Nicosia
Λευκωσία (Greek) Lefkoşa (Turkish)
Seal
Nicosia Location of Nicosia in Cyprus
Coordinates: 35°10′N 33°22′E / 35.167°N 33.367°E / 35.167; 33.367
Country	Cyprus  Northern Cyprus
District	Nicosia District
Government
- Mayor	Eleni Mavrou Cemal Metin Bulutoğluları
Elevation	220 m (722 ft)
Population (2009)(sum of both parts of the city)
- Total	398,293
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
Website	Nicosia Municipality Lefkoşa Municipality
The Republic of Cyprus has de jure sovereignty over north and south Nicosia, while the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has de facto control over Northern Nicosia.

For the Italian town, see: Nicosia, Sicily. Also see: Nicosia (disambiguation).

Nicosia (IPA: /ˌnɪkəˈsiːə/ nik-ə-see-ə) from French: Nicosie, known locally as Lefkosia (Greek: Λευκωσία, Turkish: Lefkoşa), is the capital and largest city on Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line. It is located near the center of the island, on the banks of the Pedieos River.

Nicosia is the capital and seat of government of the Republic of Cyprus, which is considered as the sole legitimate Government of the island by the international community Northern Nicosia is the capital of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, officially declared in 1983 and unrecognised internationally.

The population of the southern part of the city is 315,400 and of the northern part is 84,893 in 2006.

Despite the division Nicosia has managed to become a sophisticated and cosmopolitan city, rich in history and culture that combines its historic past with the amenities of a modern city. Through the years Nicosia has established itself as the island's financial capital and its main international business centre. In the past few years Nicosia has seen remarkable progress regarding its infrastructure with the most remarkable being the central Eleftheria square, currently in progress

History

Map of Nicosia in Cyprus, created in 1597.

Makariou Avenue in central Nicosia.

Nicosia was a city-state known as Ledra or Ledrae in ancient times. The king of Ledra, Onasagoras, was recorded as paying tribute to Esarhaddon of Assyria in 672 BC. Rebuilt by Lefkos, son of Ptolemy I around 300 BC, Ledra in Hellenic and Roman times was a small, unimportant town, also known as Lefkothea. By the time it received its first Christian bishop, Trifillios, in 348, the town was called Lefkousia or Ledra.

Still known as Lefkosia, the city became the island's capital around the 10th century. It had grown in importance because of threats to the coastal cities Paphos and Salamis, which made many people flee to the centrally located Lefkosia.

The seat of the Lusignan kings of Cyprus since 1192, it became a Venetian possession in 1489, and fell to the Ottoman Empire in 1571. Ledra is now the actual name of the most popular commercial street.

The exonym "Nicosia" appeared with the arrival of the Lusignans. The French-speaking Crusaders either could not, or did not care to, pronounce the name Lefkosia, and tended to say "Nicosie" translated into Italian and then internationally known as "Nicosia". In this era of the Franks, the city expanded culturally, and in the 13th and 15th centuries, saw the erection of a number of palaces, mansions, churches and monasteries.

The tombs of the Lusignan kings are in the former Cathedral of St. Sophia, now a mosque in North Nicosia.

The core of the city also has well-preserved Venetian fortifications, built in the 16th century, which encircle the old, medieval part of the city.

The city is very large, round in shape, fortified with eleven bastions and surrounded with a broad ditch. In size and situation it is certainly the chief city of the island, but is full of ruins, squalid and defenceless, for the walls are breached or decayed, and could not withstand a regular attack or siege. The Pedeus, a torrent, flows by.

Some 20,000 residents died as a result of the Ottoman siege of 1570. Man-made and natural disasters further struck the city during the 19th century. The Turks crushed the 1821 anti-Ottoman revolt in blood.

Cholera hit the city in 1835, and fire destroyed large parts of Nicosia in 1857. The British Empire gained control over the island in 1878, with Nicosia serving as the capital of the new British possession.

From 1955 until 1963, Nicosia was divided by the threshold on the Mason-Dixon Line between the Turkish and Greek quarters of the old city. Following the intercommunal violence of the 1960s, the capital was divided between the island's Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities in the south and north by the Green Line in 1964. An attempted coup to unite the island with Greece in 1974 led to a Turkish invasion, which separated the two sides of the city completely. The Turkish Cypriot community declared the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus on February 13, 1975 in the area occupied by Turkish forces. On November 15, 1983, Turkish Cypriots proclaimed their independence as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. However the United Nations Security Council declared this illegal in resolution 541. On 3 April 2008, as part of efforts to reunify the island, a symbolic wall dividing the two communities at Ledra Street was opened.

Climate

Nicosia has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSh) with long, hot and dry summers with relatively wet and mild winters.

Municipalities

The building of Nicosia Municipality, Eleftheria Square

The building of Nicosia Turkish Municipality

The Nicosia Municipality is responsible for all the municipal duties and responsibility on the southern part of city. The Nicosia Turkish Municipality, founded in 1958, carried out municipal duties on the northern part of city.

Nicosia Municipality

South Nicosia is political, economic and cultural centre of the Republic of Cyprus. Greater Nicosia is subdivided into seven municipalities, but the metropolitan authority is the Municipality of Nicosia itself – within whose boundaries the Constitution states that the main government buildings and headquarters must be situated. The other municipalities in the city are Strovolos, Lakatamia, Latsia, Aglandjia, Engomi and Agios Dhometios.

According to the constitution of Cyprus Nicosia Municipality was divided into a Greek and Turkish sector with two Mayors: a representative of the Greek community which was the majority, and a second one representing the Turkish community. The Mayors and the members of the Council were appointed by the President of the Republic. Since 1986, the Mayors and members of the Council are elected. The Mayor and the Municipal Councillors are elected by direct popular suffrage but into separate ballots – one for the Mayor and the other for all the Councillors. Municipal elections are held every five years.

The Municipality of Nicosia is now headed by the Mayor, who is Eleni Mavrou (former lagilator of the communist party AKEL, supported by her own political party, socialist party EDEK and the Democratic Party and the council composed of 26 councilors, one of who is Deputy Mayor.

The Mayor and the Councillors exercise all the powers vested in them by the Municipal Corporation Law. Sub-committees consisting of members of the Municipal Council act only on an advisory level and according to the procedures and regulations issued by the Council.

The Mayor is the executive authority of the Municipality, exercising overall control and managing the Municipal Council. The Council is responsible for appointing personnel employed by the Municipality. All municipalities in the Republic of Cyprus are members of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities. The executive Committee is the governing organ of the Union. This Committee is appointed from among the representatives of the Municipalities for a term of two and a half years. The Mayor of Nicosia is the President of the Union and the Chairman of the Executive Committee.

Nicosia Turkish Municipality

The first attempt to establish a Nicosia Turkish Municipality was made in 1958. In October 1959, the British Colonial Administration passed the Turkish Municipality Committees law. In 1960 with the declaration of independence of Cyprus, the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus gave Turkish Cypriots the right to establish their own municipality. As negotiations between the two sides to establish separate municipalities failed in 1962, implementing legislation was never passed. Since the complete division of Nicosia following the Turkish Invasion in 1974, the Nicosia Turkish Municipality has become the de facto local authority of northern Nicosia. Today the Nicosia Turkish Municipality is part of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and belongs to the Union of Cyprus Turkish Municipalities. The current mayor is Cemal Metin Bulutoğluları from National Unity Party (UBP).

Landmarks

Venetican walls of Nicosia.

Eleftheria Monument, Nicosia.

Nicosia old city houses have a characteristic architecture, Leventio Museum.

Although the city has been destroyed more than once by conquerors, there are still historical remains. History is most strikingly experienced at the Venetian city wall, which was constructed between 1567 and 1570. The 4,5 metres thick wall used to have three gates. The Famagusta gate is now used as a cultural centre. Another cultural center is the Kasteliotissa chamber, remains of an old Catholic monastery, adjacent to the Paphos gate to the West of the city. Some other parts of the wall contain administrative offices. The historical centre is clearly present inside the walls, but the modern city has grown beyond. The Venetian Stone is also located inside the old city.

The heart of the city is Eleftheria (Freedom) Square, with the city hall, the post office and the library. The square is currently under renovation.^[when?] Adjacent Ledra street leads to the most lively part of the old city with narrow streets, boutiques, and cafés. Panagia Fanomereni is a church built in 1872 in the stead of another church located at the same site, constructed with the remains of La Cava castle and a convent. There rest the archbishop and the other bishops who were killed by the Turks during the 1821 revolt. The Palace of the Archbishop can be found at Arkhiepiskopos Kyprianos Square. Although it seems very old, it is a wonderful imitation of typical Venetian style, built in 1956. Next to the palace is the late Gothic Saint John cathedral (1665) with picturesque frescos.

Nicosia is also known for its fine museums. The Archbishop's Palace contains a Byzantine museum containing the largest collection of religious icons on the island. Leventis Municipal Museum is the only historical museum of Nicosia and revives the old ways of life in the capital from ancient times up to our days. Other interesting museums include the Folk Art Museum, National Struggle Museum (witnessing the rebellion against the British administration in the 1950s), Cyprus Ethnological Museum (House of Dragoman Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios, 18th century) and the Handicrafts Centre.

In Nicosia, there are also mosques, like the Selimiye Mosque, the chief mosque in the Turkish occupied part of Nicosia, where the great festivals of Bayram and other Moslem gatherings are conducted. It was formerly the cathedral of St. Sophia which was built in the period from 1209 to 1228 AD, over the ruins of a previous building. Other famous mosques are Haydarpasha Mosque and Arabahmet Mosque. The Omerye Mosque in the Southern part is used for the needs of the Muslim immigrants who reside in the city.

Nicosia also hosts an Armenian achbishopship, a small Buddhist temple and also the Maronite arbishopship and convent. Cyprus is the second most important country for the Maronite people worldwide after Lebanon. During the Pope's visit to the island in June 2010, the Pontiff resided inside the convent.

Mayors of Nicosia (southern partition only after 1974)

Pre-Independence (1882–1959)

• Christodoulos Severis, 15 November 1882–31 July 1888.
• Achilleas Liassides, 1 August 1888–10 April 1906.
• Antonios Theodotou, 8 January 1888–10 April 1906.
• Mehmet Şevket Bey, 11 April 1908–31 March 1911.
• Antonios Theodotou, 1924–1926
• George Markides, 6 April 1926–31 March 1929.
• Themistoclis Dervis, 5 April 1929–28 September 1946.
• Ioannis Clerides, 1 June 1946–31 May 1949 (Last elected Mayor until 1986).
• Themistoclis Dervis, 1 June 1949–18 December 1959.

Post-Independence (1959-Present)

• Diomedes Skettos, 1959–1960.
• George M. Spanos, 1960–1962; 1963–1964.
• Odysseas Ioannides, 1964–1970.
• Lellos Demetriades, December 1971–July 1974 (dismissed by the July 15 Coup).
• Christoforos Kithreotis, August 1974.
• Lellos Demetriades, October 1974–2001 (Elected in 1986; reelected in 1991 and 1996).
• Michalis Zampelas, 2002–2006.
• Eleni Mavrou, 2007–present.

Culture

Famous statue of Aphrodite at Cyprus Archeological Museum.

Nicosia's logo for the 2017 European Capital of Culture bid

Museums

The Cyprus Archaeological Museum in Nicosia is the biggest archaeological museum in the country. It is home to the richest and largest collection of Cypriot antiques in the world. These consist exclusively of objects discovered on the island. The exhibits have been stored in the same building outside the city walls of Nicosia ever since the establishment of the museum in 1882 by the British administration reigning the island at that time.

The Ethnographic Museum hosts the largest collection of ethnographic artifacts in the country which includes costumes, pottery, lace, metalwork, woodcarving and paintings.

In old Nicosia, the Ethnological Museum (Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios Mansion) is the most important example of urban architecture of the last century of Ottoman domination which survives in old Nicosia. Today, the mansion which was awarded the Europa Nostra prize for its exemplary renovation work, functions as a museum where a collection of artifacts from the Byzantine, Medieval and Ottoman era are displayed.

Performing Arts

Nicosia offers a wide variety of musical and theatrical events, organized either by the municipality or independent organizations.

THOC (Theatrical Organization of Cyprus) was founded in 1971 and is a member of the European Theatre Convention. It hosts a wide variety of theatre shows on a regular basis at the Latsia Municipal Theatre, Nea Skini and Theatro Ena.

Skali Aglantzias is a multifunctional space in the Scali area of Aglantzia. It is made up of an open ­ air square, amphitheatre, exhibition space, restaurant & bar. It hosts many shows, concerts and cultural events.

The Satirical Theatre of Cyprus was founded in October 1983 by actor and director Vladimiros Kafkaridis. It is the first Free Theatre to be supported financially by the government. It is also the only drama school in Cyprus.

Strovolos Municipal Theatre is located in the municipality's main avenue. It has hosted many charitable, cultural and educational events, as well as theatre shows, concerts, operas, ballets both of national and international standing.

Notable cultural events are also frequently hosted by the Ammochostos Gate Cultural Centre, the Municipal Arts Centre, the Municipal Centre of Contemporary Social and Cultural Services and many others.

In June 2011, Nicosia launched it's campaign to become the European Capital of Culture in 2017.

Education

Nicosia has a large student community as it is the seat of five universities, the University of Cyprus (UCY), the University of Nicosia, the European University, the Open University of Cyprus and Frederick University.

Economy

Nicosia is important commercially, with many shops, three modern shopping malls, restaurants and entertainment. Nicosia was internationally ranked as the wealthiest per capita city of the Eastern Mediterranean and the tenth richest city in the world by purchasing power.

The city hosts the headquarters of 5 Cypriot banks. There are over 15 hotels in Nicosia district. The city is currently ranked 185th most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 300 international locations. The city is a trade centre and manufactures textiles, leather, pottery, plastic, and other products. Copper mines are nearby. Nicosia is the seat of the University of Cyprus (UCY) and four other universities. Cyprus Airways has its head office in the city.

Professional sport

Clubs

Football

GSP Stadium is the largest football stadium in Nicosia.

Football is the most popular sport in Cyprus, and Nicosia is home of three major teams of the island; APOEL, Omonia and Olympiakos. APOEL and Omonia dominate Cypriot football. There are also many other football clubs in Nicosia and the suburbs.

Other sports

Nicosia is also the home for many clubs for basketball, handball and other sports. APOEL and Omonia have basketball and volleyball sections and Keravnos is one of the major basketball teams of the island. The Gymnastic Club Pancypria (GSP), the owner of the Neo GSP Stadium, is one of the major athletics clubs of the island. Also, all teams in the Futsal First Division are from Nicosia.

Venues

Nicosia has some of the biggest venues in the island; The Neo GSP Stadium, the biggest in Cyprus, with capacity of 23,400 is the home for the national team, APOEL, Olympiakos and Omonia. The other big football stadium in Nicosia is Makario Stadium with capacity of 16,000. The Eleftheria Indoor Hall is the biggest basketball stadium in Cyprus, with capacity of 6,500 seats and is the home for the national team, APOEL and Omonia. The Lefkotheo indoor arena is the volleyball stadium for APOEL and Omonia.

International and European events

Nicosia hosted the 2000 ISSF World Cup Final shooting events for the shotgun. Also the city hosted two basketball events; the European Saporta Cup in 1997 and the 2005 FIBA Europe All Star Game in the Eleftheria Indoor Hall. Another event which was hosted in Nicosia were the Games of the Small States of Europe in 1989 and 2009.

Transportation

Blue public buses.

Round about leading to A1 motorway (Cyprus)

Nicosia International Airport has not been used since 1974 as it lies within the U.N. Buffer Zone separating the two parts of Nicosia. The nearest airport in the area controlled by the Cyprus government is Larnaca International Airport near the coastal city of Larnaca.

Motorways link Nicosia with other major urban areas in Cyprus. The A1 connects it with Limassol in the south with the A6 going from Limassol onto Paphos. The A2 links Nicosia with the south eastern city of Larnaca with the A3 going from Larnaca to Ayia Napa. The A9 is currently under construction and would connect Nicosia to the Troodos mountains.

There are many taxi companies in Nicosia. There is also taxi rank at the Eleftheria square(City Center), where there are taxis twenty-four hours a day. Taxi fares are regulated by law and taxi drivers are obliged to use a taximeter.

Public transport within the city is served by a bus network subsidised by the European Union. For information about bus routes in Nicosia refer to http://www.cyprusbybus.com/routes.aspx?sid=6. There is no train or metro system.

Between 1905 and 1951, Nicosia was a prominent station of the Cyprus Government Railway.

It was announced that a new metro system will start, to be installed in 2012. The project will be paid for by the EU and the Cypriot Government. It is expected that the new metro system will reduce the traffic in some major streets and avenues.

International relations

Twin towns – Sister cities

Twinnings with Southern Nicosia, controlled by the Republic of Cyprus

Twinnings with Northern Nicosia, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Municipality

Collaborations

Famous Nicosians

• Tassos Papadopoulos, ex-president of the Republic of Cyprus (2003–2008).
• Glafkos Klerides, president of the Republic of Cyprus (1993–2003).
• George Vasiliou, president of the Republic of Cyprus (1988–1993).
• Ioannis Kasoulides, Member of the European Parliament.
• Kıbrıslı Mehmed Kamil Pasha, Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire
• Fazıl Küçük former vice president of the Republic of Cyprus (1960–1963).
• Benon Sevan, Armenian ex-head of UN Oil for Food program.
• Nicolas Economou, composer.
• Alkinoos Ioannidis, singer.
• Michalis Hatzigiannis, singer.
• Stavros Konstantinou, singer, winner of Greek Super Idol.
• Alparslan Türkeş, a Turkish nationalist politician, who served as a Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey
• Giannos Kranidiotis, a Greek diplomat and politician
• Mick Karn, bassist, singer.

Gallery

• 

  Kykkos Monastery in Engomi, Nicosia.

• 

  Church in the Old City.

• 

  The Büyük Han.

• 

  The Selimiye Mosque in Nicosia.

• 

  Arabahmet Mosque.

• 

  Armenian genocide monument.

• 

  Kyrenia Gate.

• 

  Famagusta Gate.

• 

  Archbishop's Palace, Nicosia.

• 

  National Bank of Greece Building,Lyssiotis Mansion Makariou Avenue, Nicosia.

• 

  Elenio historic elementary school.

• 

  The Faneromeni School.

• 

  Quiet moment at the Ledra Street crossing.

• 

  Ministry of finance.

• 

  Financial quarter in Aglandjia.

See also

• Cypriot Orthodox Church
• Divided cities
• Foreign relations of Cyprus
• Foreign relations of Northern Cyprus
• List of Cypriot companies
• United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus

• Nicosia Municipality (south) website
• Nicosia Municipality (north) website
• Nicosia Municipality website -Transportation
• Cyprus Island – Nicosia
• The World of Cyprus bilingual information portal with background on folk culture and Byzantine influences

Coordinates: 35°10′N 33°22′E / 35.167°N 33.367°E / 35.167; 33.367

Nicosia District Settlements Agia  · Agia Eirini · Agia Marina  · Agia Marina (Gürpınar)  · Agia Varvara · Agioi Trimithias · Agios Dometios · Agios Epifanios  · Agios Georgios  · Agios Georgios Lefkas  · Agios Ioannis (Pyrgos)  · Agios Ioannis Malountas  · Agios Nikolaos Lefkas · Agios Sozomenos · Agios Theodoros  · Agios Vasileios · Aglantzia  · Agrokipia  · Agroladou · Akaki · Alampra · Alevga · Alithinou · Alona · Ampelikou  · Analiontas · Anageia · Angolemi · Apliki  · Arediou · Argaki · Askas · Astromeritis · Avlona ·  · Beikioi  · Challeri · Chrysida · Chrysiliou · Dali  · Deneia  · Dyo Potamoi  · Elia  · Engomi  · Epicho  · Episkopeio  · Ergates  · Evrychou  · Exometochi  · Farmakas · Fikardou · Filani · Frodisia  · Fterikoudi · Fyllia · Galata  · Galini  · Gerakies · Geri · Gerolakkos  · Gourri  · Kaimakli  · Kakopetria  · Kaliana  · Kalo Chorio  · Kalo Chorio (Çamlıköy)  · Kalopanagiotis  · Kalyvakia  · Kampi  · Kampia  · Kampos · Kapouti  · Kanli · Kannavia · Kapedes · Kapoura · Karavostasi · Kataliontas · Kato Deftera · Kato Flasou · Katokopia · Kato Koutrafas · Kato Lakatamia · Kato Moni · Kato Pyrgos · Kato Zodeia · Katydata · Kazivera  · Kioneli  · Klirou · Kokkina · Kokkinotrimithia · Korakou · Kotsiatis  · Kourou Monastiri · Kyra · Kythrea · Lagoudera · Latsia · Lazanias · Lefka · Limnitis · Linou · Livadia · Louroujina · Loutros · Lympia  · Lythrodontas · Malounta · Mammari · Mandres  · Mansoura  · Margi · Masari · Mathiatis · Meniko · Mia Milia · Mylikouri · Mitsero · Mora · Morphou · Mosfileri · Moutoullas · Neo Chorio · Nicosia · Nikitari · Nikitas · Nisou · Oikos · Orounta · Ortakioi · Pachyammos · Palaichori · Palaikythro · Palaiometocho · Pano Deftera · Pano Flasou · Pano Koutrafas · Pano Lakatamia · Pano Pyrgos · Pano Zodeia · Pedoulas · Pentageia · Pera · Pera Chorio · Peristerona · Peristeronari · Petra  · Petra tou Digeni · Pigenia · Platanistasa · Politiko · Polystypos · Potami · Potamia · Potamos tou Kampou · Prastio · Psimolofou · Pyrogi · Saranti · Selladi tou Appi · Selemani · Sia · Sinaoros · Skouriotissa · Skylloura · Spilia · Strovolos · Syrianochori · Temvria · Trachoni · Trachonas · Tsakistra  · Tseri · Tymvou · Variseia · Voni  · Vyzakia · Xerovounos · Xyliatos

Municipalities of Cyprus Nicosia District Ayios Dhometios • Aglandjia • Engomi • Dali • Kythrea • Lakatamia • Latsia • Lefka • Morphou • Nicosia • Strovolos Limassol District Ayios Athanasios • Kato Polemidhia • Limassol • Mesa Yitonia • Yermasoyia Larnaca District Athienou • Aradippou • Larnaca • Lefkara Famagusta District Ayia Napa • Akanthou • Dherynia • Famagusta • Lefkoniko • Lysi • Paralimni Paphos District Paphos • Peyia • Polis • Yeroskipou Kyrenia District Karavas • Kyrenia • Lapithos

Capital cities of the Member States of the European Union Amsterdam · Athens · Berlin · Bratislava · Brussels · Bucharest · Budapest · Copenhagen · Dublin · Helsinki · Lisbon · Ljubljana · London · Luxembourg City · Madrid · Nicosia · Paris · Prague · Riga · Rome · Sofia · Stockholm · Tallinn · Valletta · Vienna · Vilnius · Warsaw