Martin M. Miles' photos

Ömeriye Mosquem seen from the Shacolas Tower (aka Ledras Tower), a highrise building, located in the old town of Nicosia. 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 Shacolas Tower (aka Ledras Tower) is a highrise building, completed in 1959. It is located in the old town of Nicosia and it was the tallest building in Cyprus until 1978. The 11th floor is an observatory and museum overlooking Nicosia.

The Byzantine Museum in Nicosia houses the most significant and representative collection of Byzantine art on the island. The museum is located in a side wing of the Archbishop’s Palace and offers visitors a journey through Cyprus’s religious and cultural heritage. The reconstruction of the fresco The Root of Jesse which originally adorned the walls of the Monastery of Antiphonitis in Northern Cyprus. Following the conflict of 1974, the fresco was cut into numerous pieces by antiquities smugglers and illegally taken out of the country. After years of efforts and legal battles, many of these pieces were recovered from private collections abroad.

Petros Kiosk is the place to go for a really good Cypriot coffee and some tasty snacks. Since 1969!

Cypriot coffee is similar to Turkish or Greek coffee, but is prepared with a sense of pride and specific rituals. The drink is very strong, has a thick layer of foam and is always served with a glass of cold water. There are three levels of sweetness: Skretos – without any sugar Metrios – one teaspoon of sugar Glykos – two teaspoons of sugar.

Many houses in the old part of Nicosia needs a renovation with tender loving care

Many houses in the old part of Nicosia needs a renovation with tender loving care

Here, the hungry customer gets authentic Armenian street food. The kiosk is very popular, so you have to wait in line for a little while to order. It’s not exactly cozy, but it is delicious. The grill platter is huge. Luckily, they offer doggy bags.

Here, the hungry customer gets authentic Armenian street food. The kiosk is very popular, so you have to wait in line for a little while to order. It’s not exactly cozy, but it is delicious. Khachapuri

This street corner at Eleftheria Square is one of the best places to meet up. Everyone in Nicosia knows where "La Croissanterie" is — even the tourists (after three days).

Makarios III was a Greek Cypriot cleric and politician who served as Archbishop of the Church of Cyprus from 1950 to 1977, and as the first President of Cyprus between 1960 and July 1974—followed by a second term between December 1974 and 1977. He is widely regarded as the founding father of the Republic of Cyprus and spearheaded its transition from British colonial rule. As President of Cyprus, he had two stately automobiles at his disposal, which are now gathering dust in a glass-enclosed garage.

The Archbishop's Palace serves as the official residence of the Archbishop of Cyprus. The two-story palace was constructed between 1956 and 1960 in a Neo-Byzantine architectural style. Standing prominently in front of the building is a life-size statue of Archbishop Makarios III, the first president of Cyprus,

The cathedral was built in the 14th century at the site of Benedictine Abbey of St. John the Theologian that had been founded by the House of Lusignan. First reference about the church appears in historical sources starting from the eleventh century. Due to frequent Mamluk invasions, Benedictines left the island in 1426, and the monastery was passed over to the Orthodox. Archbishop Nikiphoros reconstructed the church in the 17th century. A marble slab, installed above the western entrance, has a date, 30 April 1662. After the reconstruction, the church became the residence of the Archbishop of Cyprus in 1720. The enthronements of Archbishops of Cyprus are held there.

The cathedral was built in the 14th century at the site of Benedictine Abbey of St. John the Theologian that had been founded by the House of Lusignan. First reference about the church appears in historical sources starting from the eleventh century. Due to frequent Mamluk invasions, Benedictines left the island in 1426, and the monastery was passed over to the Orthodox. Archbishop Nikiphoros reconstructed the church in the 17th century. A marble slab, installed above the western entrance, has a date, 30 April 1662. After the reconstruction, the church became the residence of the Archbishop of Cyprus in 1720. The enthronements of Archbishops of Cyprus are held there.

The Pancyprian Gymnasium is the oldest still operational high school in Cyprus, founded in 1812 by Archbishop Kyprianos, at a time when Cyprus was still under Ottoman rule. The original building was destroyed by fire in 1920, and parts of the school were rebuilt in the Neoclassical style.

This place looks dusty and sleepy during the day. But when it gets dark, the LOVE sign glows red and the live music starts inside, it turns into a really lively bar.

The cathedral was inaugurated in 2021. Serving as the cathedral of the Church of Cyprus, it is dedicated to Saint Barnabas, the founder and protector of the Church of Cyprus. It serves as the seat of the Archbishop and is designed in a traditional Byzantine cross-in-square style with modern elements, featuring a large dome and a bell tower.

Ömeriye Hamam is a historic Ottoman bathhouse. It was created by Lala Mustafa Pasha in the 1570s and was part of the larger complex of the Ömeriye Mosque. The hammam was restored in 2002–2004 and is still in use today as a bathhouse and spa. www.hamamomerye.com