Lefkosa or Nicosia is the divided capital of Cyprus, lying on the Mesaoria plain between the Besparmak and Troodos mountains.
An ancient settlement dating from before the 4th century BC Lefkosa grew largely in Byzantine times with people flocking from the coastal towns to avoid the constant Arab raids of that time. When Guy de Lusignan bought the crown of Cyprus from Richard the Lionheart he made Lefkosa the capital of Cyprus, and it has been ever since.
In the Lusignan period Lefkosa was a city of wealth and culture. There were many palaces and churches built. Unfortunately most of Lefkosa was destroyed when the Marmalukes invaded in 1426 and plundered the city.
Clothes Bazaar Nicosia
In the 16th century the Venetians held Cyprus, and to defend their interests against the Ottomans they undertook a huge re-fortification of the island. The
defences of Lefkosa were upgraded, but in the process many of the ancient buildings that were left from the Marmaluke invasion were razed. The Venetian works were in vain, however, as the Ottomans under Lala Mustapha Pasha captured the island in 1570. Lefkosa fell after a siege, the city was sacked, and 20,000 citizens were massacred.
Lefkosa decayed for the next three hundred years, until Britain took control of the island under an agreement with Turkey, and re-established Lefkosa as the capital. The British rebuilt the island's infrastructure, and by the time Cyprus gained independence in 1960 Lefkosa was becoming a modern European city.
Gamblers Inn
Lefkosa was divided following the troubles in 1974 with the "Green Line" running through it like the Berlin Wall.
Modern Lefkosa has declined since its heyday, with the Turkish North of the city faring worst. It is still the industrial heart of the island with what little industry there is largely based in or around the city.
Although Lefkosa lacks the splendour
of former days it is still worth a visit. Most of the sights can be seen
on foot in a day, as long as you start early enough, be warned though,
it can get very hot down on the plain. Parking can be found around the
Kyrenia Gate and you can walk into the centre from there.
The Turkish half of the city has 5 of the
Venetian built bastions in its territory. On the Cephane bastion stands
the North Cyprus Presidential Palace, while on the Musalla bastion is
the National Struggle Museum dedicated to the island's troubles. Between
them lies the Kyrenia Gate, which traditionally led into the Turkish
quarter of the city. In the guardhouse of the gate is a Tourist
Information Office. Amongst the other attractions in
Lefkosa are the Ethnography Museum, Kumarcilar Han (or Gamblers Inn),
the Büyük Han (the Great Inn), the Belediye Pazari (covered bazaar),
the Lapidary Museum, the Selimiye Camii Mosque (originally the Ayia
Sofia Cathedral),
The city is interesting to walk around, and there are numerous very cheap clothing and
jewellery shops around the covered bazaar area.