Nicosia is the European capital divided by the Green Line, a United Nations-patrolled buffer zone.
The division runs across Nicosia, Cyprus, separating areas administered by the Republic of Cyprus from the northern part of the city administered by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is recognized only by Turkey. The buffer zone was established after intercommunal violence and expanded following the events of 1974.
Nicosia is unusual because it is both the capital of the Republic of Cyprus and the island’s principal divided urban centre. Crossing points have opened and changed over time, allowing movement across parts of the line under relevant arrangements.
The Green Line should not be confused with the city’s Venetian Walls, which form a historic ring around the old town. The walls are a Renaissance fortification; the Green Line is a modern political and military separation.