FANEROMENI DISTRICT

The former Ottoman Faneromeni district (Ενορία Φανερωμένης) is now the heart of South Nicosia's city centre with its many cafes, shops and restaurants spread around the Panagia Faneromeni Church. It was once the centre of the unified city. But since 1974, the centre of gravity of South Nicosia has shifted to Elefterias Square, on the border between the old and new town. This historically orthodox district (98% of the population in 1946) retains many small, old-fashioned shops, including tailors and textile shops. It is also here that the strategic crossing point of Ledra Street and Lokmacı is located. The four key places in the area are:

Faneromenis Square - in front of the façade of the Panagia Faneromeni church (west). It is not officially a "square", just a portion of Faneromeni Street, but everyone knows it by that name. It overlooks the two busiest streets in all of Nicosia: Nikokleous Street and the covered passage (stoa) of Papadopoullou Street. Both are on Ledra Street.

Ledra Street - 80 m west of the Panagia Faneromeni Church (via the Papadopoullou stoa). It is the main pedestrian street, the most commercial axis in all Nicosia. It stretches 500 m from north to south, connecting Eleftherias Square (via the Trypiotis district) to the crossing point of Ledra and Lokmacı streets. It is very commercial and the municipality had the good idea to install shading sails there.

Piazza 28 Oktovriou - behind the church Panagia Faneromeni (east). It is named after the Greek national holiday also celebrated in Cyprus ( 28-October). Very quiet, it is dominated by a large neo-classical building: the Faneromeni School, which since 2014 houses the Department of Architecture of the University of Cyprus. There are two other "institutions" in the square: the Tria Fanaria pastry shop and the Mattheos restaurant, alongside the Arablar mosque. It faces south on Mousson Street, which connects to Onasagorou Street. Faneromenis Square and 28 Oktovriou Square are connected via the church courtyard, but in the evening the gates of the church are closed and you have to make a long detour to get from one to the other.

Onasagorou Street - 70 m south of the Panagia Faneromeni church. Parallel to Ledra Street, it also leads to the southern city walls, passing through the Trypiotis district. But it has a more contrasted face with both old shops (mainly textile) and trendy cafes and restaurants. It can be reached from the Panagia Faneromeni church, either via Via Faneromenis (passing the Cyprus Bank Cultural Foundation) or via the small street Mousson (at the corner of the Tria Fanaria pastry shop). The latter is home to pretty designer shops and bars that are very popular in the evenings. Finally, parallel and to the east of Onasagorou Street, Solonos Street is one of the other main shopping streets in the city centre.