Not even 24 hours into our stay in Cyprus we had a crash course into Cypriot culture at the University of Nicosia (UNic). We were first joined by the plus 3 coordinators as a welcome to UNic and we briefly overviewed the general history of Cyprus. Following the brief overview, we received a more in-depth overview of Cyprus’ history and how it affects the different architecture throughout Cyprus. Finally, our plus 3 group took a local tour where we could appreciate the effects of Cyprus’s history on the old buildings which easily became my favorite part of the day.

To give some background information, in 58 BC Romans ruled Cyprus and brought pillar architecture to Cyprus. This can be seen in Pathos as explained by our professor, which we will see later in the trip. In 330 AD, the Byzantine Empire took rule within Cyprus, which brought dome-shaped room architecture to buildings. This is best seen in the Troodos mountains which we will also see later on the trip as well. In 1191, the Knights of the Temple took rule for a brief period, and then in 1192, Cyprus became under French rule, where Catholicism was introduced. This had a great impact on the architecture in Limassol by introducing large buildings full of arches and points. In 1198, Cyprus was conquered by the Venetians who continued the Catholic architecture. The next major change was in 1871 when Ottoman Rule became prevalent. Islam became emphasized, converting many catholic buildings into smaller buildings, with more dome-shaped roofs. The British then took over control of Cyprus in 1878 until Cyprus’ independence in 1960. Throughout these times, architecture was influenced greatly, and the effects could be seen throughout the tour when roaming the alleyways of Cyprus.

First, at a restaurant called Umbrellas’ Cafe, much of the ancient architecture was preserved when first walking in. You are greeted by a large arch, signifying Catholic architecture style. What was unique about this place was the arch and much of the remaining stones were preserved and integrated into the dining experience which gave the restaurant a taste of history.

Second, when walking through the alleyways we noticed the Mosque protruding through the streets. As we can see, even from far away, the Mosque looks small, yet has a dome-shaped roof. This signifies the Islamic influence on Cypriot architecture, as this is heavily influenced by the ottoman empire.

Limassol, Cyprus has some of the best architecture on the island. This is due to the contrasting elements of both Catholic and Islamic culture thus making the alleyways throughout Cyprus beautiful, not shady at all.