Museums in Nicosia

Museums in Nicosia - Guide of Cyprus Museums in Nicosia, Lefkosia

Museums in Nicosia
Cyprus Museum: Opening hours: 08:00 - 17:00 Winter and 08:00 - 13:00 Summer Because, quite understandably, most articles of portable size and weight have been salvaged from their sites, and as many as possible have found their way here, it is of great value to visitors to Cyprus to spend some time thoroughly inspecting the collections in a museum which enjoys a world-wide reputation. Even for people not fanatically museum minded, in this special case there is great benefit to be derived from seeing the exhibits before the sites from which they came have been visited - and afterwards, too. The ivory furniture and bronze cauldrons (c. eighth century B.C.) and other discoveries from the royal tombs at Salamis are of exceptional interest. The Cyprus Museum came into being in 1908 as a memorial to Queen Victoria, and was used for housing collections which until that date had been scattered in various institutes in the city. Reorganization was undertaken in 1935, and an extension was built in 1959-61. The museum is in fact a vital, growing concern. The arrangement is good, and designed to lead visitors forward from room to room, beginning at the earliest period, the Neolithic and Chalcolithic Ages (e. 5800-2300 B.C.).

Folk Art Museum Housed in the old archiepiscopal palace, and separated from the modern one by the Church of St John, this museum is excellent of its kind. Village arts and crafts are displayed in stone arched recesses according to the districts of their origin. Bridal costumes, silk sheets and many other examples of weaving and embroidery, pottery and carving give great insight into a vanishing way of life.

Musee Lapidaire Apply to custodian at Selimiye Mosque. An old Venetian house where stone carvings are displayed.

Icons Museum On an upper floor, immediately above the Folk Museum and reached by an outer staircase. Fabulous collection of painted icons from Byzantine churches which created great interest when on a travelling exhibition abroad in 1970.

Tekke of the Mevlevi Dervishes Originally a monastery of the famous Whirling Dervish sect. This was closed in conformity with Kemal Ataturk's suppression of all such monasteries in Turkey. Now the oriental compound and bath like domed structure houses a small collection of typical Turkish arts and crafts.

The Buyuk Khan An example of a typical medieval Turkish caravanserai designed to shelter travellers and their beasts of burden. Similar to the neighbouring Kourmardjilar Khan, it has deteriorated into shabby but still picturesque housing.

Venetian Column This is a pillar of grey granite which stands in the middle of Ataturk Square. Venetians as a symbol of their ascendancy over Cyprus . It is belived to have come from Salamis, near Famagusta.

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