A walk through the streets of walled Nicosia is becoming a journey through history as a new initiative by the Nicosia Tourism Board (NTB) aims to document, research and redesign street signs across the historic centre.
So far, 56 new street signs have been installed on roads in Nicosia dedicated to figures from history, literature, politics and culture, strengthening the city’s connection with its collective memory and identity.
The initiative ultimately aims to cover 150 different street names, with the area surrounding the new Town Hall serving as the main focus.
History meets tourism and storytelling
The project was presented during a guided tour beginning at Lellos Demetriades Square, one of the capital’s central points.
The square honours Nicosia’s longest-serving mayor, who led the city from 1971 to 2001, except for a brief interruption in 1974.
Sotiris Christoforou, Administrative Officer at the Nicosia Tourism Development and Promotion Company (NTB), explained that the initiative is designed to enrich the storytelling element of guided tours in the old city.
According to NTB, guides are already incorporating references to the newly installed signs, while authorities are also considering creating dedicated themed walking routes in the future.
QR codes and city identity
Christoforou said road selection was based on completed regeneration projects and geographical proximity to create a unified identity within specific areas.
The new street signs in Nicosia include short historical texts explaining the origin and significance of each street name.
They also feature a new design element inspired by the Venetian walls of Nicosia, reinforcing the city’s visual identity.
QR codes on the signs direct visitors to the Visit Nicosia website, where they can access more detailed information about each street.
NTB said Nicosia is only the second city in Europe to introduce such an initiative, following Thessaloniki, which inspired the project.
Streets reflect culture and heritage
Several of the streets highlighted during the tour carry names linked to important historical and cultural figures and locations.
Diogenous Street honours the philosopher of the Cynic School of Athens, while Aeschylus Street commemorates the father of ancient Greek tragedy. Aristophanes Street pays tribute to the father of comedy.
The tour also included Attaleia Street, linked to one of Asia Minor’s major historic ports and its trade relationship with Cyprus, as well as Alexandros Soutsos Street, named after the influential poet and literary figure.
Piraeus Street, another important route in the area, reflects the long-standing commercial relationship between Cyprus and Greece’s major port city.
Future projects planned
NTB’s next project will follow a similar concept and focus on documenting all statues and busts within the walls of Nicosia.
The initiative, being developed in cooperation with the Cyens research centre, will include geographical mapping, historical information and explanatory texts for each monument.
The project is expected to be completed by November and will also include partial digitalisation through 360-degree photography and a dedicated section on the Visit Nicosia website.
According to NTB, authorities are also examining the possibility of adding signs or QR codes to allow direct access to information.
Officials say walled Nicosia continues to develop as a multicultural and historical tourism destination focused on authenticity, visitor experience and cultural heritage, while attracting visitors throughout the year.
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