Culture of Nicosia. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Historical monuments of various periods have been preserved in the city. In the heart of Nicosia, you will find wonderful Agios Ioannis Cathedral. It was built in the 17th century and looks quite modest. The exterior of the cathedral has not changed much throughout the centuries. The interior decoration, however, does not cease to fascinate visitors with its splendor. The walls and ceiling are adorned with elaborate murals on biblical themes created more than 300 years ago. For Cyprus, this cathedral is one of the main religious monuments. Thousands of pilgrims visit it every year to venerate the relics stored in the cathedral. The coronation of the archbishops of Cyprus is held here too.

Some Muslim shrines have been preserved since the time of Turkish rule in the city, and a great example is Haydarpasha Mosque. Its history dates back to the 14th century when the old building was occupied by a Christian cathedral. In 1571, it was converted into a mosque. During this period, the building got a high minaret, which remains one of the city's highest structures to this day. Over the past hundred years, the mosque has lost its religious significance but was never demolished. At the end of the 20th century, the Gothic building went through a large-scale reconstruction, after which an exhibition hall was opened here.

An interesting architectural monument in the Byzantine style is Archaggelou Michael Church dated 1695. From the moment of its construction, one of the main features of the church are a wave-shaped roof and a large dome, and its walls are decorated with elaborate bas-reliefs depicting mythical creatures. At the beginning of the 19th century, a rich iconostasis adorned with skillful carvings and gilding was installed in this church. The walls of the church contain valuable ancient icons, some of which were consecrated back in the 15th century. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

In the immediate vicinity of Nicosia is the ancient Machairas Monastery, which was founded in the 12th century and is still active. In 1900, the monastery suffered a fire that destroyed virtually all its buildings. Only a few ancient icons have managed to survive, and pilgrims from all over the world come to see them today. During the reconstruction period, several symbolic monuments dedicated to the national heroes of Cyprus were erected on the territory of the monastery.

One of the country’s main cultural centers - the Cyprus Museum - is located in Nicosia. The museum founded in 1882 displays thousands of valuable archaeological finds that were discovered during the exploration of Cyprus. Currently, the museum occupies a large-scale building built at the beginning of the 20th century. Like it or not, there isn't enough time in the day to see all the exhibits presented here. The museum stores fragments of ancient sculptures, ancient weapons and coins, household items and antique works of art. In total, the museum has 14 halls where exhibits are arranged in chronological order for the convenience of visitors.

Connoisseurs of fine art will be interested in visiting the Museum of Contemporary Art, which occupies another spectacular historic building. It presents collections of sculptures and paintings created by local artists at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The opening of the gallery took place relatively recently, in 1994. Today, part of its halls is RESERVED for temporary exhibitions.

Travelers interested in the history of the Christian religion should never ignore the Byzantine Museum. Its main exhibits are 48 ancient icons that were brought here from all over the country. Not long ago, the museum's collection was replenished with 230 more icons of a later period. Most of them were created at the turn of the 18th-19th century. Besides the icons, you can see fragments of mosaics and frescoes that adorned ancient temples and were discovered over their ruins.

Turkish culture had a great influence on the modern culture of local residents. The Mevlevi Tekke Museum introduces visitors to its peculiarities. It keeps an interesting collection of ancient household items, as well as musical instruments and dervish clothes. Tombs of prominent dervishes can be found on an ancient cemetery located nearby. Now it is also available for visiting as part of the tour. In the Turkish part of the city, there is the interesting architectural complex Büyük Han, the construction of which took place in the second half of the 16th century. In the past, the large-scale building served as an inn, and at the end of the 19th century, the British colonialists converted it into a prison. Guests of Nicosia can delve deeper into the history of the building during the tour.