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According to Assyrian sources from the 7th Century BC Nicosia used to be named Ledra. In about 300 BC, the son of the Egyptian king Ptolemy Lefkos, rebuilt the city, and his name is immortalised in the modern local name of Lefkosa (Turkish) or Lefkosia (Greek). Nicosia is the Frankish name of the city, and is thought to have appeared in the late 1100s. The name is mostly used by foreigners. The capital of the island, it is divided into Turkish and Greek sectors by a boundary known as the green Line, which runs in an East-West direction.
Nicosia lies roughly at the center of the island, with a rich history that can be traced back to the Bronze Age. It only became Capital of the island in the 11th century AD. The Lusignan turned it into a magnificent city with a Royal Palace and over fifty churches.
Today it blends its historic past brilliantly with the bustle of a modern city. The heart of the city, enclosed by 16th century Venetian walls, is dotted with museums, ancient churches and medieval buildings preserving the nostalgic atmosphere of years past. Yet this old heart is split in two, leaving Nicosia the only capital city in the world to remain divided by force. The new Nicosia developed outside the walls became a contemporary, business and cultural center. Just a few miles away are enchanting places of interest such as Byzantine churches and monasteries, archaeological sites and charming villages. Without a doubt, Nicosia the 1000-year-old capital of Cyprus should be on every visitor's agenda. It is within easy reach of the other towns and a day in Nicosia will be a day well spent.
The old walled city of Nicosia is unique and definitely the place to head for first. Encircled by strong fortress walls built by the Venetians in the 16th century, the enchanting old city is scattered with buildings and monuments of historical interest as well as little shops, cafés and tavernas. The Nicosia Jewels Museum and the Municipal Arts Center are both well worth a visit. The 'Levention' Municipal Museum, with an imaginative presentation of the capital's history, was awarded the title "1991 European Museum of the Year".
To walk through the old city is to step back in time. Narrow streets and old houses with ornate balconies jut from weather beaten sandstone walls. Smells of jasmine flowers in those long summer evenings, and craftsmen in small workshops practice trades unchanged for centuries.
'Laiki Yitonia' - Folk Neighborhood - is a pedestrian section, which has been carefully renovated to evoke the atmosphere of past days. The two main streets of old Nicosia, Ledra and Onasagorou, are lined with shops of every type, and both streets are pedestrian - only.
Not to be missed is the unique Cyprus Museum, housing the island's most important collection of Cypriot antiquities and treasures from the Neolithic Age to the Roman Period. In contrast to these ancient finds is the State Collection of Contemporary Art, and on the other side of town, just off the main Limassol road, is the Cyprus Handicraft Center.
Another award winner is the city's renovated 'Pyli Ammochostou' - Famagusta Gate - one of the original entrances to the old city, which won the Europa Nostra award for its restoration.
Many old churches are to be found in this part of town, and other places of interest are the Folk Art and Byzantine museums.
Cyprus Museum
Priceless and fascinating collections of Cypriot antiquities and treasures from Neolithic Age to Early Byzantine period.
Address: Mouseiou 1
Tel: 00357-22865864
Opening hours: Monday-Saturday 09:00 - 17:00; Sunday 10:00 - 13:00
Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia
The historical museum of Lefkosia revives life in the capital from ancient times to the present day.
Address: Ippokratus 17, near Laiki Geitonia,
Tel.: 00357-22661475
Opening hours: Tuesday - Sunday 10:00 - 16:30
Byzantine Museum and Art Galleries
The largest collection of icons on the island, covering the period from 9th to 18th century AD. The Art Galleries contain oil paintings, maps and lithographs.
Address: Archbishop Makarios III Foundation Cultural Center within the Archbishopric, Plateia Arch. Kiprianou.
Tel.: 00357-22430008
Opening hours: Monday - Friday09:00 - 16:30; Saturday 09:00 - 13:00
Ethnographic Museum of Cyprus (Former: Cyprus Folk Art Museum)
Founded by the society of Cypriote Studies the museum houses wide collection of Cypriot folk art of 19th and early 20th century, including wood-carved objects, tapestry, embroidery, pottery, national costumes and hand-woven materials.
Address: Plateia Arch. Kyprianou.
Tel.: 00357-22432578
Opening hours: Monday - Friday 09:00 - 17:00; Saturday 10:00 - 13:00
National Struggle Museum
Documents, photos and other memorabilia of the 1955 - 1959 National Liberation Struggle.
Address: Near Archbishopric, Plateia Arch. Kyprianou.
Tel.: 00357-22304550
Opening hours: Monday-Friday 08:00 - 14:00; 15:00 - 17:00
Cyprus Postal Museum
Collection of Cyprus stamps from 1800 onwards. These stamps, classified internationally amongst the bests, are of significant value in world philately
Address: Agiou Savva St. 3B
Tel: 00357-22304711
Opening hours: Monday - Friday 10:00 - 17:00; Saturday 10:00 - 14:00
Cyprus Jewelers' Museum
A display of traditional treasury from the end of 19th century including ornaments, religious items, silver utensils and old tools.
Address: Praxippou 7-9 Lefkosia
Tel.: 00357-22667278
Opening hours: Monday - Friday 10:00 - 16:30
Museum of the History of Cypriote Coinage
Permanent exhibition presenting the development of coinage of Cyprus from 6th century BC to the present day.
Address: Stasinou 51. Agia Paraskevi, Bank of Cyprus Headquarters
Tel.: 00357-22677135
Opening hours: Monday 09:00 - 13:00; 15:30 - 18:00 (No afternoon in July and August); Tuesday - Friday 09:00 - 13:00
Natural History Museum-Aglantzia
Tel.: 00357-22333141; Opening hours: 09:00 - 13:00
Pancyprian Geographical Museum
Tel.: 00357-22427929
Outdoor Museum of Folk Art
Tel.: 00357-22488485
Fikardou-Rural Museum
(Houses of Katsinioros and Achilleas Dimitri )
Opening hours:
Winter: Tuesday - Friday 09:00 - 16:00; Saturday 09:00 - 15:30; Sunday 10:30 - 14:00
Summer: Tuesday - Saturday 10:00 - 17:00; Sunday 10:30 - 14:00
Byzantine Heritage Museum Palaichori
Opening hours:
April-September: Monday & Friday 10:00 - 13:00, 17:00 - 19:00; Sunday 10:00 - 12:00, 17:00 - 19:00
October - March: Sunday 10:00 - 12:00, 17:00 - 19:00
Pedoulas Byzantine Museum
Opening hours:
Summer: Daily 10:00 - 18:00
Winter: Daily 10:00 - 16:00
Cathedral of St Sophia (Selimiye Mosque)
Built by the lusignan's between 1208 and 1326, the cathedral is accepted as the most important example of gothic architecture in Cyprus. In 1570 after the Ottoman conquest a minaret was added which transformed the cathedral into Hagia Sophia mosque which was renamed in 1954 to Selimiye mosque.
The Gamblers Inn
The gamblers inn was built towards the end of the 17th century, it is believed that the inn with 44 rooms around it’s inner courtyard was built over the ruins of a monastery.
Armenian Church
The church was built in the 8th century and was probably used by refugees from Jerusalem.
Kyrenia Gate
The Kyrenia Gate is the arched northern entrance to Nicosia through the walled boundaries that surround the old city, it was built by the Venetians in 1567, previously the gate was named “porto del proveditore” after the Venetian engineer Proveditore Francesco. Inscriptions on the walls from the Venetian and Ottoman times can be seen by visitors today.
The Great inn
The first Ottoman governor of Cyprus Muzaffer Pasha ordered the construction of the Great Inn in 1572. Many of the features of the inn resemble inns of this period in the Anatolia region. The inn has a beautiful courtyard surrounded by 68 rooms and 10 shops and was opened to the public in 2002.
The Dervish Pasha Mansion
The Dervish Pasha mansion has recently been transformed into a museum of ethnography. Dervish Pasha was the publisher of the first Turkish newspaper (Zaman) in Cyprus.
Address:Belig Pasha Street, Nicosia
Open Monday - Friday 09:00 - 13:00, 14:00 - 17:00; Saturday 09:00 - 13:00
Venetian Column
This 20 foot column is well traveled. It was moved to Ataturk square from the ruins of Salamis as a tribute to the Venetian rule over Cyprus. Some time later it was sent back to Salamis by the Ottomans, and then returned to the square while Cyprus was under British rule.
The Eaved House
This is a beautifully restored house and was built during the British rule of the island, one of the rooms houses medieval gravestones and other statues, the house is also used by local and international visiting artists to hold exhibitions of their work.
Mevlevi Tekke Museum
A large complex built in the 17th century that has diminished in time, the remains of the building are now used as a museum where collected and protected Turkish art is displayed and preserved.
Arab Ahmet Mosque
The Arab Ahmet Mosque is in the restored historical Arab Ahmet neighborhood of Nicosia the mosque was built in 1845 and replaced a Lusignan church that once stood in the area.
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