The capital of
Cyprus since the 12th century, Nicosia stands in
the heart of the Mesaoria Plain. It is currently
divided by the ‘Green Line’, a United
Nations buffer zone that separates the Turkish-occupied
north of the island and the Government-controlled
south.
The Old City, which is currently being renovated
in part, is defined by 16th-century walls built by the Venetians.
The attractions and points of interest are the Cyprus Museum,
a storehouse of the island’s archaeological treasures, the
Folk Art Museum, the new Archbishop’s
Palace, St John’s Cathedral, Byzantine
churches, the Byzantine Museum/Makarios Cultural
Centre and the Ömeriye Mosque. The
city hosts the annual International State Fair
(end of May) and the Nicosia Arts Festival (in
June).
Excursions
The Nicosia area has some interesting excursion possibilities, including:
 The Royal Tombs and Agios Irakleidios Monastery
at Tamassos
The 5-dome church and the mosque
in Peristerona
The Panagia Chrysospiliotissa
Church, in a cliff-side cave near Deftera.
Further into the rugged Pitsylia Region, in the hills southwest
of Nicosia, is Machairas Monastery, close to the
restored and protected traditional villages of Fikardou,
Gourri andLazanias. |
