Editing Nicosia (section)

=== North of the Green Line ===
{{main article|North Nicosia#Cityscape}}
[[File:Samanbahçe in North Nicosia.jpg|thumb|left|The historical Samanbahçe neighborhood]]
[[File:Nicosia 01-2017 img32 AtatuerkSquare.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Sarayönü Square]]
[[File:Night at Yenişehir, Nicosia.jpg|thumb|left|A view from the [[Yenişehir, Nicosia|Yenişehir]] quarter]]
[[File:Pedieos river walking routes Green leaf Nicosia Republic of Cyprus.jpg|thumb|right|Pedieos river walking route]]
At the centre of the walled city lies the [[Sarayönü Square]]. The square has been dubbed as "the heart of Nicosia" and historically has been the cultural centre of the Turkish Cypriot community.<ref name=sarac>{{cite web|title=İki paradan bir milyona... Saraçoğlu'ndan Ecevit'e...|url=http://www.kibris.net/basin/yazarlarimiz/serbest/hasanhasturer/arsiv/2004/kasim_2004/14_kasim_2004.htm|publisher=kibris.net|access-date=3 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304034324/http://www.kibris.net/basin/yazarlarimiz/serbest/hasanhasturer/arsiv/2004/kasim_2004/14_kasim_2004.htm|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the middle of the square stands the Venetian Column, known simply as "the Obelisk" ("Dikiltaş") to the locals and symbolic of the country's government.<ref name=sarac/> The column was brought from the ancient city of [[Salamis, Cyprus|Salamis]] by the Venetians in 1550.<ref>{{cite web|title=Venedik Sütunu|url=http://www.lefkosabelediyesi.org/tr/index.php/lefkosa/turistikyerler/10-genel/58-venediksutunu|publisher=Nicosia Turkish Municipality|access-date=3 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103051925/http://www.lefkosabelediyesi.org/tr/index.php/lefkosa/turistikyerler/10-genel/58-venediksutunu|archive-date=3 January 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Girne Avenue connects Sarayönü to the [[Kyrenia Gate]] and the İnönü Square in front of it. The avenue has been described as "the symbol of the walled city", and is filled with numerous shops and restaurants.<ref>{{cite web|title=Girne Caddesi'nin dokusu değişecek|url=http://www.kibrispostasi.com/index.php/cat/87/news/139612/PageName/LEFKOSA|publisher=Kıbrıs Postası|access-date=3 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304050823/http://www.kibrispostasi.com/index.php/cat/87/news/139612/PageName/LEFKOSA|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Next to the [[Ledra Street]] checkpoint is the [[Arasta]] area. The area was pedestrianized in 2013 and is home to a network of historic shopping streets, reflecting an eastern shopping tradition with food and traditional items.<ref>{{cite web|title=Arasta|url=http://www.lefkosabelediyesi.org/tr/index.php/lefkosa/turistikyerler/10-genel/44-arasta|publisher=LTB|access-date=4 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104050409/http://www.lefkosabelediyesi.org/tr/index.php/lefkosa/turistikyerler/10-genel/44-arasta|archive-date=4 January 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Nearby [[Büyük Han]], the largest caravanserai in the island and considered to be one of the finest buildings in Cyprus, was built in 1572 by the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottomans]] and functions as a cultural centre.<ref>{{cite web|title=Arasta boş, Büyük Han kaynıyor!|url=http://www.kibrispostasi.com/index.php/cat/35/news/131989/PageName/KIBRIS_HABERLERI|publisher=Kıbrıs Postası|access-date=4 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304045857/http://www.kibrispostasi.com/index.php/cat/35/news/131989/PageName/KIBRIS_HABERLERI|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Büyük Han|url=http://www.lefkosabelediyesi.org/tr/index.php/lefkosa/turistikyerler/10-genel/57-butukhan|publisher=LTB|access-date=4 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104050529/http://www.lefkosabelediyesi.org/tr/index.php/lefkosa/turistikyerler/10-genel/57-butukhan|archive-date=4 January 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> To the west of the Girne Avenue lies the Samanbahçe neighborhood, built in the 19th century by the government, considered to be the first example of social housing in the island. Still a residential area, the neighborhood is considered to be one of the best representations of the Cypriot culture.<ref>{{cite web|title=Samanbahçe Evleri|url=http://www.lefkosabelediyesi.org/tr/index.php/lefkosa/turistikyerler/10-genel/54-samanbahceevleri|publisher=Nicosia Turkish Municipality|access-date=4 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104051014/http://www.lefkosabelediyesi.org/tr/index.php/lefkosa/turistikyerler/10-genel/54-samanbahceevleri|archive-date=4 January 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Another central point in the walled city is the [[Selimiye Mosque, Nicosia|Selimiye Mosque]], originally built as the St. Sophia Cathedral. The mosque is the chief religious centre in Northern Cyprus. It was built between 1209 and 1228 by the Latin Church of Cyprus, in a Gothic style resembling French cathedrals.<ref>{{cite web|title=Selimiye Cami|url=http://www.lefkosabelediyesi.org/tr/index.php/lefkosa/turistikyerler/10-genel/48-sekimiyecami|publisher=LTB|access-date=4 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104051005/http://www.lefkosabelediyesi.org/tr/index.php/lefkosa/turistikyerler/10-genel/48-sekimiyecami|archive-date=4 January 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Next to the mosque is the [[Bedesten]], a large Greek church in the Byzantine and Gothic styles, built in the 14th century. It was used as a marketplace in the Ottoman era. Today, it is used as a cultural centre where various cultural activities such as concerts and festivals take place.<ref>{{cite web|title=Trio Arion oda müziği konserler dizisi yarın başlıyor|url=http://www.kibrispostasi.com/index.php/cat/35/news/134861/PageName/KIBRIS_HABERLERI|publisher=Kıbrıs Postası|access-date=4 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725014926/http://www.kibrispostasi.com/index.php/cat/35/news/134861/PageName/KIBRIS_HABERLERI|archive-date=25 July 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=stwingcity>{{cite web|last1=Dreghorn|first1=William|title=The Antiquities of Turkish Nicosia|url=http://www.stwing.upenn.edu/~durduran/drnic1.html#selim|publisher=stwing.upenn.edu|access-date=4 January 2015}}</ref>

The quarters of Nicosia outside the walled city are more spacious than the walled city, with wider roads and junctions. These areas are characterized by multi-floor concrete buildings. In the outskirts of the city, a number large and imposing villas have been built that belong to the middle and upper-classes.<ref>{{cite web|title=Urbanization in Cyprus|url=http://e-dergi.atauni.edu.tr/index.php/dogucografya/article/view/6916/6345|publisher=Eastern Geography Review|access-date=6 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818005743/http://e-dergi.atauni.edu.tr/index.php/dogucografya/article/view/6916/6345|archive-date=18 August 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Dereboyu Avenue]] serves as the modern heart of the northern part and is its centre of entertainment.