The Venetian Walls

Probably the most iconic symbol of Lefkosia, which surround the old town, are the 16th century Venetian Walls that still stand tall. For this Imap I decide to walk the entirety of the southern section of the wall, and thus this is one of those forever incomplete Imap posts as I can’t map the northern section of the wall because there’s a border in the way.

Walking the southern side of wall is a really good way to see both past and future of Lefkosia. At the east end, inside the walls you walk past the Famagusta Gate one of three gates in the walls and one of two in the southern side. A bit further along is the old Nicosian Aqueduct, and the Liberty Monument.

Below the walls, where the moat is (although one questions whether there was ever any water in it considering the heat), there are now parks, football pitches and tennis courts.

Also included is the aforementioned future as between the southwestern bastions a construction project is underway to modernise Eleftheria Square. Although according to a few Cypriots that I have spoken to, the project has taken over 6 years already and they don’t hold out any hope of it being finish any time soon. But still it’s interesting to see the old and new combine in on place.

Then at the western end is the Paphos Gate, a great piece of open archaeology in the city, right next to the buffer zone and the next the next bastion which is in the occupied area. It’s odd to see the walls which should be a border to the outside of the center, have a border inside them.

Here’s the east end.

And the west end.