Nicosia (Lefkosia), Cyprus

Nicosia, known as Lefkosia to Cypriots, is the capital and seat of government of Cyprus. It has been continuously inhabited for 4500 years and has been the capital of Cyprus since the 10th century. Around 1050 BC it became a city-state known as Ledra, which later became an important Hellenistic and Roman city known as Lefkosia. It was the Lusignan dynasty that named the city Nicosia, as they were incapable (or unwilling) of pronouncing Lefkosia.
In the 1960s, following the violence between Greek and Turkish Cypriots,  the city was divided into the capital of Greek Cyprus and the capital of Turkish Cyprus. In 1974 an attempted coup d'etat led by the Greek military junta to unite the island with Greece lead to an actual separation of North and South. In 2008, following lengthy negotiations and as part of the efforts to reunite the island, a crossing was opened in Ledra Street.
Hence, Nicosia has the peculiarity of having a border in its main commercial street; however, you can easily cross it and walk to Northern Nicosia as long as you have your passport.

What to see in Nicosia:

Byzantine Museum
Cyprus Museum
Dragoman House
Folk Art Museum
Ledra Street
Shacolas Tower Museum Observatory

Liberty Monument, Podocatro Bastion


Selymiye Mosque


Local: Nicósia, Chipre

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