Who we are

NiMAC (Nicosia’s Municipal Arts Centre) is housed in the old Powerhouse: the island’s first electricity plant and a great industrial building of the1900’s. Its restoration was awarded the Europa Nostra award in 1994 for the sensitive transformation of an industrial space into a cultural one.

NiMAC is the main centre for contemporary art not only in the city itself but also on a regional and national level. During the 25 years of its operation, NiMAC has developed strong ties with both the local and the international art scene and has hosted various exhibitions and performances.

Contact Details

NiMAC ADDRESS: 19, Palias Ilektrikis, 1016 Nicosia T: +357 22797400, F: +357 22432531, [email protected] NiMAC on Google Maps

Transport from/to the Airport[s]

Larnaca International Airport [Glafkos Clerides]: This is Cyprus’ main airport and the one closest to Nicosia.

Pafos International Airport This is Cyprus’ 2nd airport. Option 1 – Kapnos Airport shuttle [reservation recommended] Pick up / drop off point Kyrenias Avenue, Nicosia Larnaca airport: ca. 40 mins / €8 Paphos airport: ca. 1h40 mins / €15 https://www.kapnosairportshuttle.com/

Option 2 – Travel Express [reservation necessary online https:// www.travelexpress.com.cy/ or by phone +357 77777474] Pick up / drop off point any address [home / hotel / airport]

Option 3 – Private Taxi [you just pick up one outside the airports and you can also share one] From Larnaca Airport: ca. €50 per ride per car. From Paphos Airport: ca. €100 per ride per car.

Entry to Cyprus

Cyprus has not joined the Schengen area. This means that if you are an EU national or a national of Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway, you need to show your national ID card or passport when travelling to Cyprus. For nationals from Albania, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Israel, Serbia and Turkey, please consult the EU website for passport/visa requirements: www.europa.eu/ youreurope/citizens/travel/entry-exit/non-eu-nationals/index_en.htm

Accommodation

We have prepared a list with Hotels we recommend, that are located inside and around the old city, and within walking distance of NiMAC, which will allow you to better experience the city and not lose time in everyday transportations.

Semeli Hotel (~3 km) 3-star Phone: 00 357 22 452121 Address: 10 Petraki Yiallourou Str, 1077, Nicosia Booking: through SEMELI Hotel Website or with this link Code: TEH90

Altius Boutique Hotel (~2.3km) 3-star Phone: 00 357 22 255540 Address: Acheon 1, Nicosia 1101, Nicosia Website: www.altiushotel.com

Centrum Hotel - City Center (~850m) 3-star Phone : 00 357 22456444 Address: 15 Pasikratous str., Eleftherias Square , 1011 Nicosia Website: www.centrumhotelcyprus.com

The Classic Hotel (~1.1km) 3-star Phone : 00 357 22 664006 Address: 94 Rigenis Street, Nicosia 1513, Nicosia Website: www.classic.com.cy Booking: [email protected] Code: TEH90Nicosia Conference

Royiatiko Hotel (~1 km) 3-star Phone: 00 357 22 445445 Address: 27 Apollonos Street, 1010 Nicosia Website: www.royiatikohotel.com.cy

Cleopatra Hotel (~1.6km) 4-star Phone : 00 357 22844000 Address: 8 Florinis Street, 1065 Nicosia Website: www.cleopatra-hotel.business.site

Europa Plaza Hotel (~3.2km) 3-star Phone : 00 357 22692692 Address: 13 Alkeou Street, Nicosia 1311, Nicosia, Cyprus Website: www.europaplazahotel.com

Hilton (~5 km) 5-star Phone: 00 357 22695111 Address: Achaion 1, Egkomi 2413, Nicosia, Cyprus Website: www.hilton.com

Asty Hotel (~3 km) 2-star Phone: 00 357 22 773030 Address: 12 Pringkipos Karolou Str., Ayios Dometios, 2373, Nicosia Website: www.astyhotel.com

If you would like to explore the possibilities of Airbnb, make sure you search for a stay close to the Venitian Walls. You’ll be able to identify these on the map (circular shape with eleven frontiers). Also, bear in mind that the north part is in the occupied area, so preferably look for stays on the south of the dividing line. Power plugs and sockets

In Cyprus the power plugs and sockets are of type G [British plugs]. The standard voltage is 240V and the standard frequency is 50Hz. [so come prepared with adaptors].

Country & Climate

Cyprus has sunny weather all year round, extraordinary natural beauty, 10.000 years of captivating history and stunning coastlines with golden sandy beaches.

Cyprus has a subtropical climate with very mild winters (on the coast) and warm to hot summers. The average annual temperature on the coast is around 24°C during the day and 14°C at night. Generally, summers last about eight months, beginning in April and ending in November, when the average temperatures fall to 22–23 °C during the day and 12–14 °C at night.

The Republic of Cyprus has approximately just 1 million inhabitants and is situated at the south-east point of Europe. The capital of the Republic of Cyprus is Nicosia (or Lefkosia, as it’s officially known), has the status of the “last divided capital of the world”. Nicosia is a curious and fascinating place: a mixture of vibrant street life, contested historical narratives, and the physical manifestation of the division of the island.

Sightseeing

Nicosia may not have a beach, but as the capital city it has many exciting things to do and interesting places to visit and see, such as monuments, galleries, excellent coffee spots, modern bars, and many ‘tavernas’ and restaurants.

One of the great advantages of Cyprus is that it’s a relatively small island offering a huge variety of attractions, scenery and activities that are linked together by an excellent road system. Wherever you stay, you can reach pretty much any other local destination within the day.

The vast majority of travellers begin their trip on the narrow coastal strip in the south, which hosts the main towns of Larnaka, Lemesos and Pafos, each with a historic old town, promenade and popular beaches. Beyond them, to the north, foothills rise to the island’s main mountain range, the Troodos Massif, dotted with villages, churches and monasteries. To the west of the island there is a plateau covered in vineyards, the great wilderness forest of Tilliria and the stark empty beauty of the Akamas Peninsula. For a traditional sun, sea and sand trip, you have extensive choices. In the south, there is Protaras and Agia Napa, Larnaka, Lemesos, Pafos and its satellite Coral Bay.

For a taste of Cyprus’s newly developed restaurant scene head to Lemesos, the island’s gastronomic capital. Lefkosia also boasts its various cool cafés and restaurants and is considered to be Cyprus’s best area for shopping.

Cyprus has a rich history, and nearly every region has its Roman (or earlier) ruin, its Byzantine church, a Crusader castle or Ottoman mosque, plus some grand British colonial architecture. Standout sights include the prehistoric villages at Tenta and Choirokoitia, the ancient cities of Kourion and Salamis, crusader castles such as those at Kolossi and Lemesos, monasteries like Kykkos and Machairas, and the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage painted churches of the Troodos Mountains.

For nature and the great outdoors, the Troodos and Kyrenia mountains offer superb climbing, hiking and cycling roots, the seas around the island provide stimulating dive sites, and the beaches in the West are great for turtle- watching. Golfers will enjoy the fine courses in Pafos. https://www.myguidecyprus.com/ https://www.lonelyplanet.com/cyprus https://www.roughguides.com/destinations/europe/cyprus/where-to-go/ http://www.thecyprusguide.net/

Food

Cypriot cuisine is closely related to Greek cuisine and has influences by Byzantine, French, Italian, Catalan, Ottoman and Middle Eastern cuisines.

Seafood Popular seafood dishes include calamari, octopus, cuttlefish, red mullet, sea bass, and gilt-head bream. Octopus, due to its peculiar taste and texture, is made into a stiffado (stew) with red wine, carrots, tomatoes, and onions, or grilled. Calamari is either cut into rings and fried in batter or is stuffed whole with rice, cumin, cloves, sometimes adding mint to the stuffing, and then baked or grilled.

Potatoes Cyprus potatoes are long and waxy with a unique taste, exported internationally. Enjoy them any way you prefer: baked, mashed, fried.

Cheeses Halloumi is a semi-hard white-brined cheese with elastic texture, made in a rectangular shape from a mixture of goat and sheep milk; it may be sliced and eaten fresh, grilled, or fried. It is the national cheese of Cyprus.

Anari, is a crumbly fresh whey cheese, similar to ricotta, made from goat or sheep milk.

Meat Other traditional delicacies are meat marinated in dried coriander seeds and wine, and eventually dried and smoked, such as lountza (smoked pork loin), charcoal-grilled lamb (souvla), souvlaki (pork and chicken cooked over charcoal), and sheftalia.

Traditional Restaurants Many Cypriot traditional restaurants offer “mezedes”. Mezedes is a large selection of varied dishes, brought to the table as a progression of tastes and textures - something like tapas. The meal begins with black and green olives, tahini, skordalia (potato and garlic dip), humus, taramosalata (fish roe dip), and tzatziki, all served with chunks of fresh bread and a bowl of mixed salad. The meal continues with fish, grilled halloumi cheese, lountza [smoked pork tenderloin], keftedes [minced meatballs], sheftalia [pork rissoles], and loukaniko [pork sausages]. Hot grilled meats – kebabs, lamb chops, chicken – may be served toward the end. The dessert is usually fresh fruit.

Language

The everyday spoken language of Greek Cypriots is Cypriot-Greek, a dialect of Greek. Cyprus has two official languages, Greek and Turkish. Although without official status, English is widely spoken and it features widely on road signs, public notices, and in advertisements, etc. 80.4% of Cypriots are proficient in the English language as a second language. Russian is widely spoken among the country’s minorities, residents and citizens of post-Soviet countries, and Pontic Greeks. Russian, after English and Greek, is the third language used on many signs of shops and restaurants, particularly in Limassol and Paphos.

Local Transport

Bus Urban bus services exist in the cities of Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos: http://www.cyprusbybus.com/.

Intercity buses operate between cities: https://www.intercity-buses.com

Nicosia’s Mini Buses: These serve two routes in the city centre and are free https://nicosiaminibuses.eu/home

Taxi Taxis are extensive and available on a 24-hour basis; they can either be hailed from the street or a taxi rank, or booked over the phone. Taxis are generally modern, air-conditioned vehicles, usually comfortable Mercedes, and equipped with meters that the drivers are obliged to use.

If you are an Uber user, the analogous to that platform in Cyprus is Bolt. And works in the same manner.

Service Taxi Taking up to eight people, service taxis are a useful transport option between major cities in the South.

Travel & Express (www.travelexpress.com.cy) is run by an amalgamation of private companies with one national phone number. The individual offices can be contacted directly.

Car and motorcycle Renting a car in Cyprus is pretty inexpensive. You’ll need your Driver’s licence and a credit/debit card.

Cycling City bikes exist in the cities of Nicosia and Limassol. For more info visit: https://www.nextbike.com.cy

Train There is no train network.