NICOSIA (LEFKOSIA) - Cyprus - page 280

Venetian Walls HISTORIC SITE
( MAP GOOGLE MAP )
The Venetian walls form a border around the Old City so unusual that, once seen on a
map, you'll never forget it. And that's partly to do with its odd snowflake-like shape.
Dating from 1567, the circular defence wall, was erected by the Venetian rulers to ward
off the Ottoman invaders. Unfortunately it failed and, in July 1570, the Ottomans landed
in Larnaka and three months later stormed the fortifications killing some 50,000 inhabit-
ants. The walls have remained in place ever since.
Five of the bastions, Tripoli, D'Avila , Constanza , Podocataro and Caraffa , are in the
southern sector of Nicosia. The Flatro (Sibeli) Bastion on the eastern side of the Old City
is occupied by Turkish, Greek Cypriot and UN military forces. The remaining bastions,
Loredano (Cevizli), Barbaro (Musalla), Quirini (Cephane), Mula (Zahra) and Roccas
(Kaytazağa), are in North Nicosia (Lefkoşa).
The Venetian walls and moat around Nicosia (Lefkosia) are in excellent condition.
They are used to provide car-parking spaces and venues for outdoor concerts, as well as
for strolling and relaxing. In North Nicosia, the walls are in poorer shape and have be-
come overgrown and dilapidated in parts.
There are vehicle access points around the walls, which allow regular traffic access to
the Old City.
House of Hatzigeorgakis Kornesios MUSEUM
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; Patriarchou Grigoriou 20; admission €1.70; h 8am-2pm Mon-Fri, 9am-1pm Sat)
From 1779 to 1809, the House of Hatzigeorgakis Kornesios belonged to Kornesios, the
Great Dragoman of Cyprus, who accumulated his vast wealth through various estates and
tax exemptions, and became the most powerful man in Cyprus. The house itself is more
beautiful and interesting than the exhibits within. Only one room is set up as mock living
quarters, with plush floor cushions and nargileh (water pipes) for smoking. The rest of the
mansion is given over to displays of antiques and Ottoman memorabilia.
Kornesios was eventually driven from Cyprus to Istanbul by a peasant revolt in 1804,
which was aimed at the ruling classes in general. When he returned from exile five years
later, he was accused of treason, his property was confiscated and he was unceremoni-
ously beheaded.
Makarios Cultural Foundation MUSEUM
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; Plateia Archiepiskopou Kyprianou; admission €1.70; h 9am-4.30pm Mon-Fri, to 1pm Sat)
The highlight of the foundation is the magnificent Byzantine Art Museum , which has the
island's largest collection of icons relating to Cyprus. There are some 220 pieces in the
museum, dating from the 5th to 19th centuries. Don't miss the six examples of the superb