Arasta Sokak, Lefkoşa, Turkish Republic of North Cyprus - looking towards the twin minarets of the Selimiye Mosque
Nicosia - Greek: Λευκωσία and Turkish: Lefkoşa is the largest city on the island of Cyprus. It is located near the centre of the Mesaoria plain, on the banks of the River Pedieos. However, this is a dry river bed unless there are exceptional and prolonged torrential rains.
Nicosia is the capital and seat of government of the Republic of Cyprus, and as such is the farthest southeast of all EU member states' capitals. It has been continuously inhabited for over 4,500 years and has been the capital of Cyprus since the 10th century.
The Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities of Nicosia segregated into the south and north of the city respectively in 1963, following the crisis from 1955–64 that broke out in the city. This separation became a militarized border between the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus after Turkey had to intervene in the genocide of Turkish Cypriots by the Greeks and Greek Cypriots in 1974 (see The Genocide Files by author Harry Scott Gibbons).
The Turkish Cypriots now live in the north of the island, including northern Nicosia. Today the Northern part of Lefkoşa is the capital of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country recognised only by Turkey, that is considered to be occupied Cypriot territory by the international community.
Arasta Sokak, Lefkoşa, Turkish Republic of North Cyprus - looking towards the twin minarets of the Selimiye Mosque
Nicosia - Greek: Λευκωσία and Turkish: Lefkoşa is the largest city on the island of Cyprus. It is located near the centre of the Mesaoria plain, on the banks of the River Pedieos. However, this is a dry river bed unless there are exceptional and prolonged torrential rains.
Nicosia is the capital and seat of government of the Republic of Cyprus, and as such is the farthest southeast of all EU member states' capitals. It has been continuously inhabited for over 4,500 years and has been the capital of Cyprus since the 10th century.
The Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities of Nicosia segregated into the south and north of the city respectively in 1963, following the crisis from 1955–64 that broke out in the city. This separation became a militarized border between the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus after Turkey had to intervene in the genocide of Turkish Cypriots by the Greeks and Greek Cypriots in 1974 (see The Genocide Files by author Harry Scott Gibbons).
The Turkish Cypriots now live in the north of the island, including northern Nicosia. Today the Northern part of Lefkoşa is the capital of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country recognised only by Turkey, that is considered to be occupied Cypriot territory by the international community.