Venetian Walls to Archbishop's Palace: Nicosia Audio Tour
Select Date and Travelers
On average, this is booked 43 days in advance.
In the last 1,000 years, Nicosia has been conquered by the French, Venetians, Ottomans, and British, leaving the capital of Cyprus still divided to this day. On this self-guided walking tour through the old city, you'll uncover the tell-tale clues of this complex past etched into sites like the Venetian coat of arms on Famagusta Gate. Starting beside the Liberty Monument, you'll follow part of the Venetian Walls before winding through the old city centre, hearing how 300 years of French reign, Venetian ambition, and Ottoman rule each changed the city's fate. Along the way, discover churches with precious icons and frescoes, walk streets where schools and homes stand abandoned near a military zone, and find the dividing line that only one country in the world recognises. The tour ends in front of the Archbishop's Palace.
Medieval Venetian Walls
Follow part of the Venetian Walls, contemplating their hasty construction against the Ottoman siege. Take in these imperfect defenses, which ultimately enabled the Ottomans to conquer the city.
Famagusta Gate
Catch a glimpse of the Venetian coat of arms on Famagusta Gate. Discover this tell-tale clue of the city's complex past, etched into the stone itself.
Stop 3
Reach the Taht-el-Kale quarter, whose name means "the lower castle" in Turkish, referring to the lowest part of the fortress near Famagusta Gate. Discover how this neighbourhood became a bustling trade hub, where goods arriving from the Famagusta harbour were first unloaded in the city.
Stop 4
Catch a glimpse of the Church of Agios Kassianos, believed to date back to the 18th century, though possibly built on the site of an earlier Byzantine-era church. Discover this quiet corner of the old city, home to one of Nicosia's many neighbourhood churches.
Archbishop's Palace
End your tour in front of the Archbishop's Palace. Take in this fitting conclusion to a journey through Nicosia's 1,000-year history of conquest and resistance.
Liberty Monument
Begin your tour next to the Liberty Monument. Discover the four-year struggle for independence that this landmark commemorates, along with a few other tidbits related to the city's British occupation.
Stop 7
Catch a glimpse of the Holy Church of Panagia Chrysaliniotissa, considered the oldest Byzantine church in Nicosia and sometimes dated to the 5th century. Discover its rich collection of old and rare icons, a legacy rebuilt around 1450 by Queen Helena Palaeologina.
Stop 8
Pass by the monument to Archbishop Kyprianos, publicly hanged here on July 9, 1821, along with hundreds of other prominent Cypriots. Discover how this event marked a turning point in relations between the island's communities.
Getting to the meeting point by bus
- Famagusta Gateabout 50 m awayNPT (Nicosia)
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- Polyergastiria - Chrysaliniotissaabout 150 m awayNPT (Nicosia)
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- Ave. Salaminos - Vasileos Georgiou B Squareabout 200 m awayNPT (Nicosia)
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- Nicosia Multipurpose Centreabout 200 m awayNPT (Nicosia)
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Scheduled times in Cyprus local time, from the Cyprus National Access Point (CC BY 4.0). Timetables and routes can change — check with the operator before travelling.
Select Date and Travelers
On average, this is booked 43 days in advance.