Within the Walls

At the time of the British occupation, Nicosia was still contained entirely within its Venetian Walls. The city was full of private gardens and amply supplied with water carried to public fountains through aqueducts, but the streets remained unpaved and just wide enough for a loaded pack animal.

Τhe Venetians had diverted the Pedieos River north of the city, but the old riverbed still ran though the centre, creating an open sewer and rubbish dump, which sometimes flooded into the surrounding streets. Within three years of British rule, the riverbed was covered, and to this day, remains the city’s main rain drain.

The municipality offered labourers, prepared to undertake the work, ownership of the area covered. Much of it was done by builders from Kaimakli, who, as a result, became shop owners in Hermes Street.

In 1881, macadamised roads were completed through the city to connect with the main roads leading to the coastal towns. It was not until after World War I that the first roads were asphalted. The narrow streets with overhanging kiosks were made darker by the awnings, tourathes, rigged up by the shopkeepers to protect against sun and rain. The cobblers’ street, Tsangarradon, was completely covered by a trellised vine.

In 1928, the municipality brought about a major change in the character of the city when it decided to demolish the wooden shelters and awnings. In spite of protests, tourathes, vines and many kiosks were removed to make way for modern traffic.