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The foundation
of the city
dates back
around 2250
years and it is
now the capital
of the island
with a
population of
around 110000
and was
developed mainly
during the
Lusignan period.
The city is
divided into
Turkish and
Greek sectors by
a boundary known
as the green
line which runs
in an east -
west direction.
The ramparts,
which were built
by the Venetians
in 1570 to
protect the city
from the Turks,
are thick and
high. They
encircle the
city and are
4.5km in length
with 11 towers.
Inside the city
walls are
numerous remains
of the Middle
Ages and later
periods. Outside
the walls are no
remains
whatsoever of
the Middle Ages
since materials
from building
outside of the
walls have been
used in the
restoration of
the ramparts at
various times.
Inside the city
walls are
beautiful
examples of
Gothic and
Ottoman
architectural
forms, among
which are the
Selimiye Mosque
(St.Sophia
Cathedral),
Bedesten
(covered bazaar
- St. George
Cathedral), a
Lapidary Museum
set in an old
Venetian house
and an obelisk,
while belonging
to the Ottoman
period are the
Arabahmet
Mosque, the
Buyuk Han (Grand
Inn), the
Kumarcilar Han
(Gamblers' Inn),
the Sultan
Mahmut II
Library, and
countless other
monuments. Like
the other towns
of Cyprus which
remained under
Ottoman rule for
more than 300
years, Lefkosa
too is typically
Turkish in
character.
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