Attractions in Nicosia (Lefkosia)

Nicosia... Capital of Cyprus!

There are many attractions in Nicosia such as the medieval buildings, churches and museums.

They all illustrate and explain the history and struggles of this lovely little island and are well worth visiting.

Although the capital doesn't have a beach, the city has so much to offer that you won't miss it.

Trendy boutiques, excellent restaurants and nightlife and an Old Town full of the most fascinating and interesting places to visit.

• Cyprus Museum
  Museum Street Tel: 22865854 - Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm/Sunday Open: 10am-1pm - Admission Cyprus £2
  The museum is the main archaeological museum in Cyprus and houses statues and artefacts dating back to the Neolithic and Byzantine period.

• Agios Ioannis Cathedral (St John's Cathedral)
  Archbishop Kyprianou Square (Archbishopric), Old Town
  Monday-Friday 9am-12noon & 2pm-4pm/Saturday 9am-12noon
  Admission Free
  The Cathedral was built in 1662 by Archbishop Nikiforos on the site of an earlier building. Since the 18th century the Cathedral has been the place where all Archbishops of Cyprus are consecrated.

• Archbishop's Palace
  Archbishop Kyprianou Square, Old Town
  The palace is one of the most popular attractions in Nicosia. It was built by Archbishop Makarios 111 during the struggle for independence and completed in 1961, a year after Cyprus independence in 1960. Outside the palace is a bronze statue of Makarios 111 which was erected in 1987 by Archbishop Chrysostomos.

• Liberty Monument
  This monument, which is close to the Archbishopric, commemorates the Cyprus struggle for independence from 1955 - 1959.

• Pancyprian Gymnasium
  Another of the popular attractions in Nicosia is opposite the Archbishop's Palace. It's the oldest grammar school in Cyprus and Lawrence Durrell (author of 'Bitter Lemons') taught here. One of his students was Michalis Mouskos, soon to be Archbishop Makarios 111 of Cyprus.

• State Gallery of Contemporary Art
  Gonia Leoforou Stasinou & Kritis
  Tel: 357 22 45 82 28
  Monday-Friday: 10:00-16:45
  Saturday: 10:00-12:45
  Entrance FREE
  Collection of paintings and sculpture by 20th century Cypriot artists.

• Hamam Omerye
  Tyllirias Square 8
  1016 Lefkosia
  hammam baths
  Tel: 22 46 05 70, 22 75 05 50
  Fax: 22 75 17 27
  Conducted tour(20 min)
  Monday: 11:00–17:00. Entrance fee: C£1,25
  Use of Baths (charged)
  Tue-Thu-Sat: 09:00–21:00 (for men)
  Wed-Fri-Sun.: 09:00–21:00 (for women)
  

• Pyli Ammochostou (Famagusta Gate) Lefkosia Municipal Cultural Centre
  Leoforos Athinon
  Tel: 357 22 43 08 77, 22 43 07 03
  Monday- Friday: 10:00 -13:00 & 16:00-19:00
  (May-September: 17:00-20:00 )
  Entrance FREE
  The Famagusta Gate (now Lefkosia Municipal Cultural Centre), is one of the most interesting attractions in Nicosia.

  The Venetian walls which completely encircle the old city have eleven heart-shaped bastions (which gives them the shape of a hand grenade).

  There were only three gates to the city in the north, south and east and one of these gates, the Porta Giuliana called Famagusta Gate, has been restored and is now the Lefkosia Municipal Cultural Centre.

  The vaulted passage and two side rooms are used for exhibitions, conferences, lectures and various performances, with the passage leading to the moat. One of the most typical quarters of the town close to Famagusta gate is also being rehabilitated.

• Visitor centre of the Athalassa National Forest Park
  Keryneia avenue 1
  2116, Aglantzia
  Tel. 00357 22 46 29 43
  email: athalassacentre@fd.moa.gov.cy
  Working Hours: Monday-Friday:08:00 - 14:30
  Thursday:08:00-18:00(Closed on Public Holidays)
  Entrance fees: C£0,50 for all visitors above 6 years old
  Attractions in Nicosia: The Visitor Centre´s general objective is to present the environmental features of the Athalassa Park and to provide information about the Park´s values and recreational opportunities offered. It also provides information on selected aspects of the general environment of the broader area of Mesaoria Plain, Larnaka Salt Lake and Kavo Gkreko National Forest Park.

• Chrysaliniotissa Crafts Centre
  2 Dimonaktos Street (Corner Ipponaktos & Dimonaktos - within the walls)
  Tel: 357 22 34 80 50, 99 62 96 11
  Monday-Friday: 09:00-13:00,15:00-18:00 (16:00-1900 May-September)Saturday:10:00-13:00
  Another of the interesting attractions in Nicosia is this complex of eight workshops around a central courtyard which are designed on the basis of a traditional inn and architectural concept.

• The Nicosia Municipal Arts Centre
  (Associated with the Pierides Museum of Contemporary Art in Athens)
  19 Apostolou Varnava Street, Lefkosia
  Tel: 357 22 79 74 00
  Fax:357 22 43 25 31
  Tuesday-Saturday: 10:00-15:00 & 17:00-23:00
  Sunday: 10:00-16:00
  Entrance FREE
  The centre is housed in the building of the old power station which is one of the finest examples of industrial architecture in Cyprus. Its aim is to promote contemporary creativity at its highest level by organizing important and prestigious exhibitions.