Nicosia – Lefkosia
Nicosia the capital of Cyprus, one of the oldest cities in this part of the world, today is a sophisticated and cosmopolitan place in the Eastern Mediterranean, rich in history and culture, and combines its historic past with the amenities of a modern city. It lies roughly in the centre of the island in the Mesaoria Plain, flanked by the beautiful northern range of Kyrenia mountains with its distinctive 'Pentadaktylos" - the five finger mountain. There are various suggestions as to the origin of the name Nicosia - or 'Lefkosia' In Greek - but the most likely one is linked to the popular tree, the tall 'Lefki ' which once adorned the city. It remains the last divided city of Europe. It is divided into Turkish and Greek sectors by a boundary known as the `green line' which runs in an east-west direction. The people of Nicosia hope that one day the city will be reunited.
Huge, thick ramparts, built by the Venetians in 1570, encircle the city; the walls are three and a half miles long and have eleven towers and three gates. Within these walls are numerous remains from the middle ages and later periods. Outside, there is no trace of the medieval settlement that once existed as materials from those buildings were used at various points in time to restore and maintain the walls. To walk through the old city is to step backwards in time. Narrow streets and old houses with ornate balconies jut from weather beaten sandstone walls, and craftsmen in small workshops practice trades unchanged for centuries.
The heart of the city, within the 16th century Venetian walls has a many interesting Museums and art galleries, Byzantine churches and a number of medieval and neo-classical buildings and the narrow streets retain the romantic atmosphere of the past. Much of the charm and beauty of Nicosia is to be found in the old city with its labyrinthine alleyways and elegant courtyard houses. Outside the walls the new city with its modern facilities is a cosmopolitan centre of a modern European capital.
During the British domination (1878 - 1960) the city started to spread beyond the walls. The British first built administrative premises outside the walls but since then residential regions developed beyond the fortifications and joined with the surrounding villages, resulting in a change of the city's housing network.
The signing of the Zurich and London Agreements in February 1959 inaugurated a period of transition. On 1 March 1959, Archbishop Makarios returned to the island after three years of exile. Two hundred thousand people, nearly half the population of the island, lined the road from the airport to the archbishopric in the old city of Nicosia to greet him. From its balcony he addressed the huge crowd saying “Let us hold out the hand of friendship and cooperation… We are called upon to transform our island into a golden bridge that will unite and not divide the opposing powers”. During the following months, Nicosia was at the heart of the administrative and constitutional preparations for Independence. On 13 December 1959, Makarios was elected President of the Republic of Cyprus and Nicosia officially became capital of the Republic of Cyprus.
The city of Nicosia has a great variety of sights, tourist attractions and places of interest. The Lefkosia jewellery Museum, the Museum of the History of the Cypriot Coinage and the Municipal Arts Centre, are all worth a visit. The Leventis Municipal Museum of Lefkosia, with an imaginative presentation of the capital's history, was awarded the title "1991 European Museum of the Year". There is also the Cyprus Museum, housing the island's most important collection of Cypriot antiquities and treasures from the Neolithic Age to the Roman.
Modern Nicosia offers all the facilities you would expect - excellent hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and shops. In Platres and the surrounding villages you could find no greater contrast to a conventional beach holiday! These villages are situated high in the Troodos mountain range famous for its refreshing mountain air, magnificent pine, cedar and oak forests, orchids, lavender and mineral springs. It is ideal for walking and horse riding, while the August festivals of arts, crafts, folk singing and dancing also provide fascinating entertainment.
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