Nicosia’s East-West Spine: A Transformation from the Pediaios River to Ermou Street to the Buffer Zone

Before the Venetian walls that encircle the capital today, there was a larger fortification system that surrounded the city. The ancient Pediaios River made up the east-west axis through the center of the medieval city walls and the city began to develop along its banks. When the Venetians tightened the perimeter of the city to the “Walled City” we see today, they continued this axis by placing two of the three original gates at each end (Paphos and Famagusta Gate. Although the Venetians attempted to reroute the river through the moat surrounding the city walls, we have record of the river flooding along its ancient path as late as the early 19^th century. After the British filled in the old river bed due to the unsanitary conditions it was causing, the former course of the river was redeveloped into the main commercial corridor of the capital along Ermou and Pafos streets.

However, those shops lie abandoned today within or along the edge of the Buffer Zone, also known as the Green Line. The fortunate storefronts that weren’t included within the ceasefire line are used as light industrial workshops, very low quality housing, and a red light district.

Shops along Ermou Street on the east side of Nicosia. Most buildings are abandoned or reused as metal- or wood-working shops. This street is blocked off to the left of this image where a guard post is located. No photos of that post are allowed.

Facade of an old shop that has become a workshop.