Nicosia (Greek Levkosía; Turkish, Lefkosa), city in northern Cyprus, capital of the country, on the Pedhieos River. Nicosia is mainly a commercial and administrative center and has some small-scale manufacturing industries. Products include processed food, clothing, textiles, and footwear. The city is served by an international airport at Larnaca, about 34 km (about 21 mi) to the southeast. Selimiye Mosque (1209-1325), formerly the Cathedral of Saint Sophia, is a major landmark. Also of interest are the Cyprus Museum, the Cyprus Historical Museum and Archives, and the Folk Art Museum.
One of the world's oldest cities, Nicosia was the center of an independent kingdom as early as the 7th century BC. Known in ancient times as Ledra, it came under Byzantine rule in the early 4th century AD and passed to Guy of Lusignan, the Latin king of Jerusalem, in 1192. The Lusignan kings held Nicosia until it was captured in 1489 by the Venetians. The city passed to the Ottoman Turks in 1571 and to the British in 1878. It was made capital of British-ruled Cyprus in 1925. Nicosia became the capital of independent Cyprus in 1960. The city has been divided into Turkish and Greek Cypriot zones since the Turkish invasion in 1974. Population (1997 estimate) 194,000; (1991 estimate for the Greek Cypriot zone) 166,500; (1989 estimate for the Turkish zone) 39,496.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Nicosia Information info
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