Old Nicosia (Occupied Side-Turkish Northern Republic of Cyprus)

OLD NICOSIA (occupied side) Nicosia has a modern part outside the walls on the northern side as it

does on the south side.

We saw many things worth mentioning!!!

1.The Venetian Walls - which continue all around Nicosia.

2.  Attaturk Square (or Sarayonu) was the political center of Nicosia.

The Saray Palace, demolished by the British, was a Gothic Palace of the

governor throughout the Frankish, Venetian and Ottoman periods.  In the center of the square, there is a granite column quarried from temple of Jupiter in

Salamis. The Square is named after Kemal Attaturk, the great leader born in Thessaloniki, Greece, who changed the Turkish alphabet from Arabic to Latin

characters and made Turkey a secular state. The Saray Hotel is a city landmark as is the Ledra Palace Hotel on the Greek side of the checkpoint.  (The Ledra Palace Hotel is a historic, landmark hotel in Nicosia with beautiful gardens. Since 1974, it has been used by the United Nations.)

3.  The Bouyouk Hani (Great Khan or Inn) - the inn was built about 1570. Caravans would come here at night. The stables are on the ground floor and

the bedrooms upstairs, enough for 67 people.  It looks like a fortress with  small windows high up. The octagonal tower with a fountain is a miniature mosque used for prayers.

4.  St. Sophia Cathedral - was built between 1209 and 1228 by French architects and craftsmen over the ruins of another church. The cathedral has  a monumental entrance while the carved windows are fine examples of Medieval

French architecture. The coronations of Lusignan kings were held here.

Many Lusignan nobilities and kings were buried here and the marble tombstones

constitute part of the floor or are kept in a separate room. The church is now known as the Selimi.

5.  The Municipal Market - is being used today, with several small shops and vendors selling food items.