40 Facts About Nicosia

Nicosia is the southeasternmost of all EU member states' capitals.

Today North Nicosia is the capital of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a state recognized only by Turkey.

Apart from its legislative and administrative functions, Nicosia has established itself as the island's financial capital and its main international business centre.

In 2018, Nicosia was the 32nd richest city in the world in relative purchasing power.

Nicosia has been in continuous habitation since the beginning of the Bronze Age 2500 years BC, when the first inhabitants settled in the fertile plain of Mesaoria.

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Nicosia benefited from this and functioned as an outlet of the agricultural products from its hinterland, the Mesaoria plain.

Nicosia was the seat of the Byzantine governor of Cyprus; the last Byzantine governor was Isaac Komnenos, who declared himself emperor of the island and ruled the island from 1183 to 1191.

Testimony as late as 1211 indicates that Nicosia was not a walled city at that point and thus that the Byzantines did not build a city wall, thinking that the city's inland location would be sufficient for defense purposes.

Richard laid siege to Nicosia, finally met and defeated Isaac Komnenos at Tremetousia and became ruler of the island, but sold it to the Knights Templar.

In 1489, when Cyprus came under the rule of the Republic of Venice, Nicosia became their administrative centre and the seat of the Republic.

In 1567 Venetians built the new fortifications of Nicosia, which are well-preserved still to this day, demolishing the old walls built by the Franks as well as other important buildings of the Frankish era including the King's Palace, other private palaces and churches and monasteries of both Orthodox and Latin Christians.

Nicosia was the seat of the Pasha, the Greek Archbishop, the Dragoman and the Qadi.

Names of the 12 quarters into which Nicosia was originally divided at the time of the Ottoman Conquest are said to be derived from the 12 generals in command of divisions of the Ottoman army at the time.

Nicosia came under the rule of the United Kingdom on 5 July 1878 in consequence of the Cyprus Convention.

The Nicosia column was presumably erected in compliment to the reigning Doge Francesco Donati about the year 1550.

In 1960, Nicosia became the capital of the Republic of Cyprus, a state established by the Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

Nicosia was divided into Greek and Turkish Cypriot quarters with the Green Line, named after the colour of the pen used by the United Nations officer to draw the line on a map of the city.

From 30 October 2016 and onwards, Nicosia became the only capital city in the world that had two time zones, after the parliament of the de facto Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus abolished standard time and decided that Northern Cyprus remains at UTC+03:00 year-round, following Turkey's example.

Nicosia has a hot semi-arid climate due to its low annual precipitation totals and annual temperature range.

In 1963, during the outbreak of hostilities between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, following the announcement of amendments to the Cypriot Constitution, Turkish Cypriots withdrew to the northern part of Nicosia which became one of the many Turkish Cypriot enclaves which existed throughout the island.

Leventis Municipal Museum is the only historical museum of Nicosia and revives the old ways of life in the capital from ancient times up to our days.

Public transport is not controlled by the local authorities, but comes under the Nicosia District administration, which is an arm of the Ministry of the Interior.

In late 2019 the contract for providing transport services in the district of Nicosia was awarded via tender to a private consortium which was expected to take over the system on 5 July 2020.

Nicosia Municipality is responsible for all the municipal duties within the walled city and the immediately adjacent areas.

The Nicosia Turkish Municipality is a member the Union of Cyprus Turkish Municipalities.

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Nicosia'storically Nicosia is a melting pot harmonizing multiple religious establishments, denominations, churches, mosques, synagogues, etc.

Greek Evangelical Church of Nicosia is a relatively modern architecture serving the local Protestant community.

Cyprus Museum in Nicosia is the largest and oldest archaeological museum in Cyprus.

Art galleries in Nicosia include the Leventis Gallery, which hosts over 800 paintings from Cypriot, Greek or European artists.

Nicosia offers a wide variety of musical and theatrical events, organized either by the municipality or independent organizations.

In June 2011, Nicosia launched a failed campaign to become the European Capital of Culture for 2017.

Nicosia has a large student community as it is the seat of five universities, the University of Cyprus, the University of Nicosia, the European University Cyprus, the Open University of Cyprus and Frederick University.

Nicosia is home to the one of the largest historic Armenian schools, the Melkonian Educational Institute established in 1926 which operated until 2005.

Nicosia is linked with other major cities in Cyprus via a modern motorway network.

In 2010, as part of the Nicosia Integrated Mobility Plan, a pre-feasibility study for a proposed tram network has taken place and sponsored by the Ministry of Communications and Works.

In 2011, the Nicosia Municipality introduced the Bike in Action scheme, a bicycle sharing system which covers the Greater Nicosia area.

Football is the most popular sport in Cyprus, and Nicosia is home of three major teams of the island; APOEL, Omonia and Olympiakos.

Nicosia is home to AGBU Ararat Nicosia FC, the island's only Armenian FC.

Nicosia is the home for many clubs for basketball, handball and other sports.

Nicosia hosted the 2000 ISSF World Cup Final shooting events for the shotgun.