The Republic of Cyprus covers 63% of the southern part of the island and includes many of the most important historical sites.

The Greek Cypriot capital was enclosed by a star-shaped city wall (see picture above, on the right) in the 16th century but the boundaries of the modern city are dictated by the UN-patrolled Green Line (see the picture on Pafos Gate above), which separates the Republic from Northern Cyprus.

Nicosia is a friendly, laid-back place with about 208,900 population currently. It has good restaurants and museums, and a more genuinely Cypriot atmosphere than anywhere on the coast. I love to eat at 59 Knives restaurant (see above picture, first on the left) when I was there in March, and they prepared very good salmon penne.