Ten Top Things to Do and See in North Nicosia

Well, the UK schools have broken up for their Easter holidays and suddenly the tourist season is upon us in North Cyprus - which means that it’s an appropriate time to write about the ten top things to do and see in North Nicosia…but in reality I’m using the tourists as an excuse!

I’ve been to North Nicosia a million times, I visit the market, have a coffee, run a few errands and then I leave having once again ignored all the signs pointing to sites of historical interest. And so, using visitors to North Cyprus as an excuse I took it upon myself to pay attention to the signs and the guidebooks and this is what I found:-

1) Kyrenia Gate – built back in 1567 the impressive Northern entry gate into Nicosia was built when the Venetians were in charge of Cyprus. Today it is home to the tourism information centre in Nicosia. It’s a great place to begin your exploration of the ancient delights of the city because within it you can glean information and gather maps and from upstairs you can get a great view across the city and plan where you’re going next.

2) The Great Inn (pictured) – my favourite part of North Nicosia is the Great Inn or Buyuk Han because it has been totally transformed through sympathetic renovation and restoration over the past few years and today it’s a place where you can shop for eclectic crafts, enjoy a light meal, watch some street theatre or listen to live music and marvel at the incredible architecture of this building constructed back in 1572.

3) Selimiye Mosque – originally Selimiye was St. Sophia cathedral which was built between 1208 and 1326 when the Lusignans were in Cyprus. Today the magnificent building is regarded as the most important and impressive complete example of Gothic architecture in the whole of Cyprus. It was changed into a Mosque back in 1570 by the way, just in case you think it was a recent change!

4) Mevlevi Museum – the building in which this museum is situated was built back in the seventeenth century and today it houses significant examples of Turkish art in Cyprus. Since the 1960’s it’s had a strong focus on Turkish and Turkish Cypriot cultural anthropology and ethnography and for this reason it’s worth visiting.

5) Dervish Pasha’s House – another cultural anthropology centre is the recently resorted mansion that was once owned by Dervish Pasha, Pasha started the first Turkish newspaper in Cyprus and the house is truly stunning.

6) The Eaved House – I’ve walked passed the Eaved House many times without realizing its significance, inside it is very interesting architecturally speaking and it houses artifacts such as ancient gravestones and is a location often used for concerts and exhibitions.

7) The Armenian Church – I don’t know much about this place except that it is believed to date from the eighth century and was built probably by refugees from Jerusalem…I have looked on the internet for more information but couldn’t find anything relevant…so if anyone reading this can supply more facts they’d be gratefully received. It’s worth visiting I feel because it’s survived for so long

8) The Gambler’s Inn – it’s possible that this Ottoman resting place for gamblers was actually built on the site of a former monastery which is pretty ironic! It’s an amazing building as it stands, it has a Medieval Gothic arch and around the inner courtyard there are lots of interesting rooms to explore.

9) Ledra Palace Crossing – The border crossing from North Nicosia to South Nicosia will require you to take your passport with you. As you walk across no man’s land you can see the old Ledra Palace Hotel which is now occupied by UN soldiers and see all the old buildings which were shot up during the military intervention. It’s quite a strange experience the first time you walk across this border…it’s eerie and a bit strange.

10) The Indoor and Outdoor Markets – and finally, the markets in North Nicosia are certainly worth a visit…there are many market stalls to browse selling everything from genuine fake (!) designer clothes, bags, belts and shoes to stalls overflowing with fantastic fresh, organic and locally grown fruit and vegetables. You can pick up all the local cheese, Turkish delight, olive oil and such like that you want to take home to family and friends and you can negotiate a good clothing bargain or two to boot.