Nicosia

Nicosia, which is also referred to as Lefkosia or Lefkoşa, serves as the capital and largest city of Cyprus. It holds the distinction of being the southeasternmost capital among all European Union member states.

With a history of continuous habitation spanning over 5,500 years, Nicosia has been the capital of Cyprus since the 10th century CE. It is notable for being the last divided capital in Europe. Following Cyprus's independence from British rule in 1960, intercommunal violence erupted during the Bloody Christmas conflict between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. This led to the segregation of the city's Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities into the southern and northern parts, respectively, by 1964. A decade later, Turkey invaded Cyprus after Greece attempted to annex the island. Although the leaders behind the takeover eventually resigned, the dividing line through Nicosia (which runs across the island, briefly interrupted only by British military bases) became a demilitarised zone. This area remains under the control of Cyprus but is heavily monitored by the United Nations, now referred to as the United Nations Buffer Zone, separating the internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus from Northern Cyprus, which is recognized solely by Turkey. The ongoing tensions between the two communities are collectively referred to as the Cyprus problem.

In addition to its legislative and administrative roles, Nicosia has positioned itself as the financial hub of the island and the primary centre for international business. In 2018, it was ranked as the 32nd richest city globally based on relative purchasing power. According to the 2022 GaWC ranking, Nicosia was designated as a "Beta −" city, indicating its status as a global city.