Of the many interesting cities in Cyprus, Nicosia deserves special attention of tourists. The sights of this city are very diverse. There are many ancient monuments here. Nicosia is the capital of two Cypriot republics? Turkish and Greek. People began to settle there since the seventh century BC. The city's museums are among the top ten in all of Europe.
How to get and get around
To get to Nicosia, most tourists fly into Larnaca International Airport. From there, the capital of Cyprus can be reached by shuttle bus. They go regularly. You will reach the city in thirty to forty minutes. Another interesting way to get to Nicosia is to take the ferry. They arrive at the city port from many countries - Egypt, Israel, Lebanon. There are ferries to Nicosia and from some of the Greek cities of Cyprus, such as Larnaca and Limassol. To orient, tourists are advised to take in anyhotel map, which shows the sights of Nicosia with coordinates. You can get around them on foot. Despite the large number of different monuments, almost all of them are concentrated in one place. And if you want to travel longer distances, you can use municipal buses or taxi services.
History
In ancient times, this city was a small settlement. It was called Ledroy. But during different periods it was repeatedly renamed. In antiquity the city was called Lefkosia. But it reaches its peak in the Middle Ages. At first, the French take possession of these cities. A little later they were replaced by the Venetians. It was under them that Nicosia became a real beauty. An attraction - such as, for example, a defensive rampart around the city, indicates that the new owners cared not only for its prosperity, but also for strengthening against enemies. At the end of the sixteenth century, Nicosia fell into the hands of the Turks, and they also gave it their own charm. Everywhere opened coffee houses, baths, churches replaced mosques, shone oriental bazaars. Therefore, Greeks and Turks have lived in Nicosia since time immemorial, between whom wars and bloodshed often took place. To prevent this from happening, there are UN peacekeepers on the island. But be that as it may, Nicosia is the cultural center of Cyprus, and you can get acquainted with the rich heritage of its past both in numerous museums and on the streets of the city.
Old part andquarter of Laiki Gethinia
The historical center of Nicosia is of particular interest. This attraction is located mainly in the Turkish part, which is separated from the Greek street Ledra. Here is a mixture of architectural styles characteristic of Cyprus. You can walk in both parts of the city - it is enough when crossing the border to fill out a special insert in your passport, where you will be stamped about your stay in Northern Cyprus. But it's worth visiting. It is good to walk along the narrow picturesque streets in the Old Town. Of the architectural structures, the Bayuk-Hamam baths, built on the site of a Catholic cathedral, as well as a caravanserai, under which the remains of the palace of the French rulers of the Lusignans are buried, are noteworthy. Of interest is the characteristic Cypriot quarter of Laiki Gethinia, reconstructed in such a way that it recreates the atmosphere of the nineteenth century. It is completely pedestrian. There are many authentic restaurants serving amazing Cypriot wines.
Churches and fortifications
During the reign of the French and especially the Venetians, many Catholic churches were built in Nicosia. But after the Turkish conquest, most of the Gothic churches were turned into mosques. For example, the small temple of Bedesten, which now has a cultural center. And earlier it was a Byzantine church dedicated to St. Nicholas. The temple of Panagia in the south of the city is also interesting. It is named after the Holy Virgin - the patroness of golden flax. Inside is a rare collection of icons. There is also an English cathedralSt. Paul's Cathedral, a Catholic church and several small Byzantine churches. Definitely worth seeing is the fortress wall, which was started, but never completed by the Venetians, with 11 towers and three bizarre gates. The whole complex is in excellent condition, and where there used to be a moat, now there are parks. This grand building is one of the pearls of the city of Nicosia. This landmark is five miles long, and each of its bastions is named after some aristocratic family. The gates also have their own names - these are San Domenico (from Paphos), del Proveditore (Kyrenia) and Juliana (Famagusta).
Museums
Exposures and exhibitions are what Nicosia is rightfully proud of. The landmark "Eastern Palace", for example, demonstrates the life and luxury in which noble and we althy Turks lived. The Archaeological Museum introduces many artifacts made even before our era. Here are the most valuable finds on the island. Despite the fact that when the excavations began in Cyprus, many things were taken to other European countries, 14 museum halls store unusual and rare exhibits. Worth a visit is the Art Gallery. Moreover, it is part of the Byzantine Museum. Here is the world's richest collection of art objects of that era - 230 icons, including those related to the so-called golden age, handwritten books, rare church utensils. And in the Lapidary Museum there are the remains of destroyed antiquities. Is inNicosia and very strange exhibitions. For example, this is the Museum of Dancing Dervishes. Everything related to this amazing Muslim subculture is stored here.
Selimiye Mosque (Nicosia)
This building was once Hagia Sophia. It was built by the French in the 13th and 14th centuries in the late Gothic style. At times, the temple served as the cathedral of the whole of Cyprus, and local monarchs were crowned here. Then, after various wars and earthquakes, the church was badly damaged. It was rebuilt only by the Venetians in the fifteenth century. But the architects of the Queen of the Adriatic reconstructed the cathedral already in the Renaissance style, although some Gothic fragments were still left. After the capture of Cyprus by the Turks, the cathedral was turned into the main mosque of the island and was named Selimiye. However, the church was not significantly rebuilt, they simply added two minarets to the main building. Thanks to this, the mosque is a bizarre mixture of styles. This is one of the most remarkable architectural monuments in Nicosia. We can say that this is the only Gothic mosque in the world. She is still active.
Nicosia (attractions): reviews
Tourists visiting the capital of Cyprus are surprised that this ancient and interesting city is so little known to Russian travelers. After all, there are so many museums with amazing collections that you can hardly even see in one trip. But there are also tourists who prefer a tour of such a beautiful city as Nicosia to a beach holiday. Attractions, photos of which can be seen in the article, amazed themimagination. The original Selimiye mosque and the fortress wall with bastions received especially laudatory reviews. Many advise to take a walk along the tourist street Ledros and visit both parts of Nicosia - Greek and Turkish.
