Northern Cyprus, officially known as the Turkish Republic of Cyprus, is a de facto state. Only Turkey recognises it; for everyone else, it’s all just the Republic of Cyprus.
It is included on the Travelers’ Century Club list, and I classify it as a Country and Territory on my own list.
I covered the details of the division in more detail in my ‘Crossing the Border from Cyprus into Northern Cyprus‘ post, so be sure to check that out.
Nicosia is the capital of Cyprus and is the English name. Lefkosia is the Greek name, and Lefkoşa is the Turkish name. Just to clear that up.
I refer to the southern part of the city as Lefkosia and the northern part of the city as Lefkoşa, which is the subject of this blog post.
Here I am on Ledra Street before making the crossing from the south to the north:
Proper backpacking with a map and brochure from the tourist office:
Once across, you will need some Turkish Lira (OK, everywhere accepts Euro, but the rate is bad). Right by the Lekmaci Crossing Point, as it is known on the northern side, is a money changer which gives the best rates on Euros, compared to 3 others I checked:
Top Sights in the City of Lefkoşa
13 Sights in Lefkoşa (pronounced: Lef Kosha) that are definitely worth visiting:
1. Girne (Kyrenia) Gate:
The Girne Gate is one of three original gates in the northern part of the city walls. The Girne Gate dates from 1562 and was called the Porta del Proveditore, named after the Venetian engineer, Proveditore Francesco Barbaro. The small domed watch tower was added in 1821. The British removed sections of the wall on each side in 1931.
Inscriptions from the Venetian and Ottoman periods:
2. Venetian Column and Atatürk Square:
The granite Venetian Column is located in the centre of Atatürk Square. The column was actually moved from Salamis in 1489:
3. Arabahmet Mosque:
The Arabahmet Mosque is located in the Arab Ahmet Quarter and dates from 1845. It is named after Arab Ahmet Pasha, one of the Turkish commanders during the Ottoman conquest of Cyprus. It is the only mosque in Nicosia featuring a dome:
4. Derviș Pasha Mansion:
This 2-storey building, dating from the 19th Century, was home to Derviș Pasha, the publisher of Zaman, the first newspaper in Cyprus:
5. Arab Ahmet Quarter:
This historic quarter takes its name from Arab Ahmet Pasha, who, as well as being one of the commanders during the conquest of Cyprus, was the Governor of Cyprus between 1584 and 1587:
6. Armenian Church:
The Notre Dame de Tyre or Our Lady of Tyre is an Armenian monastic church located in the Arab Ahmet quarter, founded way back in the 13th Century.
7. Great Khan:
Büyük Han was built in 1572 by order of the Ottoman governor, Mustafa Pasha, to provide accommodation for travellers from across Cyprus and is the largest Caravanserai on the island.
The rooms on the ground level were used for storage and as stables for the animals, whilst the rooms above were used as accommodation.
In the centre of the inner courtyard is a small mescit (Muslim prayer room).
8. The Kumarcilar Khan:
The Kumarcilar Han, Gamblers’ Inn, is a much smaller caravanserai than the Büyük Han and consists of 56 rooms on two levels. It dates from the end of the 17th Century.
9. Eaved House:
The first level of the Eaved House was built in the Lusignan period, though the exact date is unknown, with the upper floor added during the Ottoman period. The construction of which is unique because of the wide eaves.
10. Haydarpasa Camii / St Catherine’s Church:
This Gothic-style church was built in the 14th Century by the Lusignans, but like most churches across Cyprus, it was converted into a mosque during the Ottoman period through the addition of a minaret. Hard to get a decent photo.
11. Yeni Cami Mosque:
The Yeni Cami (New Mosque) is located in the Yeni Jam quarter and occupies the site of a Gothic-style church built in the second half of the 14th Century but converted into a mosque in 1571:
12. St. Luke’s Church:
The Ayios Loukas (St. Luke) Church was built in 1758 and dedicated to St Luke, one of the 4 Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John):
13. Cut Throat Shave:
At some point, I broke off from backpacking in Lefkosa and got a shave. Just 150 TL. It’s not the first shave like this I have had on my travels. Always feel good afterwards:
Picking up some souvenirs from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus:
