In Nicosia, the Old Town is perhaps the most alluring section. Enclosed by ancient Venetian fortifications and traversed by the waters of the Pedheiose, this maze of municipal gardens and ancient architecture, is the central part and attracts much of the tourist crowd.

To understand the religious influences behind Cypriot culture, you must see the exhibits of the Byzantine Museum in the Archbishop Makorios Cultural Foundation. The collection of mosaics in this exhibit is particularly striking.  

In Southern Nicosia, you can drown in the cultural offerings from the Leventis Municipal Museum which chronicles the history of Cyprus from prehistoric times to the present day. Left of the Leventis Museum, is the Dragoman Hadjigeorgakis – a stunning museum building housing some interesting cultural artifacts.

 The Famagusta Gate on the eastern side of the city once was the main entrance to Nicosia. It is a major tourist attraction and a cultural venue today.
Other points of interest include the Ayios Ionnis or St. John’s Cathderal which has 18th century Gothic architectural influence, as well as some truly splendid frescoes from that period exhibits.
 

Northern Lefkosia
Across the Green Line, in Northern Lefkosia, the center of town is concentrated around the Ataturk Square. The Selimiye Mosque, located in the Turkish sector of Nicosia was originally a Christian Church. After the Ottomans conquered the country and the capital, it was converted to a mosque. It is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in the country, and all the more unique because of the unusual combination of its architectural lineage and religious usage.

To the north of Ataturk Square, you will find the Girne Gate,and next to that, the Turkish Museum, housed in a 17th century monastery. Also of interest should be the Cyprus Folk Museum and the Cyprus Historical Museum & Archives.