9am . 1pm The complex consists of three main eχhibit areas. Βγ far the most Interesting, the Byzantine Art Museum hosts the largest collection of Icons οπ the island {8th to 18th century. The European Art gallerγ, οn the first floor of the same building, displays European paintings {mostlγ religious themes of the 17th Spanish, Dutch and Flemish schools and French pictures of the 17th and 19th centuries. The Greek Independence Gallery οπ the second floor features maps, copper engravings and paintings of personalities and events from the Greek War of Independence.

The Mansion of Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios

Patriarchou Grigoriou 20, OIdTown {223053161 Open Tue, Wed, Fri: 8.30am· 3.30pm, Thur: 8.30am . 5pm. Sat: 9.30am • 3.30pm, Sun & Μοη: CΙosed This is a fine eχample of an 18th centurγ manslon which was the official residence of Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios, the Grand Dragoman of Cyprus {Interpreter of the Sultan's Councill. The compIeχ consIsts of Hadjigeorgakis' living quarters and offices, and includes a splendid reception room with ornately carved and gilded ceiling, where the archbishop and prelates of the Orthodoχ Church and foreign consuls would meet the dragoman.

LeventIs Nlunicipal Museum

Ippocratous 17, Laiki GeItonia {226614751 Open Tue . Sun: 10am . 4.30pm. The first historIcal museum of Cyprus, located ίπ an impressive 19th centurγ merchant's town house, documents Lefkosia's 6000 year history through a series of permanent eχhibitions, arranged ίπ chronological order. The collection of archaeological artefacts, costumes, photographs, medieval potterγ, maps engravings, jewels and furnIture tells a story of multiple occupations and independence, as well as revealing layers of social, cultural and political histories.

Α series of historic churches also decorates Lefkosia, each with Its Own singular character and past exuding powerfully from every stone, arch and corner, each temple an opening Into past times.

Fanerorneni Church

Built 1872 οπ the sIte of an ancIent Greek Orthodoχ nunnerγ, it is the largest church within the city waIIs. East of the church, a marble mausoleum is located which was built ίπ memory of the mantyrs eχecuted by the Ottomans 1821

Agios Kassianos Church

Α church that houses relics such as an ancIent silver helmet believed to have been used by Agios Kassianos and a gilt Greek gospel of Agios loannis 1st Johnl printed ίπ Venice ίπ 1781 Trypiotis Church Built by Archbishop Germanos 11 1695, it is an eχample of Franco·Byzantine style architecture. The InterIor of the church is rich, with an unusually wide lcon·stand and silver ·plated icons.

Get to know the capitaI by waIking

Υου can get a better feel of the 6000 year-Iong history, sense the atmosphere of the then and now and understand the continual cultural development. These guided tours are offered free of charge by the Municipality of Lefkosia. For itIformation: CTO Information Office, Aristol<γprou 11, Laikl Geitonia, teI: 22674264

Chrγsaliniotlssa and Kaimakli: The past restored {the tour is conducted οπ a wooden busl ,Within the walIs ,Outside the walls