Nicosia

Nicosia, known in Greek as Lefkosia and in Turkish as Lefkoşa, is the capital and largest city of Cyprus. It sits near the island’s center and serves as the administrative, cultural, and economic hub of the country. The city has a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. It is the political heart of the island, reflecting its Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot communities.

Since the mid-twentieth century, Nicosia has been divided by the Green Line, a UN-patrolled cease-fire border. The southern part serves as the capital of the Republic of Cyprus, while the northern part hosts the de facto capital of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a state recognized only by Turkey. The buffer zone is maintained by UNFICYP. A pedestrian crossing along Ledra Street, in the city center, reopened in 2003, enabling movement between the two sides.

The old city occupies a compact area within its Venetian-era walls. Notable features include historic gates and palaces, and several religious buildings. The Cyprus Museum in the southern part houses the island’s largest archaeological collections. In the north, many historic churches have been repurposed as mosques, such as the Selimiye Mosque (formerly Hagia Sophia). The city is also home to universities, research centers, and cultural institutions, contributing to education and the arts in Cyprus.

Nicosia is the administrative heart of the island, hosting government ministries, parliaments, and diplomatic missions. The economy is dominated by public administration, services, finance, and education, with tourism growing in importance. Civil aviation access is via airports outside the city; Nicosia International Airport was closed after the conflict in the 1970s, with Larnaca International Airport serving as the main international gateway.