Things to see and do in Nicosia
Friday, May 4, 2012
By Lucinda Swetenham
Nicosia is the capital of Cyprus and is the world's only divided capital, occupying both the Greek and Turkish portions of the island. Although the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is internationally regarded as occupied territory and not wholly independent from the Republic of Cyprus (the Greek portion), the city's distinct mixed heritage and cultures make it a very interesting and in many ways unique place to visit on holiday.
Because of Turkey's occupation of the northern part of the island, Nicosia is divided into two parts by a barbed wire border known as the Green Line. However, this border can be crossed easily at official crossing points with an EU passport making both halves of this ancient city accessible to exploration.
There is much to see in this millennia-old city, with the two main draws being the various museums and the cities performance arts offerings. The most important collection of Cypriot artefacts and treasures can be found in Cyprus Museum, where some of the exhibits date back 8,500 years. Other museums well worth exploring are the Ethnographic Museum, the Folk Art Museum and the Byzentine Museum.
Music and performance arts are an important part of Nicosia's heritage, and throughout the city at various venues you can pick up tickets for operatic, theatrical and orchestral performances. But of course, one of the main draws to the visit is the shopping. Nicosia is where old meets new, so expect to be able to pick up fake designer goods just as easily as locally and traditionally made handicrafts to take home with you.
And finally, no visit to Nicosia would be complete without getting your teeth into some of their tasty food offerings. The city is a melting pot for a widely influenced range of foods from Greece, Turkey and nearby Arab nations. But you can also expect to find restaurants selling dishes inspired by other parts of Europe, the Balkans and the Middle East. It's highly affordable to eat on in the city, but don't forget to give their street food (the kebabs are always a winner) a go, too.
Because of Turkey's occupation of the northern part of the island, Nicosia is divided into two parts by a barbed wire border known as the Green Line. However, this border can be crossed easily at official crossing points with an EU passport making both halves of this ancient city accessible to exploration.
There is much to see in this millennia-old city, with the two main draws being the various museums and the cities performance arts offerings. The most important collection of Cypriot artefacts and treasures can be found in Cyprus Museum, where some of the exhibits date back 8,500 years. Other museums well worth exploring are the Ethnographic Museum, the Folk Art Museum and the Byzentine Museum.
Music and performance arts are an important part of Nicosia's heritage, and throughout the city at various venues you can pick up tickets for operatic, theatrical and orchestral performances. But of course, one of the main draws to the visit is the shopping. Nicosia is where old meets new, so expect to be able to pick up fake designer goods just as easily as locally and traditionally made handicrafts to take home with you.
And finally, no visit to Nicosia would be complete without getting your teeth into some of their tasty food offerings. The city is a melting pot for a widely influenced range of foods from Greece, Turkey and nearby Arab nations. But you can also expect to find restaurants selling dishes inspired by other parts of Europe, the Balkans and the Middle East. It's highly affordable to eat on in the city, but don't forget to give their street food (the kebabs are always a winner) a go, too.
Posted byBertie at 3:36 AM
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