Bringing together the history and culture of Cyprus from the Ottoman period to the present day under one roof, the Walled City Museum keeps the 20 July Cyprus Peace Operation alive with its unique ceiling paintings
Date Added: 20 July 2022, 15:01


It has been 48 years since the 20 July Cyprus Peace Operation, one of the important turning points in the history of Cyprus. The spirit of July 20, which ended with the establishment of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, continues to live in the Walled City Museum. The ceiling paintings on the third and fourth floors of the Walled City Museum, which is located in the historical district of Nicosia, make the visitors relive the 20th of July 48 years ago. In addition, ceiling paintings depicting different periods of Cyprus history on the other floors of the museum fascinate those who lay their eyes on them.

Moreover, it reveals not only this important day, but also the history and culture of Cyprus, from the Ottoman period to the present, under one roof, with its rich collections. Calligraphy, letters and edicts belonging to the Cyprus Foundations Administration and the TRNC National Archives and Research Department, as well as the works such as the kadı registers of Nicosia and the carpet from the 17th century reveal the traces of the Ottoman Empire in Cyprus, and the paintings by Cypriot artists reflecting the Nicosia of 1960s, carry traces from the recent past to the future.

On the other hand, Hyperrealist silicon sculptures of musicians, writers, the symbol of Turkish Cypriot culture, Turkish Cypriot community leader Dr. Fazıl Küçük and his colleagues Rauf Raif Denktaş and Osman Örek, Captain Cengiz Topel, who was martyred during the operation, and 17 names who left deep traces in the recent history of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, are waiting for their visitors at the Walled City Museum.

The art feast begins at the door…
The art and culture feast at the Walled City Museum begins before you even step inside the building. There are 9 bronze sculptures of three meters each at the entrance of the museum. The first of the statues, located above the gate of the Museum, symbolizes a victorious three-meter tall athlete. The other eight three-meter statues that surround the Walled City Museum on both sides show the dancers celebrating this victory.

Artifacts from a different style and period are exhibited on each floor of the “Walled City Museum”. Paintings and sculptures exhibited on the ground floor of the museum present contemporary art examples from the works of award-winning artists. On the lower floor of the entrance, it is possible to examine objects and paintings related to the maritime history of Cyprus. Karagöz figures on the same floor draw attention to another aspect of Cypriot culture. Swords and knives, a model car collection consisting of dozens of cars, and the Cyprus postal history collection open different windows for visitors in the museum, which consists of a 5-storey building.

Visitors visiting the Walled City Museum witness the past, history and present of Cyprus with dozens of artifacts on each floor that appeal to a different period and area of ​​interest. The terrace of the museum gives you the pleasure of watching the 360-degree bird’s-eye view of the historical region of Nicosia’s Walled City.