Selimiye Mosque (St Sophia Cathedral)
The Gothic cathedral where Cyprus’s kings were crowned, a mosque with two minarets since 1570.
St Sophia was built in 1209–1326 in French Gothic style; the Lusignan kings of Cyprus were crowned here.
After the Ottoman conquest in 1570 it became a mosque, and two minarets rose from the unfinished towers — a unique silhouette.
It is a working mosque. Next door are the Bedesten, the covered market and old-town lanes.
Tips
- Visit outside prayer times, especially Friday midday.
- Cover shoulders and knees, women a headscarf; shoes off.
- Best view from the square in front.
Getting there
Old town of North Nicosia, 10 minutes’ walk from the Kyrenia Gate.
Prices, opening hours and entry rules change — check official sources before you travel.
Nearby
NicosiaBüyük Han – the Great InnAn Ottoman caravanserai from 1572: a two-storey gallery round a courtyard, a tiny mosque in the middle, cafés and crafts.
NicosiaOld Nicosia: walls, Kyrenia Gate and Ledra crossingEurope’s last divided capital: a ring of Venetian walls, an Ottoman gate and a pedestrian crossing right in the centre.
Kyrenia and the northBuffavento CastleThe highest and wildest of the three mountain castles — almost 1,000 metres above the sea.