The Mediterranean island of Cyprus claims Nicosia as its capital city. Also known as Lefkosia in Greek and Lefkoşa in Turkish, Nicosia is Cyprus’s largest city and political center.
Nicosia has been continuously inhabited for more than 5,500 years and has served as Cyprus’s capital since about the 10th century. Its location in the island’s central Mesaoria plain helped it develop into an important administrative and commercial hub.
A major point of interest is that Nicosia is divided by the United Nations Buffer Zone. The southern part is administered by the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus, while the northern part, commonly called North Nicosia, is administered by Northern Cyprus, recognized diplomatically only by Turkey. This makes Nicosia the last divided capital in Europe.
The city’s name can cause confusion because different communities use different forms, but Nicosia is the standard English answer. It is not Limassol, Larnaca, or Paphos, although all three are important Cypriot cities.