Get app
Journey through Nicosia, the vibrant capital of Cyprus! Test your knowledge on its rich history, unique geography, cultural landmarks, and delicious local traditions.
Nicosia Novice 0–4 · Nicosia Explorer 5–8 · Nicosia Insider 9–10
Tap the right answer
The Venetian walls of Nicosia are famously star-shaped, a sophisticated defensive design from the 16th century. This innovative layout, featuring eleven bastions, allowed for excellent flanking fire against besieging forces, making Nicosia one of the best-fortified cities of its era. The walls remain a prominent feature of the city's landscape today.
Photo: Nicosia029, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Tap the right answer
The buffer zone dividing Nicosia, and indeed Cyprus, is known as the Green Line. Established in 1974 following the Turkish invasion, it is patrolled by the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). The name originates from a green pen line drawn on a map by a British officer in 1963 to delineate areas between communities during earlier intercommunal strife.
Photo: Golbez, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Tap the right answer
The magnificent Selimiye Mosque, located in the northern part of Nicosia, was originally constructed as the Cathedral of Saint Sophia during the Lusignan period in the 13th century. It served as the coronation church for the Lusignan kings of Cyprus. After the Ottoman conquest in 1570, it was converted into a mosque, with minarets added to its distinctive Gothic structure.
Photo: A.Savin, Wikimedia Commons, FAL.
Tap the right answer
Ledra Street is one of Nicosia's most historic and bustling thoroughfares, renowned as a vibrant shopping district. It's a pedestrianized street filled with shops, cafes, and restaurants, stretching through the heart of the old city. Historically, a crossing point on Ledra Street was opened in 2008, symbolizing a step towards reunification and allowing people to cross between the city's northern and southern parts.
Photo: Nicosiaduringnight1, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Tap the right answer
The Cyprus Museum, the oldest and largest archaeological museum on the island, houses an extensive collection of Cypriot antiquities. Its exhibits trace the island's civilization from the Neolithic Age to the early Christian period, showcasing pottery, sculptures, jewellery, and coins. One of its most famous exhibits is the large collection of terracotta figurines from the Ayia Irini sanctuary.
Photo: A.Savin, Wikimedia Commons, FAL.
Tap the right answer
Famagusta Gate is one of the three main entrances of the Venetian Walls that encircle the old city of Nicosia. Built in the 16th century, it was originally known as Porta Giuliana and was the grandest of the gates, leading to the city of Famagusta. Today, the gate has been beautifully restored and serves as a cultural center, hosting various exhibitions and events.
Photo: A.Savin, Wikimedia Commons, FAL.
Tap the right answer
Nicosia lies in the heart of the Mesaoria Plain, the largest plain in Cyprus. This fertile agricultural region stretches across the central part of the island, nestled between the Troodos Mountains to the south and the Kyrenia Mountains to the north. The plain's strategic location and rich soil have historically made it a vital area for settlement and cultivation, influencing Nicosia's development.
Tap the right answer
Nicosia rose to prominence and became the capital of the Kingdom of Cyprus under the rule of the Lusignan dynasty. This French noble family governed Cyprus from 1192 to 1489, establishing a Crusader state. During their reign, Nicosia saw significant development, including the construction of grand Gothic cathedrals and palaces, transforming it into a major medieval city.
Tap the right answer
The Presidential Palace in Nicosia, the official residence of the President of Cyprus, was originally built as the residence of the British Governor. Following Cyprus's independence in 1960, it became the official residence of Archbishop Makarios III, the first President of the Republic of Cyprus. The original building was destroyed during the 1974 coup attempt but was subsequently rebuilt.
Photo: Iakovos Hatzistavrou, European Commission, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.
Tap the right answer
The Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia is dedicated to chronicling the social and historical development of the city from prehistoric times to the present day. It was the first historical museum in Cyprus, established in 1984. Through its extensive collections of artifacts, maps, costumes, and photographs, it offers visitors a comprehensive insight into Nicosia's rich past and evolving identity.
Photo: User:Leventis Museum, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Want to make a quiz like this yourself? Do it on Votur, it's free.
Paste the code into your page. The player fits itself in, and every vote counts in Votur.
On WordPress, Ghost or Squarespace? Just paste the link of this page into your post.
This is how it looks
Also fun
How well do you know Chișinău? · 10 →How well do you know Moldova? · 10 →How well do you know Sofia? · 10 →How well do you know Bulgaria? · 10 →How well do you know Bucharest? · 10 →How well do you know Romania? · 10 →How well do you know Cyprus? · 10 →How well do you know Podgorica? · 10 →How well do you know Montenegro? · 10 →How well do you know Skopje? · 10 →How well do you know North Macedonia? · 10 →How well do you know Tirana? · 10 →How well do you know Albania? · 10 →How well do you know Sarajevo? · 10 →How well do you know Bosnia and Herzegovina? · 10 →How well do you know Belgrade? · 10 →How well do you know Serbia? · 10 →How well do you know Zagreb? · 10 →How well do you know Croatia? · 10 →How well do you know Valletta? · 10 →How well do you know Malta? · 10 →How well do you know Ljubljana? · 10 →How well do you know Slovenia? · 10 →How well do you know Saturn? · 10 →How well do you know Jupiter? · 10 →How well do you know Mars? · 10 →How well do you know the Solar System? · 10 →How well do you know the Sun? · 10 →How well do you know the Moon? · 10 →How well do you know Budapest? · 10 →How well do you know Hungary? · 10 →How well do you know Bratislava? · 10 →How well do you know Slovakia? · 10 →How well do you know Prague? · 10 →How well do you know Czechia? · 10 →How well do you know Warsaw? · 10 →How well do you know Poland? · 10 →How well do you know Luxembourg City? · 10 →How well do you know Luxembourg? · 10 →How well do you know Dublin? · 10 →How well do you know Ireland? · 10 →How well do you know Vilnius? · 10 →How well do you know Lithuania? · 10 →How well do you know Riga? · 10 →How well do you know Latvia? · 10 →How well do you know Reykjavík? · 10 →How well do you know Iceland? · 10 →How well do you know Helsinki? · 10 →How well do you know Finland? · 10 →How well do you know Oslo? · 10 →How well do you know Norway? · 10 →How well do you know Stockholm? · 10 →How well do you know Sweden? · 10 →How well do you know Madrid? · 10 →How well do you know Spain? · 10 →How well do you know Rome? · 10 →How well do you know Italy? · 10 →How well do you know Bern? · 10 →How well do you know Switzerland? · 10 →How well do you know Vienna? · 10 →How well do you know Austria? · 10 →How well do you know Berlin? · 10 →How well do you know London? · 10 →How well do you know the United Kingdom? · 10 →How well do you know Paris? · 10 →How well do you know France? · 10 →How well do you know Brussels? · 10 →How well do you know Amsterdam? · 10 →How well do you know the Netherlands? · 10 →How well do you know Copenhagen? · 10 →How well do you know Denmark? · 10 →How well do you know Athens? · 10 →How well do you know Greece? · 10 →How well do you know Lisbon? · 10 →How well do you know Portugal? · 10 →How well do you know Tallinn? · 10 →How well do you know Estonia? · 10 →Belgium · 8 →Universe · 10 →Which Greek hero are you? · 8 →Gulpen · 5 →How well do you know Dutch weather? · 10 →How well do you know Germany? · 10 →Who owns the Netherlands? · 10 →The little church village of Klimmen · 10 →Do you know Neutral Moresnet? · 10 →