* The Old City and its Walls. * Town Hall. * Famagusta Gate. * The House of Hadjigeorghakis Kornesios. * The Handicraft Center. * The Municipal Theater. * Municipal Gardens. * Laiki Yitonia (Folk Neighbourhood).
* The Nicosia Municipal Arts Center. * The Leventis Municipal Museum. * The Cyprus Museum. * The European Art Gallery. * The Greek Independence War Gallery. * The Byzantine Art Museum. * Cyprus Jewellers Museum. * The State Collection of Contemporary Art.
* Chrysaliniotissa Church. * St. Kassianos Church. * Tripiotis Church.
The Old City of Nicosia (Lefkosia) is surrounded by a complete circular wall with eleven heartshaped symmetric bastions and three gates, all well preserving their original shape. They were built by the Venetians between 1567 and 1570 to fortify the city against a threatened Turkish invasion. During the construction a great part of the city, which was left outside the three mile periphery of the walls, was pulled down by the Venetians and destroyed.
The Old City is fascinating, with narrow streets, carved balconies, inner yards with date trees, churches, mosques and Byzantine arches.
You can walk around for shopping and dining.
Then called "Porta Guliana" in honour of the architect of the whole city-wall
project, it was the strongest and most elaborate, but also the lowest of the
three gates. The outstanding and impressing feature of this building with its
gateway and its arched passage can still be visited. The entire gate was
restored by the Municpality of Nicosia to its former glory and started being used
as a cultural center. This effort was rewarded on April 14, 1984, when the
Municipality was awarded the prestigious "Europa Nostra" medal by the
International Federation of Associations for the Protection of European
Culture and Natural Heritage. The Center hosts
exhibitions, discussions, music and dance performances as well as
other cultural events.
Working hours : Monday-Friday: 10.00 am - 1.00 pm Saturday : 4.00 pm - 7.00 pmFor more information on Famagusta Gate, please click here.
The House of Hadjigeorghakis Kornesios.
Patriarch Gregoriou Str.
A most imposing example of traditional 18th century domestic architecture which has survived in Nicosia. This was the residence of Hadjigeorghakis, the Dragoman to the Port.
Open: Monday-Saturday 8.00 am - 1.00 pm
The Cyprus Handicraft Center on Athalassa Avenue offers items of all kinds of traditional handicraft. A visit to the center is an excellent opportunity not only to buy Cypriot handicrafts, but also to watch the traditional art skills and techniques of the artisans at work.
Museum Str., opposite the Cyprus Museum, Tel. (357)(2)-463028.A spacious theater in neoclassical style. It seats 1200 persons and has a continuous programme of events throughout the year.
Laiki Yitonia (Folk Neighbourhood).
"Laiki Yitonia" is part of the heart and soul of the walled City. It covers an area of about 2000 sq. meters and forms a world of its own, away from the hustle and bustle of modern life and yet only 100 yards from the capital's main square (Eleftheria Sq.). Laiki Yitonia is the excellent result of the Municipality's initiative to revive the fascination of the Old City.
Most of the buildings have been restored and new ones were also erected. The reconstruction followed very closely the typical elements of traditional Cypriot folk architecture which were preserved through the centuries. It constitutes a pole of attraction for both locals and foreigners to entertain themselves and do their shopping in the narrow and picturesque streets of the neighbourhood.
For more information on Laiki Yitonia, please click here.
The Nicosia Municipal Arts Center.
Associated with the Pierides Museum of Contemporary Art.
19 Apostolou Varnava Street, Tel. (357)(2)-432577.
The Old Electricity Generating Plant has now been transformed into Cyprus' most avantgarde center for contemporary art. It hosts prestigious exhibitions from home and abroad.
There is an Art Library, a Restaurant, a Coffee shop and a gift shop selling books, posters, replicas, souvenirs, crafts, artwork and other gifts.
Opening Hours:
Tuesday-Saturday: 10.00 am - 3.00 pm
5.00 pm - 11.00 pm
Sunday : 10.00 am - 4.00 pm
For more information on The Nicosia Municipal Arts Center, please click here.
The Leventis Municipal Museum.
European Museum of the Year Award, 1991
Hyppocratous Street in Laiki Yitonia, next to Eleftheria Square. Tel. (357)(2)-451475.
The city's historical museum with exhibits dating from before 2000 BC up to the present day.
Periodical exhibitions are taking place in the Museum. There is a gift shop in the Museum selling books, replicas and other interesting gifts.
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday: 10.00 am - 4.30 pm
For more information on The Leventis Municipal Museum, please click here.
The Cyprus Museum.
Museum Street. Tel. (357)(2)-302189
Treasures of art from the Neolithic Period (5800 BC) to the early Byzantine Period (330-1192AD). Also Cypriot pottery, terracotta, clay and stone sculptures, bronze and jewellery.
Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday: 9.00 am - 5.00 pm Sunday : 10.00 am - 1.00 pm
Presents 120 oil paintings of various European Schools of Art of the 16th to the 19th century, with mainly religious themes. The paintings represent works by Van Dyck, Rubens, Tinoretto, Lorrain, Delacroix and others.
Opening Hours:
Monday-Friday: 9.00 am - 1.00 pm
2.00 pm - 5.00 pm
Saturday : 9.00 am - 1.00 pm
Contains maps, copper engravings and paintings featuring persons and events from the Greek War of Independence (1821), as well as paintings by Greek artists and other paintings with subjects derived from Greek mythology.
Presents the largest collection of icons on Cyprus with 220 pieces covering several periods
from the 5th to the 19th century. The masterpieces include the icons of "Christ and the
Virgin Mary" (12th century) from the Church of Virgin Mary of Aracas at Laghoudera, and
"The Ressurrection" (13th century) from the Church of St. John Lambadistis Monastery at
Kalopanayiotis. There are also six pieces of Kanakaria Mosaics.
Cyprus Jewellers Museum.
7-9 Praxippou Street, Laiki Yitonia
A display of the jewellery tradition from the end of 19th-20th century. The exhibits include ornaments, religious items, silver utensils and old tools.
Opening Hours: Monday-Friday: 10.00 am - 4.30 pm
The State Collection of Contemporary Art.
Corner Stassinos Ave. and Crete Street.
The collection houses 124 paintings and sculptures by 73 Cypriot artists covering the period 1930-1989.
Opening Hours: Monday-Friday: 10.00 am - 5.00 pm Saturday : 10.00 am - 1.00 pm
Dedicated to Virgin Mary named after the icon of Virgin Mary which is covered with gold , also called Our Lady of the Golden Flax. It is believed to be the oldest Byzantine church in Nicosia and was built in 1450 by Queen Helena Palaeologos. It is reputed for its rich collection of old and rare icons.
The precious relic is a silver helmet believed to have been used by St. Kassianos. Also holds a gilt covered gospel of St. John the Divine, in Greek, printed in Venice in 1781.
Founded in 1695 and dedicated to Archangel Michael, it has an impressive interior with silver and gold covered panels separating the High Altar from the body of the church.
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