Nicosia - attractions

Getting to Cyprus for most tourists begins with its capital Nicosia . If you are not going to spend all your free time on the beach , it makes sense to allocate time and get to know the ancient and modern history of this rather mysterious country. Therefore, let us consider in more detail what to see in Nicosia, a city founded, according to scientists, as early as the 7th century. BC. e.

What should I look for when visiting the city?

Among the sights of Nicosia, a special place is occupied by architectural monuments, they also include certain areas of the city, laid back in the old days. Walking along the streets of the Cypriot capital, pay attention to the following:

  1. Bani Buyuk-Hamam . Their name translates as "Big Turkish Baths". Thinking about what to see in the capital of Cyprus Nicosia, feel free to go there. After all, the baths still function and you will get an incomparable relaxation. This institution was opened in 1571 during the Ottoman rule on the ruins of the Church of St. George. From the last, the entrance arch, adorned with charming patterns, survived. Now in the baths there are "cold" and "hot" offices, as well as a cloakroom. Here you will be offered various types of massage: foam, aromatic, Swedish. The cost of services includes a towel and shampoo, and after the procedures you can have a cup of tea or Turkish coffee for free. There are no separate male and female branches in the baths, different days of the week are assigned for different sexes.
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  • Venetian walls . This is one of the most amazing sights of Nicosia - the capital of Cyprus . This defensive structure began to be built as far back as 1567 during the occupation by the Venetians of this territory. According to the idea of ​​the Italian engineers, the walls had to protect Nicosia from flooding and at the same time help to fill the protective moat on the fortifications. Now the length of the fortifications is about 3 miles, and along the perimeter they are surrounded by 11 bastions, which have the shape of a regular pentagon. There are three gates in the Venetian walls, through which you could previously have entered the city: the gates of Famagusta (Porta Giuliana), the gates of Kyrenia (Porta del Proveditoro) and the gate of Paphos (Porta San Domenico). Fortifications are in the old part of the city. To get to them, take the bus and get off at one of the following stops: the avenue of Archbishop Makarios, Solomos Square, Rigenis, Diagorou, Evagorou and Egiptou Avenue.
  • The Archbishop's Palace . It is located in the old center of the capital of Cyprus on the square of Archbishop Cyprian. This is a beautiful three-story building, built in neo-Byzantine style. It is distinguished by the richness and splendor of the decor, the large windows and the elegance of the stucco molding. In the yard there is a statue of Archbishop Makarios III, whose height is several meters. Unfortunately, the building, considered the center of Orthodoxy on the island, is closed to tourists, but you can stroll through its territory, and also look at the Museum of National Contemporary Art, the Museum of Folk Art and the Archbishopric Library located on the ground floor.
  • Ledra Street . This is one of the most important shopping streets in Nicosia. It is pedestrian, and shops, cafes, restaurants and bars can not be counted here. Fashion boutiques and big souvenir shops are also waiting for tourists here.
  • Old town . Its peculiarity is that in 1564 - 1570 it was surrounded by stone walls, which protected the city from invaders. They are not bad preserved, and crowds of tourists are still flocking to them.
  • Monument of Freedom . He depicts 14 prisoners released from prison, 2 guerrillas liberating them from prison, and the goddess of Freedom, who hovers over them. The monument was erected in 1973 to perpetuate the Greek Cypriot fighters who fought against British colonization. The monument is located near the bastion Podocatoro in the city wall, near the Famagusta gate and the old aqueduct in the Eleftheria square in the Old Town. You can get there by bus 253, which follows from the Makario Stadium stop. It is necessary to leave at the Salaminos Avenue 2 stop. There are buses 148 and 140 from Solomos Square.
  • Quarter Laika Geithonia . This is one of the most ancient areas of Nicosia, where you can get acquainted with the classical Cypriot architecture of the XVIII century. It is famous for its narrow winding streets, where houses, taverns and handicraft shops are huddled. The buildings are mostly built of stone, limestone and wood, and the landscape is animated by orange trees. It is in this quarter that you can become a happy owner of traditional ethnic embroidery, lace, silver, jewelry and products of folk artists. But Laiki Gitonia is a port area, so in the evenings it's noisy. To calmly admire the beautiful views and leisurely stroll, here it is worth to come in the morning.
  • Museums of Nicosia

    If you consider yourself to art connoisseurs, do not miss the chance to join the world of beauty by visiting such famous museums of the Cypriot capital:

    1. Archaeological Museum , located in the heart of Nicosia, near the bastion of Tripoli. It was founded in 1882 and includes 14 exhibition halls, where in the store windows are stored a variety of stone, glass and ceramic products. Among them, jewelry, coins, tools, dishes, statues, figurines and much more, arranged in strict chronological order. The museum also has its own library and laboratory. With it there are book and souvenir shops, a cafe.
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  • Byzantine Museum and Art Gallery . It houses one of the most impressive collections of works of Byzantine art. The museum exposition consists of about 230 icons written during the period from the 11th to the 19th centuries, religious utensils, rizas of Orthodox clergymen, and ancient books. All this is housed in three large halls on the territory of the Archbishop's Palace. The most noteworthy are the connoisseurs of the ancient icon of the XII century, considered the heyday of Byzantine iconography. The pearl of the collection is also a fragment of a mosaic of the 6th century, formerly kept in the church of Panagia Kanakaria . Do not give them the amazing frescoes of the XV century, located in the church of Christ Antiphonitis . The Gallery of Art presents many remarkable paintings by European artists of the 16th-19th centuries with biblical and religious themes.
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  • House of Hadjigeorgaks Kornesios . This building at the turn of the XVIII - XIX centuries belonged to the mediator between the Cypriots and the Turkish authorities, subsequently executed by the Turks. In 1979 the house became the property of the city. It is located very close to the Archbishop's Palace: to his left, if you turn to face the bronze statue of Makarios III. Now it is a museum where many exhibits related to the history of the city are stored - ceramics, furniture, coins, icons, kitchen utensils. In addition, the situation at home has not changed much since its construction, demonstrating the way of life and culture of that period. Particularly impressive is the sofa room.
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