Nicosia - Ömeriye Mosque

The site of the mosque was originally occupied by the Augustinian Church of Saint Mary, which dated back to the 14th century. During the Ottoman-Venetian War of 1570–73, the church was heavily damaged during the siege of Nicosia in 1570.


Lala Mustafa Pasha, the Ottoman commander, ordered a mosque to be built on the site of the former church, based on a popular belief that Umar, second caliph of Islam, was buried at this site in 7th century.

The construction of the mosque followed a similar groundsplan to the former church, however building of the mosque was conducted in the Islamic style.


To the northwest some parts of the former parts suvived the times.