Information
Landmark: St. Sophia CathedralCity: Nicosia
Country: Cyprus
Continent: Europe
St. Sophia Cathedral, Nicosia, Cyprus, Europe
Overview
In Nicosia, Cyprus, St. Sophia Cathedral-called Agia Sofia in Greek-stands as one of the city’s greatest treasures, its stone arches holding centuries of history.It’s a cornerstone of the island’s faith and culture, standing as a vivid reminder of its Byzantine roots and the centuries of medieval life that followed.Famous for its rich history and stunning architecture, the cathedral draws more visitors than almost anywhere else in the city, its stone arches cool to the touch even on a summer afternoon.St. Sophia Cathedral was first built as a Roman Catholic church during the island’s Frankish rule, rising under the Lusignan dynasty between 1192 and 1474, when stone walls echoed with the clang of masons’ tools.Built to house the Latin Archbishop of Cyprus, the cathedral stood at the heart of the island’s medieval life, where church bells and council debates shaped its spiritual and political pulse.Work on St. Sophia Cathedral began around 1209, under King Henry II of Cyprus, and over the next few decades its stone walls slowly rose into the sky.It was built in the Gothic style, the soaring, stone-laced look that swept through medieval Europe, especially in France.The cathedral rose from the plans as a towering monument, meant to show the Lusignan rulers’ power over Cyprus and their close ties to the Roman Catholic Church, its stone arches casting long shadows across the square.St. Sophia Cathedral showcases Gothic architecture in the Mediterranean, with pointed arches that reach skyward, ribbed vaults overhead, and flying buttresses casting sharp shadows in the sun.These architectural features were designed to lift the eye upward and give a sense of airiness, while also holding the weight of the tall, elaborate stained glass windows that glowed in the afternoon sun.The cathedral’s floor plan forms a Latin cross, with a long, echoing nave, broad transepts, and the high altar rising at the far end.Tall clerestory windows pour sunlight into the central nave, which sits between two quiet side aisles.After the Ottomans seized Cyprus in 1571, the cathedral was remade into a mosque, its soaring arches now echoing with the call to prayer.The Muslim Ottomans converted the cathedral into a mosque, calling it the Selimiye Mosque in honor of Sultan Selim II, whose name still echoes in its sunlit stone arches.The Conversion Minaret stood out as the most striking change to the cathedral, rising high above its old stone walls when it was turned into a mosque.Rising high and narrow against the sky, the Ottoman-style tower was built so the call to prayer could ring out over Nicosia’s rooftops for the Muslim community.Interior Changes: Most of the cathedral’s walls and arches stayed in place, but the inside was transformed-new prayer niches carved, light filtering differently-to serve the needs of the mosque.They added Islamic features: a mihrab, the small niche pointing toward Mecca; a mimber, where the imam stands to deliver sermons; and partition walls that divided the men’s and women’s prayer spaces.Some of the cathedral’s original Gothic features-its jewel-toned stained-glass windows, carved stone arches, and painted frescoes-survived under Ottoman rule, though many were later hidden beneath plaster or scarred by time.Even with all the changes, St. Sophia Cathedral-now the Selimiye Mosque-still stands as a striking example of how faith and tradition can shape a building’s design, layer by layer, through the centuries.Though it’s now a mosque, St. Sophia Cathedral still carries the sharp arches and tall, shadowed windows that mark its Gothic roots.Gothic Facade: The cathedral’s front rises in classic Gothic fashion, its pointed arches stretching skyward, flying buttresses bracing the stone, and a great rose window catching the morning light.One look at the soaring stone walls tells you it was built to be among the most striking buildings in medieval Nicosia.Inside, the Selimiye Mosque stuns with its beauty, from the soaring domes to the warm glow of patterned light spilling across the floor.The cathedral’s vaulted ceilings rise high above, and the vast interior makes the air feel wide and endless.Pillars march down the nave and aisles, their arches curving overhead to form a space that feels at once vast and holy.At the eastern end of the mosque stands the minbar beside the mihrab, both facing the sacred direction of Mecca.Stained Glass Windows: A few of the original panes still catch the light in deep ruby and gold, but many were lost or shattered when the mosque was converted.Once meant to tell biblical stories, these windows now stand as a rare and beautiful reminder of the cathedral’s Christian past, their colored glass still glowing softly in the afternoon light.Carved Stonework: Delicate patterns wind across the cathedral’s columns and arches, each groove a striking testament to the skill of medieval craftsmen.Many of the carvings show biblical stories and saints, their figures worn smooth by centuries of touch-proof of the building’s deep religious role when it served as a cathedral.Today, the St. Sophia Cathedral-now the Selimiye Mosque-stands at the heart of modern Nicosia, shaping its cultural life and echoing with daily calls to prayer.It still serves as a mosque, where the call to prayer drifts through the air each day, yet it also stands as a vivid emblem of Nicosia’s tangled past and the meeting of Christian and Muslim traditions.The cathedral-mosque stands as a vivid reminder of Cyprus’s centuries under Frankish towers and Ottoman minarets, and of Nicosia’s enduring place as a city split in two.For the Turkish Cypriot community, the Selimiye Mosque holds special significance, serving as the city’s main place of worship where the call to prayer echoes through the streets.For Greek Cypriots, the building still stands as a beloved reminder of the Christian heritage that once shaped the island, its stone walls holding the echo of old church bells.The mosque, once a soaring cathedral and now a place of Muslim worship, stands as a vivid reminder of the many cultures and faiths that have left their mark on Cyprus’s past.This building rises like a quiet marker of the island’s shifting faiths and power, its stone walls holding the echo of both prayers and proclamations.Tourism and Education: The Selimiye Mosque draws crowds, especially those curious about medieval Cyprus and the way its stone arches still echo conversations between different cultures and faiths.It opens a window into Cyprus’s past, offering lessons on how its architecture, faith, and way of life have shifted over time-you can almost picture the worn stone archways that witnessed it all.The Selimiye Mosque sits in the Turkish-controlled part of Nicosia, tucked inside the weathered stone walls of the Old City.This well-known landmark stands out in the heart of the city, so visitors wandering Nicosia’s old streets can find it without any trouble.Opening hours: Since it’s an active mosque, doors stay open during prayer, while tourists can visit only at set times between services, when the echo of footsteps replaces the sound of recitation.You can join a guided tour and hear the stories behind the mosque-its history, its meaning, even the echo of footsteps in its cool stone halls.The mosque sits within walking distance of Nicosia’s major landmarks-Kyrenia Gate, the bustling courtyard of Buyuk Han, and the weathered Venetian Walls-making it an essential stop on any historical tour.
