The Divided Capital

Nicosia, or Lefkosia as the Cypriots rather call the city, is the capital of both Greek and Turk Cypriot Cyprus. Ever since the seventh century AD Nicosia has been the capital of Cyprus, with the exception of a short period during the Venetian era. In the Middle Ages Nicosia was considered suitable as capital since Arabic marauding made settlements along the coast unsafe. Today a green line, a border that was a result of the armed conflict in 1974, divides the city. Nicosia is the only divided capital of the world after the reunion of Germany and the breaking of the Berlin wall.