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Nicosia

Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience

A peaceful evening scene in Nicosia, Cyprus, featuring orange trees and a lively market area.

Nicosia, also known as Lefkosia or Lefkoşa, is the capital of Cyprus. It is the southeasternmost capital city among European Union member states. Nicosia has been continuously inhabited for over 5,500 years and 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, conflicts between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots led to the city splitting into southern and northern parts. In 1964, the two communities separated, and later, Turkey invaded Cyprus. A dividing line now runs through the city, known as the United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus, which is controlled by Cyprus and closely watched by the United Nations.

Today, Nicosia serves as the legislative and administrative center of Cyprus and is also the island’s financial capital and main international business center. In 2018, it was considered one of the richest cities in the world in terms of purchasing power, and in 2022, it was ranked as a “Beta −” city on the Globalisation and World Cities list.

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 was known by 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 from N to L. This name is also used in Armenian and Cypriot Arabic. The town was also sometimes called Callinicesis in old stories about Saints Tryphillius and Spyridon.

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 continuously inhabited since approximately 2500 BC, near the start of the Bronze Age, when the first settlers established themselves in the fertile Mesaoria plain.

The city-state of Ledra is associated with the area of Nicosia, most Mycenaean-era ruins are found on the broad hill of Ayia Paraskevi, also known as Leondari Vounò located 6 km (3.7 mi) southeast of central Nicosia. Ledra is said to have been one of the twelve kingdoms of ancient Cyprus established by the Achaeans after the end of the Trojan War.

Ancient Nicosia

By 330 BC, Ledra was a small town of little significance. The settlement was thought to be economically and politically dependent on the nearby town of Chytri. Farming was the principal occupation of its inhabitants.

Venetian walls of Nicosia

Medieval Nicosia

Following the destruction of Cyprus's capital, Salamis, during Arab raids in 647, and damage to other coastal settlements, the island's economy became more internalised, and inland towns gained in significance. Nicosia benefited from this shift, functioning as an outlet for agricultural products from its hinterland, the Mesaoria plain. It was further advantaged by its ample water supply. Consequently, the town developed sufficiently for the Byzantine Empire to select Nicosia as the capital of the island around 965.

On his way to the Holy Land during the Third Crusade in 1187, Richard I of England's fleet was plagued by storms, making him stop first at Crete and then at Rhodes. Three ships continued on, one of which was carrying Joan of England, Queen of Sicily and Berengaria of Navarre, Richard's bride-to-be. Two of the ships were wrecked off Cyprus, but the ship bearing Joan and Berengaria made it safely to Limassol.

Frankish rule of Cyprus started from 1192 and lasted until 1489. During this time, Nicosia was the capital of the medieval Kingdom of Cyprus, the seat of Lusignan kings, the Latin Church and the Frankish administration of the island. During Frankish rule, the walls of the city were built along with many other palaces and buildings including the gothic Cathedral of Saint Sophia.

Map of Nicosia in Cyprus, created in 1597

In 1489, when Cyprus came under the rule of the Republic of Venice, Nicosia became their administrative centre and the seat of the republic. The Venetian governors saw it as a necessity for all the cities of Cyprus to be fortified due to the Ottoman threat. In 1567 Venetians built new fortifications in Nicosia.

Ottoman rule

On 1 July 1570, the city came under the rule of the Ottomans. On 22 July, Piali Pasha, having captured Paphos, Limassol and Larnaca, marched his army towards Nicosia and laid siege to the city. The city lasted 40 days under siege until its fall on 9 September 1570.

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

Famagusta Gate built in 1567

When the newly settled Turkish population arrived, they generally lived in the north of the old riverbed. Greek Cypriots remained concentrated in the south, where the Archbishopric of the Orthodox Church was built.

British rule

Nicosia came under British rule on 5 July 1878, in consequence of the Cyprus Convention, in exchange for the British supporting the Ottoman Empire at the Congress of Berlin.

Nicosia International Airport was opened in 1947.

Independence and division

In 1960, Nicosia became the capital of the Republic of Cyprus, a state established by the Greek and Turkish Cypriots. In 1963, the Greek Cypriot side proposed amendments to the constitution, which were rejected by the Turkish Cypriot community. During the aftermath of this crisis, on 21 December 1963, intercommunal violence broke out between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Nicosia was divided into Greek and Turkish Cypriot quarters with the Green Line, named after the colour of the pen used by the United Nations officer to draw the line on a map of the city.

On 15 July 1974, there was a coup d'état led by the Greek military junta to unite the island with Greece. The coup precipitated the invasion of the island by the Turkish army, on 20 July 1974. The operation included two phases. The second phase of the Turkish invasion was performed on 14 August 1974, where the Turkish army advanced their positions, eventually capturing 37% of Cypriot territory including 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, with only three per cent of the city covered by trees.

Ledra Street is in the middle of the walled city and has historically been the busiest shopping street of the capital. 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, which was the centre of Nicosia before 1974 and hosts many historical buildings and monuments.

In the northern part of the city, Sarayönü Square is known as "the heart of Nicosia" and has been 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 is a network of historic shopping streets, and Büyük Han, built by the Ottomans in 1572, functions 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 a rich variety of religious communities. The Armenian Apostolic Church has a historic presence, with the Benedictine Abbey of Our Lady of Tyre dating back to the 13th century. After damage from an earthquake, it was repaired and later moved to North Nicosia. A new Armenian church was built in Strovolos and completed in 1981.

The Maronite Catholic community has its cathedral, Our Lady of Grace, in Nicosia. The Anglican Church of St. Paul was built in 1893 during British rule, and the Greek Evangelical Church serves local Protestants. The Selimiye Mosque, originally a Catholic cathedral, was converted into a mosque in 1570 and remains an important Islamic site. The city also has many other mosques, including the Ömeriye Mosque, which was built on the site of an old church after the Ottoman conquest.

Culture

Cypriot Archeological Museum

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.

Human resources

Nicosia is an important place for learning, with five universities including 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, called the Pancyprian Gymnasium. One of the largest historic Armenian schools, the Melkonian Educational Institute, was established there in 1926.

Economy

Nicosia is the 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. In 2011, 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, and Nicosia is home to three major teams: APOEL, Omonia, and Olympiakos. The city also has many other football clubs, including several Turkish Cypriot teams and an Armenian club.

Nicosia is also a center for basketball, handball, and other sports. It has some of the biggest venues on the island, such as the Neo GSP Stadium, which can hold 23,400 people, and the Eleftheria Indoor Hall, the largest basketball stadium in Cyprus. The city has hosted important sports events, including the Games of the Small States of Europe in 1989 and 2009.

Notable people

Nicosia has been home to many important figures throughout history. Notable individuals include Peter I of Cyprus, who was King of Cyprus, and Glafkos Klerides, a former President of Cyprus. Other well-known people from Nicosia 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

At present, Nicosia hosts 42 embassies and 3 high commissions (in bold), 12 consulate generals, 44 consulates and 2 vice consulates (in italics), 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

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 historical image showing the British flag being raised during a ceremony in Nicosia, Cyprus, in 1878.
A historic view of Nicosia, Cyprus, taken in the early 1900s.

Related articles

Cyprus
Turkish invasion of Cyprus
United Nations
European Union member states
London and Zürich Agreements
Greek Cypriots

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

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