Mevlevi Museum Reopens in Nicosia After Major Restoration

The Mevlevi Museum in Nicosia has officially reopened following extensive restoration and landscaping works carried out in collaboration with the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), part of the Republic of Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the TRNC Department of Antiquities and Museums.

The opening ceremony was attended by TRNC President Ersin Tatar, Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, Turkish Ambassador to Nicosia Ali Murat Başçeri, TRNC Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu, and TİKA President Serkan Kayalar.

Situated just by the Kyrenia Gate in Nicosia, the Mevlevi Tekke Mosque is considered one of the island’s most significant historical and religious sites. It has now reopened to the public as part of a comprehensive project that included restoration, site improvement, and the development of a new exhibition layout.

During the ceremony, the TRNC Minister of Tourism emphasized the historical importance of the site, not only in terms of its architectural and cultural value but also its role in promoting religious tourism.

Originally inaugurated in 1963 as the “Cyprus Turkish Ethnographic Museum,” the building was transformed into the Mevlevi Museum during renovations in 2001–2002. Now, 23 years later, it has once again been restored and made accessible to visitors. The minister expressed his appreciation to the President and Vice President of the Republic of Turkey, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and TİKA for their support in bringing the museum back to life.