Walking South Nicosia – Cyprus’ Divided Capital Uncovered

Walking South Nicosia – Cyprus’ Divided Capital Uncovered

Lokmacı Crossing reopened in April 2008 after 44 years of closure Ledra Street (Λέδρας) — named after the ancient kingdom of Ledra (c.1050 BC) Today it is a prime pedestrian avenue, full of cafés and shops, symbolic of modern Nicosia Under British rule Ledra became a bustling commercial artery; its reopening marked a cautious step toward reconciliation narrow lanes with preserved limestone façades and wooden balconies Many buildings here date from the late 19th century, showing Ottoman and colonial influences Archangel Michael Tripiotis Church founded 1695 Built of local sandstone in a late-Byzantine idiom, it houses an 18th-century walnut iconostasis gilded in gold leaf Explore the medieval heart of Famagusta — Venetian walls, Gothic cathedrals, and echoes of centuries past Agios Savvas Church — a parish with medieval roots, current fabric largely 18th–19th century Fragments of older masonry and ancient olive trees in its courtyard testify to centuries of continuous Christian presence Omeriye Mosque — originally the 14th-century Augustinian church of Saint Mary Converted to a mosque after the Ottoman conquest in 1571 by Lala Mustafa Pasha, its Gothic arches remain visible Discover the ghostly silence of Varosha, once Cyprus’s most glamorous resort — frozen since 1974 Hamam Omeriye — the adjacent Ottoman bath complex, rebuilt and restored over centuries Today the domed chambers and marble basins evoke the rhythm of 16th–17th century urban life in Nicosia Archaeological Site — excavations reveal civic structures of the Lusignan and Venetian eras Findings include storage rooms, cisterns and foundations that map medieval municipal life inside the walls Nicosia Town Hall — a neoclassical municipal building established under British administration Apostle Barnabas Cathedral — dedicated to Saint Barnabas, patron saint of Cyprus The current building dates from the early 20th century and stands beside the Archbishop’s official residence Archbishop’s Palace (Αρχιεπισκοπικό Μέγαρο) — completed in 1960 in pink limestone It houses the Archbishop’s offices and ethnographic collections, linking church and national identity Ana Ledra Street again – boutiques, galleries and Ottoman arches sit against the backdrop of Venetian walls This stretch shows the city’s layered urban fabric — commercial life threaded through centuries of history Eleftheria Square redesigned by Zaha Hadid, completed in 2021 The €50M project reconnects medieval fortifications with the modern city and creates a new civic heart Walk along the reopened seafront of Varosha — where turquoise waves meet the ruins of lost luxury Tripoli Bastion — one of the eleven Venetian bastions built c.1567–1570 Its angled profile and earthen core reflect Renaissance military engineering by Venetian masters Cyprus Archaeological Museum founded 1882, holding over 15,000 artefacts Collections span Neolithic to Roman periods — highlights include statues from Soloi and prehistoric pottery Theatre opened 1967, renovated 2012 A 1,200-seat modern venue, central to the city’s cultural life and annual performing arts programmes Take a quiet break in the Municipal Gardens — a green oasis where Nicosia still breathes peacefully Gardens established c.1901 during British rule, about 14 acres of public parkland Palm alleys, fountains and open-air sculptures provide a quiet green lung in the urban core Step across the border to North Nicosia — minarets and 50 years of divided history in 1st part of this walk Paphos Gate — a Venetian gate from c.1567, gateway toward the southwest routes to Paphos Next to the gate stands the Holy Cross Catholic Church (built 1902) — a neo-Gothic parish for the Latin community Holy Cross Catholic Church — built by Franciscan clergy, notable for its Gothic-revival spire and stained glass Nearby is Our Lady of Graces Maronite Church — a rare Maronite presence, testament to the island’s religious mosaic Final note — southern Nicosia mixes Byzantine, Venetian, Ottoman and British layers, each visible in stone and street This walk closes where civic life and ancient memory meet — an invitation to look closer at a city of echoes

Walking through South Nicosia (Lefkosia), the Greek side of Europe’s last divided capital.
Starting at the Lokmacı Crossing — once sealed by barbed wire for decades — the walk moves through the sun-washed alleys of Ledra Street, past churches, mosques, Ottoman baths, and neoclassical landmarks that tell the layered story of this island.
00:00 – Intro
01:04 – Lokmacı Geçiş Noktası (Lokmaci Crossing)
01:50 – Ledra Street
05:15 – Arsinois
05:30 – Archangel Michael Tripiotis Church
06:50 – Agios Savvas
07:34 – Omeriye Mosque
09:16 – Hamam Omerye
10:28 – Archaeological Site of Palaion Demarcheion
11:00 – Nicosia Town Hall
11:48 – Apostle Barnabas Cathedral
12:43 – Archbishop’s Palace
15:15 – Ledra Street, Pt 2
17:27 – Eleftheria Square
21:19 – Tripoli Bastion
25:52 – Cyprus Archaeological Museum
28:30 – Nicosia Municipal Theatre
28:30 – Nicosia Municipal Gardens
29:23 – Paphos Gate, Holy Cross Catholic Church
31:20 – Holy Cross Catholic Church

From the 14th-century Omeriye Mosque to the Venetian walls and Eleftheria Square designed by Zaha Hadid, every corner speaks of history and transformation.
The route also includes Tripiotis Church, the Archbishop’s Palace, Cyprus Archaeological Museum, and quiet moments inside Municipal Gardens near the Paphos Gate — where the past and present of Cyprus meet face to face.

This is the southern part of Nicosia — vibrant, sunlit, yet carrying the weight of division that still defines the island after half a century.

🔗 Watch also:
• Varosha Ghost Town Walk – the abandoned Famagusta resort sealed since 1974 [https://youtu.be/F5bi-I3Nd4k]
• Nicosia North – Exploring the Turkish side of the divided capital [https://youtu.be/f1l-rhy8PSM]
• Famagusta Old Town – Between medieval walls and silence by the sea
• Varosha Beachfront Walk – 50 years of stillness and sea breeze [https://youtu.be/HJIXSWpVMXk]

🎵 Music: licensed / ambient
🎥 Shot in October 2025
📍Location: Lefkosia (South Nicosia), Cyprus
This video is suitable for general audiences, including family-friendly viewing.