Selimiye Mosque (Selimiye Sokak, north Nicosia) — This ancient church is the chief mosque in the northern state of Cyprus, and the great festivals of Bayram and other Moslem gatherings are conducted here. It was formerly the cathedral of St. Sophia which was built in the period 1209 A.D. to 1228, over the ruins of […]
Petra tou Romiou (Kouklia, Paphos) – a 90 minute drive southeast of Nicosia, this spot, a.k.a Aphrodite’s Rock, was given that name since this is the reputed birthplace of the Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation.
Paphos Archaeological Park (Kato Paphos – near Paphos harbor) – located nearly 2 hours southwest of Nicosia, this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as being the island’s most prominent open-air museum. Paphos Archaeological Park includes sites and monuments from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages, while most remains date to the Roman […]
Notre Dame de Tyre (Şehit Mehmet Hüseyin Sokak, north Nicosia) – this Gothic-style building, located just over the border between the two sides of Nicosia, is a 14th century monastery, which served the Armenian community of Cyprus. In the early 1900s, an elementary school and a monument for the Armenian Genocide were built here. The […]
National Struggle Museum (Archbishop Kyprianou Square, Nicosia) — this museum displays documents, photographic material, personal belongings of the Greek Cypriot heroes and other memorabilia related to the struggle against British rule. The museum was founded after the end of the 1955-1959 National Liberation Struggle by EOKA fighter Christodoulos Papachrysostomou. Hours: 8:00 am – 2:00 pm […]
Museum of Barbarism (Irhan Sk. 2, north Nicosia) – for those curious about Cyprus’ recent political history, this is a shrine dedicated to Dr. Nihat Ilhan, a major who served in the Cyprus Turkish contingent in 1963 (and who lived in the house where this is located). During the inter-communal troubles of December that year, […]
Lapidary Museum (Selimiye Sokak, north Nicosia) – this museum (located just east of Selimiye Mosque) is housed in a 15th century Venetian building, and is packed to the ceiling with a wide range of stone artifacts, from a Lusignan sarcophagus, headstones, to coats-of-arms and gargoyles that spill out into the museum’s garden. In the garden […]
Kyrenia Gate – located in the northern part of Nicosia (on the Turkish-controlled side), this is one of the three entrances to the city built by the Venetians. The gate was originally called the “Porta Del Proveditore” (with a Lion of St Mark – a Venetian symbol, once located on the gate). Kyrenia Gate has […]
Kykkos Monastery (Hill Resorts, Troodos, Marathasa region) – located 90 minutes by car west of Nicosia, and built between the late 11th and early 12th century AD by Byzantine Emperor Alexios Komnenos, this is the richest and most lavish of the monasteries of Cyprus. It is situated on a mountain peak, at an altitude of […]
Kourion – located on the island’s west coast (90 minute drive from Nicosia), this is a “must-see” destination for those interested in the island’s ancient history. Kourion is one of the most spectacular archaeological sites in Cyprus and features a magnificent Greco – Roman theater, stately villas with exquisite mosaic floors, and an early Christian […]