Ledra Street Crossing

A symbol of divided Nicosia and a crossing point between the communities

Local name: Σημείο διέλευσης οδού Λήδρας

Collection: Cyprus Basics Exam · Cyprus · Open in OpenStreetMap

The story

Ledra Street is a pedestrian shopping street in the center of old Nicosia. Its Greek name, Lidras, means “Ledra’s street”: Ledra was the ancient kingdom on the site of the city. In December 1963 clashes broke out between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, and the city was divided by the “Green Line.” The British general Young drew it on a map with a green pencil. The line cut the street in two, and since 1974 its northern stretch has been in the UN buffer zone. On March 21, 2008, the President of Cyprus, Dimitris Christofias, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat, decided to open a crossing here. It opened on April 3, 2008.

Nicosia is divided by the “Green Line” (Πράσινη γραμμή). It was drawn after the intercommunal clashes of late 1963 (study guides sometimes give the answer “1964”), and since 1974 it has been part of the UN buffer zone. Ledra (Λήδρα) is the ancient name of Nicosia; the Ledra Street crossing opened on April 3, 2008.

Visiting

You don’t need to cross to find the place: the spot is by the checkpoint at the end of Ledra Street, on the Republic of Cyprus side. You can cross to the north under the rules in force on the day of your trip. Check them in advance on the website of the Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs (mfa.gov.cy).

On the way

• Paphos → Nicosia
• Limassol → Nicosia
• Larnaca → Nicosia

Photos

Sources

• UN Security Council. Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations operation in Cyprus, S/2008/353: Christofias elected in February 2008; leaders' decision of 21 March to open a crossing at Ledra Street, 'a symbol of the division'; opening on 3 April 2008 with UNFICYP support
• UNFICYP: About the buffer zone (also called the Green Line, about 180 km, limits = ceasefire lines of 16 August 1974; Ledra Street among the Nicosia crossing points)
• Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia: Nicosia 1960 until today (December 1963 conflicts, city divided, General Young's green pencil, only divided capital of Europe)
• Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia: Ancient times (Kingdom of Ledra on the site of Nicosia, Esarhaddon prism)

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