PLACE ATATÜRK

Around a traffic circle adorned with the "Venetian Column", this square (Atatürk Meydanı) forms the center of Nicosia-North. Also known as Sarayönü ("in front of the palace"), it stands next to the site of the prestigious ^14th-century Lusignan Palace, which was demolished in 1901 to make way for a British judicial complex. The latter, in neo-colonial style, now houses the Public Prosecutor's Office of Northern Cyprus and the Nicosia-Nord Central Police Station. With a cab rank and a few cafés and shops, the square is not very lively. In the center, the 6 m-high granite column, known as the "Venetian Column" (Venedik Sütunu), was installed around 1550 in the gardens of the palace that had by then become the seat of the Venetian governor of Cyprus. Decorated with the lion of St. Mark and surmounted by a bronze globe, it comes from an ancient temple at Salamis on Cyprus, near Famagusta. In front of the General Prosecutor's Office stands an ancient octagonal ashlar fountain built during the Ottoman era, around 1760. To the north of the square, Rue de Kyrenia/Girne (Girne Sokak) leads to the Kyrenia Gate, with the newer districts and bus stations of Nicosia-Nord beyond the Venetian ramparts. To the south stands the Saray ("palace") hotel-casino. Built in 1962 and still bearing the scars of the 1963 clashes, it is the tallest building in Nicosia-North (30 m). It's not great, but its roof terrace offers interesting views over both parts of the city.