Ledra Street

Laedra Street

Attraction Introduction

Laedra Street in the old town is the most bustling area in all of Nicosia, lined with shops packed with a dazzling array of goods, offering everything imaginable. In 1489, after the Venetians occupied the island, they built a circular city wall and 11 heart-shaped bastions in the city center, which remain well-preserved to this day. Located at the central part within the walls is the Selimiye Mosque, which was originally the Gothic Cathedral of Saint Sophia, construction of which began in 1209 and was completed in 1235. After the Turkish invasion in 1570, two minarets were added, and the following year, it was officially converted into a mosque.

It was officially renamed the Selimiye Mosque in 1954 in honor of Sultan Selim II, who conquered Cyprus. The Archbishop’s Palace and St. John’s Church, built during the Crusades, are typical examples of Greek Orthodox churches in the city and are now used as office buildings for the island’s cultural research departments. In addition, there are also some notable buildings from the Byzantine period (330–1191) that are quite distinctive.

The narrow streets of the inner city, cluttered with goods often piled on the sidewalks by traditional handicrafts and leather shops, twist like a maze. Wandering through them feels like stepping back into the medieval old town. The famous Cyprus Museum houses and displays a rich collection of artifacts from the Neolithic Age to the Roman period.

The new districts extending outward from the old town present a completely different scene: here the streets are wide, the urban landscape neat and bustling, roads crisscrossing, and traffic flowing ceaselessly. A well-developed telecommunications industry, along with hotels and office buildings that feature innovative designs and luxurious decorations, attract a large number of domestic and international tourists and investors.

In July 1974, after Turkey sent troops to the island, the city was artificially divided into Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot zones in the north and south. There is no free movement between these zones, with the dividing line guarded by United Nations forces, and military outposts of Greek and Turkish soldiers on either side. Nicosia was thus artificially split into two parts.

Nicosia, Cyprus