Kyrenia Gate in Nicosia
This landmark of the capital is seen by everyone entering the old city from the northern part of Nicosia.
These are one of the three gates of the Venetian wall encircling old Nicosia, providing access to the city from the north — specifically from the direction of Girne (Kyrenia). More accurately, they provided access, as today the road passes on either side of the gate, bypassing it.
- Kyrenia Gate in Northern Cyprus
- History of the Landmark
- Kyrenia Gate Today
- How to Reach the Gate
- Frequently Asked Questions
Kyrenia Gate in Northern Cyprus
The gate was built between 1562 and 1567 by the Venetians as part of the new city walls. It provided access to the northern areas, especially Kyrenia. The gate consists of a short passage with rounded arches, and the square guard room built above the passage is covered by a dome.
Originally, the Venetians named it "Porta del Proveditore," likely referring to the Governor of Cyprus, presumably Francesco Barbaro Nuna. Later, it was called "Porta Bembo" in honor of another governor, Laurenco Bembo. During the Ottoman period, the gate was named "Edirne Gate" and was also known as the "Fortress Door" due to the presence of ammunition in the Arsenal Bastion to the west of it.
The gate features plaques from various periods. One Latin plaque from the Venetian period bears the date "MDLXII" (1562), marking the start of construction. Another inscription was added by the Ottomans in 1821 during their renovation of the gate, authored by the head of the Mevlevi Lodge in Nicosia, whose building is now preserved as the Dervish Museum. In 1931, the gate received inscriptions reading "1931" and "GVRI" (George V Rex et Imperator), signifying the date of British reconstruction and the reigning monarch.
History of the Kyrenia Gate
For over a thousand years, Nicosia was a walled city, from the Lusignan period to the Ottoman era. During the Renaissance, the Venetians rebuilt massive walls around the capital, which was under threat from the advancing Ottoman Empire.
Initially, the Venetian city walls had three gates — the Famagusta Gate to the east, the Paphos Gate to the west, and the arched Kyrenia Gate, one of the main entrances to the old city.
Built by the Venetians after five years of construction in 1567, the gates, like the rest of Cyprus, were captured by the Ottoman Empire. Following their victory, the Ottomans added inscriptions with Quranic verses praising Allah as the "Opener of Gates" on the northern wall. Indeed, the gates were opened at dawn prayers and closed at night prayers.
In 1821, the Ottomans renovated the gate and added a domed room that served as a guard chamber.
In 1931, the British administration conducted another reconstruction, adding inscriptions of their own, demolishing the walls on either side of the gate, and constructing a road.
Kyrenia Gate Today
Today, the gate is used by the Turkish municipality of Nicosia as a tourist information office.
The roads on either side of the gate, built by the British in 1931, remain the main entrances to the walled old city of Nicosia. Thus, in a sense, the Kyrenia Gate retains its significance to this day.
The gate has been perfectly preserved over the years and remains one of the most attractive and well-preserved historical landmarks of Nicosia. Besides inscriptions from three different eras, the gate also features a beautifully preserved depiction of the Lion of Saint Mark.
How to Reach the Kyrenia Gate
You can find the location of the Kyrenia Gate on the map at the end of the text. Public transport makes it easy to reach — all buses heading to Nicosia, as well as most city routes in the capital, pass by the road next to the gate. The bus stop is named Girne Kapısı.
Parking near the gate itself is not possible, nor on the main road outside the old city, but you can try finding a spot behind the fortress walls. Additionally, there is a paid parking lot, Samanbahçe Oto Parkı, near the Dervish Museum with these coordinates: 35.180627568201096, 33.361245010949915.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Kyrenia Gate
Do I need a ticket to visit the Kyrenia Gate?
No, the landmark can be viewed from the outside for free, and inside is the North Cyprus tourist office, which can be visited during working hours.
What landmarks are near the gate?
A bit further along the street towards the city center, on the left side, you'll find the Mevlevi Tekke Dervish Museum, then the Fazıl Küçük House Museum, and finally, if you keep going straight, you'll reach the Venetian Column at Atatürk Square. Incidentally, there is also an Atatürk Monument directly in front of the gate.
What other gates are in Nicosia?
Of the three Venetian gates, only this one is in Northern Cyprus. However, if you can access the Republic of Cyprus, you can also see the Famagusta Gate to the east (at this location) and the Paphos Gate to the south (here).
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Author
Born and raised in Yekaterinburg, visited more than 40 countries, lived in the USA for some time, and in 2022, moved to Northern Cyprus. Education: Ural State University (now Ural Federal University), Faculty of Political Science and Sociology. Professional Experience: Since 2008, worked in the…
