According to ITYPEJOB, the capital of Cyprus – Nicosia, is located in the central part of the island and has no access to the sea. Its population is about 165 thousand people.
The history of Nicosia begins in the 3rd century BC. e. It was built on the ruins of the ancient city-state of Ledra. Today’s Nicosia is a city with first-class hotels, museums and art galleries, a municipal theater and beautiful parks. It has established itself as an ideal venue for conferences.
The main attractions are located on the territory inside the Venetian walls. The quaint architecture of the city bears the imprint of Frankish, Venetian and Turkish influences. Narrow cobblestone streets are often only open to pedestrians. Not far from the main square of the city is the old renovated Laiki Itonia quarter. It conveys the atmosphere of the early 20th century. Its houses, numerous cafes and shops attract many tourists. As in any capital, Nicosia is home to the most important museums in Cyprus.. They acquaint visitors with the history of the island, folk art, iconography of Byzantium, starting from the 9th century, European religious and mythological painting. It is impossible not to visit the Archaeological Museum, which houses exhibits from the Neolithic period until the end of the era of Roman rule. The most important architectural monument is the house of Hadjigeorgakis Kornessios, a wealthy dragoman (intermediary between the Turkish authorities of Cyprus and the Greek community). Inside, the furnishings that combine Turkish and Byzantine styles have been preserved – columns and marble fountains, a garden, and magnificent carpets.
The churches of Nicosia amaze with their magnificent iconostases. The main churches are St. John’s Cathedral, St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, Fanaromeni Church, Chrysaliniotissa Church, Tripioti Church.
The Nicosia Municipal Theater hosts an extensive program of performances and concerts throughout the year.
Paphos (Cyprus)
Paphos is an ancient Cypriot city with a deep history. It was founded in the 4th century. BC. and is replete with historical monuments. All monuments are included in the list of world cultural values of UNESCO and are under protection. Today Paphos is a calm and quiet resort, but during the era of the Greeks and Romans staying here, it was the capital of the island. Richly decorated houses and palaces were built here.
The history of the city is closely intertwined with Greek mythology. According to legend, not far from Paphos there is a bay from the waters of which the goddess Aphrodite emerged. In the vicinity of the city are the ruins of old Paphos, where the main sanctuary of Aphrodite was located. The annual festivities dedicated to the goddess of love were held here, to which believers flocked from all over the island and even from other countries.
In the city itself, there is an exceptional number of ancient monuments, even for Greece. It is not surprising that all the most significant museums of Greek Cyprus are located in Paphos: the Ethnographic Museum, the Center for Applied Arts, the Byzantine Museum, the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Folk Art. One of the main attractions of Paphos is the tombs carved into the rocks of Fabrika Hill. High-ranking dignitaries from the time of the Ptolemies and the Roman Empire were buried here. Historians suggest that the last king of Cyprus was also buried here.
Ptolemy. Some tombs look like underground palaces with courtyards and columns. Among the rich burials there are also modest catacombs. Also unique are the mosaics of the house of Dionysus, made of pieces of multi-colored marble, stone and glass depicting scenes from Greek mythology. But the works of ancient artists have been preserved not only in the city itself.
In a village near Paphos are the ruins of a huge palace with amazing mosaic floors that was built in Cyprus in the 5th century BC. Tourists from all over the world now come to look at this mosaic. It depicts the animals that lived on the island in the distant past, as well as the extraordinary beauty of the scene from ancient Greek myths.
In Paphos you can look not only at ancient monuments, but also at the churches of the early Christian period. Basilicas of the 10th-12th centuries have been preserved here, and in the vicinity of the city there is the oldest church in Cyprus – the Church of Paraskeva, built in the 9th century.
Paphos consists, as it were, of two parts – the upper and lower towns. The upper city is called Ktima – this is, in fact, the city center, where most of the city’s administrative buildings are located. The lower town (Kato Pafos) stretches along the coast, where most of the sights are located, many souvenir shops, bars, restaurants and discos.
