Right on the pedestrian zone, Lidras Street, stands the Ledra Observation Tower. (Entrance through the department store or from the side.) From the 11th floor, you have a magnificent view of the old town, the Green Line, the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus and, of course, South Nicosia.

The palace is a reconstruction of the original, which was destroyed during the civil war in 1960. Currently, the entire outer perimeter of the grounds is being clad in marble.

Right next to the Archbishop's Palace, in a courtyard, stands St. John's Cathedral. Completed in 1662, the main church of Cyprus looks rather plain from the outside, but inside it is adorned with fantastic frescoes and features a wealth of precious lamps, icons and a gold-leaf-covered iconostasis. Unfortunately, photography is not permitted here either.

At the end of the courtyard is the Icon Museum. Opposite stands the old Archbishop's Palace, which today houses the Folk Art Museum. The building belongs to a 14th-century monastery.

A splendidly renovated 18th-century villa showcasing the lifestyle of high-ranking officials during the Ottoman period. The house was once home to the dragoman Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios, who was executed during power struggles in 1809.

The Liberty Monument near the Famagusta Gate is located right on the historic city wall. Across from it are the remains of the Aqueduct.

The Famagusta Gate now houses the Nicosia Cultural Centre. Several cafés and restaurants have sprung up in the surrounding area.

The beautiful church of Panagia Chrysaliniotissa stands in a partly restored quarter in the eastern old town, near the Green Line. Here, for a change, we are allowed to take some photos of this 15th-century church and admire various unique icons as well as the mystical interior.

In the late afternoon, we head to Larnaca. Just before sunset, we reach the harbour and stroll along the promenade and the Wooden Pier.

And just like that, our time on Cyprus was already over. The next morning, our flight takes us back to Frankfurt.

THE END