Nicosia (Greek Λευκωσία – Lefkosia; Turkish Lefkoşa – Lefkosha) is the capital of the Republic of Cyprus and the partially recognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Located in the central part of the island of Cyprus. 276 thousand inhabitants (2012). The international airport has been closed since 1974 and is the headquarters of the UN peacekeeping force.
As of the end of 2004, south of the Green Line (Greek part of the city) the population is about 270 thousand inhabitants, to the north (Turkish part) 84 893 inhabitants.
Nicosia is a commercial and industrial center. The city has 2 modern shopping complexes, shops, restaurants, entertainment complexes. The city has developed textile, leather, pottery, plastics and other products, food industry. There are copper mines nearby. Nicosia has the University of Cyprus and 5 other universities.

Geography and climate
Nicosia is located on a vast plain in the center of Cyprus Mesaoria, between the Troodos and Kyrenia mountain ranges. Nicosia is located near the Akaki River.

The climate of Nicosia is Mediterranean with semi-desert features (Köppen climate classification: BSh). The presence of warm winters and hot dry summers preclude the development of the city in terms of agriculture. Precipitation is only 300mm, making Nicosia one of the driest (and hottest) cities on the Mediterranean coast.

History
Traces of the first settlers can be traced from 3900 BC. e. The city itself was founded around the XI-VII century BC. e. (назван Ледра, затем Лефкотеон; современное название примерно с XIII века н. e.). It was an ancient Greek city-state. В эллинистический период (примерно в 330 году до н. e.) город утратил своё значение и превратился в небольшую деревушку. In 965, the Byzantines make the city the center of the Theme of Cyprus. In 1191, the English crusader king Richard I the Lionheart conquered the city and transferred it to Guy de Lusignan in 1192. The city becomes the capital of the Cypriot kingdom. It was during this period that the city was named Nicosia. In 1489-1571 the city was ruled by the Venetians. In 1571-1878 under the rule of the Turks. In 1878-1960 under the rule of the British. In 1960 the city became the capital of the independent Republic of Cyprus.

As a result of the invasion of Turkish troops in 1974 and the subsequent proclamation of the Turkish Republic of Northern The city of Cyprus is divided into Turkish and Greek parts. The border between them, guarded by UN troops, runs right through the historic center of the city and through the main shopping street Ledra. The northern (Turkish) part of Nicosia is the capital of the self-proclaimed TRNC and is called Lefkosa.
On April 3, 2008, work began on the dismantling of the wall dividing the city into two parts.

Sights
Gothic Hagia Sophia (XIII-XIV centuries), Church of Our Lady, market ensemble (Gothic basilica, expanded in the XIV-XVI centuries), Famagusta Gate (16th century), St. John’s Cathedral (rebuilt in 1665; painting cycle – about 1730), Archbishop’s Palace (1950-59).

Fortifications
The central part of Nicosia, the so-called old city, is surrounded by huge walls erected by the Venetians between 1567 and 1570. at the end of their reign.
To protect the inhabitants of the city from attacks from the Ottoman Empire, more modern defensive structures were required than the old medieval walls that existed at that time. And in 1567, the Venetians sent military engineers Giulio Savorgnano and Francesco Barbaro to Nicosia to build new walls for the city.
In order to fill the moat surrounding the walls with water, the river Pedieos was diverted around the city center. However, this may have been done to protect the city from flooding.
In addition to building walls, the Venetians also decided to clear the area in order to better see a possible enemy attack. For this purpose, as well as in order to obtain building materials, it was decided to demolish some churches and palaces inside the city, as well as several buildings located outside it.

The Venetian walls had a total length of about 5 km. Together with eleven bastions, they were supposed to serve as the defense of the city.
Experts who lived at that time recognized them as a model of military architecture of the 16th century. The design of these walls combines all sorts of advanced technologies that existed at that time. Technologies that mark the beginning of the Renaissance in the design of fortifications. For example, placing the gates near the bastions made it possible to better protect the gates themselves during the siege. By refusing to cover the upper part of the wall with stone, the engineers increased the ability walls to absorb impact from cannon shots.
However, despite all the efforts of architects and builders, their work was in vain. Under the onslaught of the Ottoman troops in 1570, the city fell. And the Turks, led by Lala Mustafa Pasha, took it before the Venetians could complete their construction. The Ottomans took over the bastions virtually intact, and they remained almost unchanged until the British era of rule on the island.
Since 1996, every section of the walls, along with the three gates, has been restored. During the restoration of the Podocataro bastion, fragments of cannons and other weapons were found. Also found were pottery, lead bullets, a few coins, parts of Ottoman smoking pipes, and the foot of a large stone lion statue.
The bastions were named after the main families of the Italian aristocracy who lived in the city at that time and donated funds for the construction of walls and three gates. Of the eleven bastions, five are in the Turkish sector, five in the Greek sector, and one remains under UN control. Clockwise, starting at the 12 o’clock position, the names of the gates and bastions are as follows:
– Kyrenia Gate (Porta del Proveditore). They were named after military engineer Francesco Barbaro. The Kyrenia Gate was an active gate in the wall until the British built a road on the other side of it in 1931.
– Bastion Musalla (Barbaro). The building of the bastion houses the Turkish armed forces, as well as the National Struggle Museum, which is open to the public.
– Bastion Cevizli (Loradano). Ankara Caglayan Park is located in the moat surrounding the bastion.
– Bastion Sibeli (Flatro). Tourists will not be able to get close to this bastion, as it is occupied by the UN. In order to continue moving further, tourists will have to return to one of the two points to cross the green line (the nearest point is Lokmaci).
– Bastion Caraffa. Melina Mercouri Hall is located here.
– Gate of Famagusta (Porta Giuliani). Gates named after their architect Giulio Savorgnano, Ascanio’s brother. This gate is perhaps the best surviving of all three gates. Today, their premises are used as a cultural center, and various celebrations are held here on holidays.
– Bastion Podocatro. Here there is the Freedom Monument, which is a few bronze figures of people leaving the dungeon. Nearby is a section of an aqueduct that once brought water from the mountains to the city.
– Bastion of Constanta. It was here that in 1570 the Turks storming the city broke through the defense. Now the Bayraktar Mosque is located here.
– Bastion D’Avila. The city hall is located in this bastion. Nearby is Freedom Square (Plateia Eleftherias). This is a traditional gathering place for Greek Cypriots. Nearby is an area called Laiki Geitonia.
– Tripoli Bastion. This bastion is used as a parking lot and a bus stop.
– Paphos Gate (Porta San Domenico). This gate is named after the monastery of Lusignan, which was located nearby. This monastery was demolished by the Venetians in 1567 during the construction of the walls. In the vicinity is the Church of the Holy Catholic Cross. It’s completely no man’s land. The entrance is on the Greek side, and the exit (which is securely closed) is on the Turkish side. The nearest Green Line crossing is at Ledra Street.
– Roccas Bastion. This bastion is located on the Turkish part. It has been turned into a park.
– Bastion of Zahra (Mula). From here you can look down – at a place with a moat. This is where the Green Line is at its widest. It is completed by the UN review post (although it is rarely used these days).
– Bastion Cephane (Quirni). Inside this bastion is the Palace of the President of Northern Cyprus. Further along the circle are the Kyrenia Gates.