Things To Do in Nicosia

by Profsmiley
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Lusignan House

The mansion from the 15th century has survived to this day and attracts attention by its Gothic arch entrance door with its Lusignan era coat-of-arms as well as the Ottoman era addition of a "kosk" and decorated wooden ceilings.

The mansion which has a typical inner courtyard characteristic was built from cut stone and is 2-storied with a roof but the added-on "kosk" (kiosk style) was constructed from lath and plaster.

The mansion, which was emptied by the local authorities in the 1980's, had, until then, been partitioned and left for the use of refugees. After the Antiquities and Museums Department's two years arduous restoration work, in December 1997, the mansion has been used for the revival of the local weaving craft and for the use of social activities.

In the mansion, which has been furnished with authentic furniture of the Lusignan and Ottoman periods, there is also a room for giving service to the visitors.

Address: Turn right on Kirlizade Sokak.

Directions: Passing by Haydarpasa Mosque, the Lusignan House is located in the corner when you take a right on Kirlizade Sokak. Old City, North Nicosia.

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	Crossing the Green Line Tip Rating:

Updated By easyoar

on December 20, 2004

Turkish Cypriot Checkpoint

Although I have been to the North of Cyprus on quite a few occasions, I have never stayed a night there. Until very recently, not staying overnight had been a condition for crossing the Green Line.

The process was:

(1) - Check on at the Greek side who would check your passport

(2) - Walk past the Greek checkpoint, UN checkpoint and get to the Turkish checkpoint.

(3) - Buy a nominally priced visa using Greek Cypriot pounds making sure you didn't get your passport stamped as you may not be allowed back into the South otherwise. This was on the assumption your passport was not Greek!

(4) - Make sure you returned to the South by late afternoon with no shopping and no extra stamps on your passport.

These days things are a little more relaxed (as of about a year ago), and it is now possible to stay the night.

This photo shows the Turkish checkpoint at Ledra Palace as you arrive in the North.

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	The Liberation Monument Tip Rating:

on December 19, 2004

The Liberation Monument

Apparently this monument is no longer mentioned in the official tourist guides of the southerly part of Nicosia. It is considered a controversial monument even amongst the Greeks in the South.

The monument symbolises Greek Cypriots being released from prison by two armed soldiers.

This monument is located in a very quiet part of the city, on top of one of the walls bastions. It is not uncommon to see tourists standing in amongst the statues having their picture taken with the monument.

Directions: On top of the nearest Bastion to the Archbishops Palace

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	The Archbishops Palace Tip Rating:

on December 18, 2004

The Archbishops Palace and
Archbishop Makarios

The present day Archbishops Palace is a fairly modern building. The previous building on this site was blown up in July 1974, when an attempt was made to kill the then president of Cyprus, the Greek-Cypriot Archbishop Makarios.

The huge statue out the front of the building is the aforementioned ex-President Archbishop Makarios. The statue itself seems to be controversial even with the Greek Cypriots today, and I have known several who want to remove it.

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	The Eaved House (Sacakli Ev) Tip Rating:

By Profsmiley

on February 13, 2005

by Profsmiley
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The Eaved House

A building with special features, the Eaved House is situated near the Selimiye Mosque. It has been named the Eaved House after the wide eaves, supported by inclined pillars, of the main reception hall projecting into the street.

The L-shaped two-storey building encloses a square inner courtyard. The house which was developed during the Ottoman period by making use of its Middle Age remnants, bears the typical features of Ottoman residential architecture as far as planning, construction techniques and building materials are concerned.

The Eaved House has been renovated to serve as Cultural and Arts centre where persons and institutions involved with the culture and art can display artwork, organize meetings, conferences, and other similar activities.

Address: Kütüphane Street, Selimiye District.

Directions: Old city, North Nicosia.

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	The Venetian Column at Ataturk Meydani Tip Rating:

on December 18, 2004

The Venetian Column at Ataturk
Meydani

Ataturk Meydani is considered to be the central point of Turkish Nicosia. Anyone reading my earlier tips should have no problem guessing whose face adorns the building in the picture! Yes it's Kemal Ataturk again.

In the middle of the rounabout is the Venetian Column. This column is made out of grey marble. The Venetians brought it from Salamis (another part of Cyprus with many columns and ancient carvings) and erected it in 1489. They placed their symbol on top of it - The Lion of Saint Mark. The Ottomans then knocked the column over in 1570 and removed the Lion. The column then stayed down until 1915, when the British (who were governing Cyprus at the time) re-erected it and placed a globe on top (that apparently was a non-controversial topping to all relevant parties!)

Address: At the end of Sarayonu Sok

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	Signs of conflict Tip Rating:

Updated By easyoar

on December 27, 2004

Bullet ridden street sign -
destinations removed

However friendly people seem, it is highly advisable to steer away from politics in Cyprus. People have lost homes (or even relatives) in fighting that has gone on in the island during its recent turbulent past. You can therefore evoke some very strong reactions if you say the wrong thing.

Enlarge this photo, you will see that the sign is riddled with bullet holes. You will also see that due to the partitioning of the island, that the sign has had several of its destinations painted out (from memory these were Kyrenia and Famagusta) as it was not possible to access these destinations from the South when the picture was taken.

This is certainly not the only sign of conflict you will see. Look carefully and you will see bullet marks on the sides of buildings in several places. This picture was taken near the Green Line on the road to Ledra Palace.

Address: Near the Green Line on the road to Ledra Palace.

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	The Presidential Palace in the South Tip Rating:

on December 18, 2004

The Presidential Palace in the
South

It is possible that even seasoned visitors to the South of Nicosia may say what is that picture of and where can it be found?

This is a picture of the Presidential Palace in Nicosia (kind of inbetween Strovolos and Central Nicosia). It is most definitely not open to visitors, and is quite well hidden behind trees and a fence.

The only reason I have seen it is a Cypriot friend of mine lived in an appartment right next door, and if you took the lift up to the roof, you had a good view in to the Palace (as seen here). This is not a bad way of seeing some bits of Nicosia, if you can go to a hotel or tall building and go up to the roof, you can see a lot more than you might otherwise!

Address: Between Strovolos and the City Centre

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	Ayios Ioannis Tip Rating:

Updated By easyoar

on December 18, 2004

Ayios Ioannis, Nicosia

Ayios Ioannis (meaning Saint John's) is the official cathedral of Nicosia. It is actually quite small, and is certainly not the largest church in Nicosia, but I suppose it is the official cathedral for traditional reasons. It was built in the 17th century.

If you go inside you will be able to see a double headed eagle (Byzantine design) depicted on the floor. When a new archbishop is consecrated, he stands on this eagle for the ceremony.

This church is also famous for the wall paintings it has inside (frescoes). There are a lot, although they aren't always that good it has to be said!

Address: Near the Archbishops Palace

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	The Green Line from the South Tip Rating:

on December 18, 2004

The Green Line in the Greek
South

Since Cyprus became a divided country in 1974, Nicosia also became a divided city. The UN inhabit a buffer zone inbetween the Greek South and the Turkish North.

From the Greek side, if you go to Eleftheria Square and walk down the now pedestrianised Ledra Street (a.k.a. the Murder Mile in the 1950's on account of the number of British soldiers shot there) until you can go no further, you will reach this bit of the Green Wall. This is the most decorated bit I have seen - in many places it is just a ramshackle old wall with no sentries at all. Here however you will normally find a sentry with a rifle, a mini museum about the conflict and rifle slits that you can look through towards the North side.

Flags of Cyprus and Greece fly side by side and maps of Cyprus can be seen showing present day boundaries.