Traditions of Nicosia
The divided capital of Cyprus, whose old walled city has Greek and Turkish sides and shared halloumi and coffee.
Nicosia is the last divided capital in Europe, with a line across its old Venetian walls. Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots share many dishes and customs, such as halloumi cheese, kolokasi and Cyprus coffee. Easter and Kataklysmos, the Festival of the Flood, are the main Orthodox events.
Easter and the Flood
At Easter, Greek Cypriots fast through Lent, then eat flaounes, cheese pastries with mint and raisins, and lamb on a spit. Kataklysmos, in June, includes water games and sea blessings. Turkish Cypriots keep Ramadan and Kurban Bayram. Weddings include the Cypriot tradition of pinning money on the dress of the bride and groom.
At the table
A Cypriot meze can have thirty small plates, from grilled halloumi, sheftalia and loukaniko sausages to fresh salads. Loukoumades, honey doughnuts, and soutzoukos, grape must and almond rolls, are sweets. Strong coffee is drunk in the same style on both sides of the border.
Signature traditions of Nicosia
Also part of it, and being written: Halloumi (The Cypriot cheese.), Flaouna (The Cypriot Easter pastry.), Meze (The shared small plates.).
A trail idea for Nicosia
- Ledra Street Cross at the old checkpoint.
- Laiki Geitonia A restored lane of crafts.
- Büyük Han A Ottoman caravanserai on the north side.
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, markets and festival dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
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Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Fête de la Musique: dalbera, CC BY 2.0, source
- Manifesta: Manifesta8 manifesta 8, CC BY-SA 3.0, source