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Nicosia

Adapted from Wikipedia · Adventurer experience

A view of Nicosia's modern skyline in Cyprus, showcasing impressive skyscrapers and architectural landmarks.

Nicosia

Nicosia, also called Lefkosia or Lefkoşa, is the capital of Cyprus. It is the southeasternmost capital city among European Union member states. People have lived in Nicosia for over 5,500 years, and it has been the capital of Cyprus since the 10th century.

Nicosia is special because it is the last divided capital in Europe. After Cyprus gained independence from British rule in 1960, differences between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots caused the city to split into southern and northern parts. A dividing line now runs through the city, called the United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus. This area is watched closely by the United Nations.

Today, Nicosia is important as the legislative and administrative center of Cyprus. It is also the island’s financial capital and main international business center. In recent years, it has been considered one of the richest cities in the world in terms of purchasing power.

Names

The earliest known reference to the settlement that later became Nicosia is from an Assyrian inscription from around 672 BC, where it was called Lidir. Over time, the name changed many times. By the time of the early Christians, it had several Greek names that often included the word for "white" or "poplar." During the Byzantine period, the name Leucosia, meaning "the white estate," became common. This evolved into the modern Greek name Lefkosia and the Turkish name Lefkoşa.

During the medieval Lusignan period, the name Nicosia was adopted, possibly due to a shift in pronunciation. This name is also used in Armenian and Cypriot Arabic. The town was also sometimes called Callinicesis in old stories.

History

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Nicosia.

Prehistoric Nicosia

Main article: Ledra

St. Sophia Cathedral, which was built during rule by the House of Lusignan and later converted into the Selimiye Mosque, exemplifies the Gothic architecture in Nicosia.

Nicosia has been home to people since around 2500 BC, at the start of the Bronze Age. The first settlers lived in the fertile Mesaoria plain.

The city-state of Ledra is linked to the area of Nicosia. Many Mycenaean-era ruins are found on the hill of Ayia Paraskevi, also called Leondari Vounò, 6 km southeast of central Nicosia. Ledra was one of the twelve kingdoms of ancient Cyprus, founded by the Achaeans after the Trojan War.

Ancient Nicosia

By 330 BC, Ledra was a small town with little importance. It depended on the nearby town of Chytri for trade and government. Farming was the main work for its people.

Venetian walls of Nicosia

Medieval Nicosia

After raids damaged Cyprus's capital, Salamis, the island's economy grew more inside the country. Inland towns became more important. Nicosia grew because it was in the middle of the Mesaoria plain and had plenty of water. Because of this, the Byzantine Empire chose Nicosia as the capital around 965.

Richard I of England stopped at Crete and Rhodes on his way to the Holy Land during the Third Crusade. Two ships with his future wife, Joan of England, Queen of Sicily and Berengaria of Navarre, reached Limassol safely.

Frankish rule of Cyprus began in 1192 and lasted until 1489. Nicosia was the capital of the medieval Kingdom of Cyprus. During this time, city walls and many buildings were built, including the gothic Cathedral of Saint Sophia.

Map of Nicosia in Cyprus, created in 1597

In 1489, Cyprus came under the rule of the Republic of Venice. Nicosia became their main city. The Venetians built new walls around Nicosia in 1567 because they feared attacks from the Ottomans.

Ottoman rule

On 1 July 1570, the city came under the rule of the Ottomans. The city was captured after a 40-day siege on 9 September 1570.

Nicosia was the home of the pasha, the Greek archbishop, the dragoman and the qadi.

Famagusta Gate built in 1567

When Turkish people settled in the city, they lived in the north. Greek Cypriots lived in the south, where the Archbishopric of the Orthodox Church was built.

British rule

Nicosia came under British rule on 5 July 1878. This happened because of the Cyprus Convention.

Nicosia International Airport opened in 1947.

Independence and division

In 1960, Nicosia became the capital of the Republic of Cyprus. In 1963, fights broke out between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Nicosia was divided into two parts with the Green Line.

In 1974, there was a change in government led by the Greek military junta. This led to the invasion of the island by the Turkish army on 20 July 1974. The Turkish army took control of the northern part of Nicosia.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
188111,536—    
189112,515+8.5%
190114,481+15.7%
191116,052+10.8%
192111,831−26.3%
193123,324+97.1%
194634,485+47.9%
196045,629+32.3%
Source for 1881–1960.

Geography

Climate

Nicosia has a hot semi-arid climate, which means it has dry summers and mild winters. Because it is in the rain shadow of the Troodos Mountains, the city does not get much rain. Summers can be very hot, while winters are cool with some rain. Occasionally, there is frost at night during winter, and very rarely, snow may fall. The city once recorded its highest temperature ever at 46.2 °C (115.2 °F) in September 2020.

Cityscape

As of 2023, Nicosia is the European capital city with the fewest green spaces. Only three per cent of the city has trees.

Ledra Street is in the middle of the old city. It has always been the busiest shopping street. It connects the north and south parts of the old city and is now a historic monument. To the east of Ledra Street is Faneromeni Square. It was the centre of Nicosia before 1974 and has many historic buildings.

In the northern part of the city, Sarayönü Square is known as "the heart of Nicosia". It is the cultural centre of the Turkish Cypriot community. The Venetian Column, called "the Obelisk" by locals, stands in the middle of the square. The Arasta area near Ledra Street has many historic shopping streets. Büyük Han, built by the Ottomans in 1572, is used as a cultural centre.

Politics and administration

Greater Nicosia is managed by several local areas called municipalities. The main city is Nicosia, and other important areas include Strovolos, Lakatamia, Latsia, Aglandjia, Engomi, Ayios Dhometios, Geri, and Tseri.

Nicosia itself is split into two parts. The southern and eastern parts are managed by Nicosia Municipality, while the northern and north-western parts are managed by the Nicosia Turkish Municipality. This division happened after events in 1974. Other nearby areas like Strovolos and Lakatamia also have their own local governments.

Demographics

Nicosia has many different religious groups. The Armenian Apostolic Church has been there for a long time. The Benedictine Abbey of Our Lady of Tyre is from the 13th century. After an earthquake damaged it, the abbey moved to North Nicosia. A new Armenian church was built in Strovolos and finished in 1981.

The Maronite Catholic community has a cathedral called Our Lady of Grace in Nicosia. The Anglican Church of St. Paul was built in 1893 when Britain ruled the area. The Greek Evangelical Church serves local Protestants. The Selimiye Mosque was once a Catholic cathedral. It became a mosque in 1570 and is an important place for Islam. The city has many other mosques, including the Ömeriye Mosque, which was built where an old church once stood.

Culture

Nicosia has many interesting museums and places to learn about history. The Cyprus Museum is the largest and oldest archaeological museum in Cyprus. In old Nicosia, the Ethnological Museum (Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios Mansion) shows items from Byzantine, Medieval, and Ottoman times. Other museums include the Cyprus Museum of Natural History, the Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia, and the Dervish Pasha Mansion in the north, which also displays historical items.

The city has many places for music and theater, such as the Cyprus National Theater with two performance spaces, the Pallas Cinema-Theater, and several other theaters and halls. Nicosia’s universities also have facilities for cultural events, and many churches and outdoor spaces host performances too.

Cypriot Archeological Museum

Human resources

Nicosia is an important place for learning. It has five universities. These include the University of Nicosia, the European University Cyprus, the Open University of Cyprus, and Frederick University. The city is also home to the oldest still-operating high-school in Cyprus. This school is called the Pancyprian Gymnasium. One of the largest historic Armenian schools, the Melkonian Educational Institute, was established there in 1926.

Economy

Nicosia is the main financial and business center of Cyprus. The city is home to the headquarters of all Cypriot banks, including the former Cyprus Popular Bank, Bank of Cyprus, the Hellenic Bank, and the Central Bank of Cyprus. Many international companies, such as big accounting firms like PWC, Deloitte, KPMG, and Ernst & Young, as well as technology companies like NCR and TSYS, have their regional offices in Nicosia.

The city also has important local financial newspapers such as the Financial Mirror and Stockwatch. The largest mall in Cyprus, Nicosia Mall, is located here. A survey showed that Nicosia was one of the wealthiest cities in the world based on purchasing power.

Transport

Nicosia has several ways to get around. The main public buses are run by Nicosia Public Transport. In the northern part of the city, LETTAŞ provides bus services.

There are no trains in Cyprus right now, but there have been plans for a new railway. In the past, there was a railway that stopped in Nicosia, but it closed down a long time ago.

The city is connected to other places in Cyprus by modern motorways. The A1 motorway goes south to Limassol, the A2 goes southeast to Larnaca, and the A9 goes west. There is also a ring road under construction to go around the city.

Nicosia is close to two international airports: Larnaca International Airport and Paphos International Airport. There is also an airport called Ercan International Airport nearby, but flights to it are limited because of political issues.

You can also take taxis in Nicosia, and there is a bicycle sharing system called Bike in Action that covers the Greater Nicosia area.

Sports

Football is the most popular sport in Cyprus. Nicosia is home to three major teams: APOEL, Omonia, and Olympiakos. The city also has many other football clubs.

Nicosia is also a center for basketball and other sports. It has some of the biggest venues on the island, such as the Neo GSP Stadium and the Eleftheria Indoor Hall. The city has hosted important sports events, including the Games of the Small States of Europe.

Notable people

Nicosia has been home to many important people. Some famous people from Nicosia include Peter I of Cyprus, who was King of Cyprus, and Glafkos Klerides, a former President of Cyprus. Other well-known people are Tassos Papadopoulos, another former President, and Mick Karn, a musician. The city has also produced athletes like Michael Bisping, a mixed martial artist, and Aleksandar Vezenkov, a basketball player.

International relations

Twin towns – sister cities

Nicosia Municipality

Nicosia is twinned with:

Nicosia Urban Area

Main articles: Aglandjia, Ayios Dhometios, Engomi, Lakatamia, and Strovolos

Nicosia Turkish Municipality

North Nicosia is twinned with:

Friendly cities

Nicosia Municipality

Nicosia also cooperates with:

Nicosia Urban Area

Main article: Aglandjia

Foreign embassies and consulates

Nicosia

See also: List of diplomatic missions in Cyprus

Nicosia has many foreign offices. It hosts 42 embassies, 3 high commissions, 12 consulate generals, 44 consulates, 2 vice consulates, and 1 representation office.

North Nicosia

See also: List of diplomatic missions in Northern Cyprus

The de facto unrecognised state of Northern Cyprus hosts a limited diplomatic community in its capital in the de facto northern part of Nicosia. Foreign missions located in North Nicosia are:

Images

A peaceful evening scene in Nicosia, Cyprus, featuring orange trees and a lively market area.
The Church of St. John the Apostle in Nicosia, Cyprus is a beautiful example of religious architecture.
Statue of Liberty Monument in Nicosia, Cyprus
A view of the city of Nicosia in Cyprus, showcasing its urban landscape and architecture.
Map showing the geography and location of Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea.
An old aqueduct in Nicosia, Cyprus, showcasing historical architecture.
A historical view of the city of Nicosia from 1878
A historic view of Nicosia, Cyprus, taken in the early 1900s.

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Nicosia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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