Nicosia Mayor Charalambos Prountzos has unveiled a €28 million revitalisation plan aimed at transforming Old Nicosia into a vibrant historic centre. This initiative, signed in December 2025, is designed to attract students, visitors, residents, and small businesses.
The grant agreement, formalised on 19 December 2025, will provide funding for various regeneration projects, including pedestrian street renovations and facade restorations set to commence early this year. “We want Old Nicosia to become an authentic historic centre that reflects our rich heritage while being a lively space for all,” Prountzos stated in an exclusive interview with Phileleftheros.
A significant milestone in this transformation is the opening of a branch of Kapodistrian University, which has already attracted medical students who praise the quality of their new accommodation. According to Prountzos, parents have likened the municipality’s dormitories to hotel standards, creating a positive buzz around the area. To further accommodate the influx of students, the municipality is constructing a second dormitory, complementing the existing facilities operated by the Archbishopric and approximately 250 private dormitories expected to be ready within the year.
However, the mayor noted that these new facilities may soon reach capacity, as the university has begun advertising positions for the 2026 academic year. “We are requesting the government to continue the student dormitory incentive scheme to support this growing demand,” he added.
Efforts are also underway to resolve disputes regarding the University of Cyprus Architecture School at Faneromeni, which involves collaborations between the municipality, the Archbishopric, the university, and the Finance Ministry. Prountzos expressed optimism, stating, “Bringing the major public university to the historic centre has always been a fundamental objective to which we remain absolutely committed. We are creating conditions for a positive outcome and expect to reach a favourable agreement soon.”
Infrastructure improvements are a key component of the revitalisation plan. The municipality is focusing on upgrading Konstantinou Palaiologou street and fully renovating the multi-storey car park on Ariadnis Street. Smaller projects throughout the Old City, including the rehabilitation of church buildings for academic use, are also in progress. Work has commenced on the surroundings of the Old Town Hall and various markets, with the Agios Antonios Park contract already underway.
In line with its 2018 strategy to make local schools more appealing to young families, the School Board is investing in educational facilities near and within the Historic Centre. Early this year, facade beautification efforts will begin on pedestrian streets, with plans for complete street upgrades subject to discussions with local businesses and residents.
From a security standpoint, a collaborative initiative involving the Justice Ministry, Migration Deputy Ministry, Police, Tax Commissioner, Fire Service, EAC, and the municipality has led to significant improvements in safety and legality within the area. Recent operations resulted in the evacuation of buildings where residents faced illegal and hazardous living conditions. Prountzos highlighted the importance of these efforts, remarking, “We found shameful situations, primarily for the owners, many of whom are getting rich through the exploitation of these people.”
The municipality has also enhanced public lighting, updated street signs, and taken measures to improve cleanliness throughout the Old City. Residents and visitors alike are already noticing these positive changes.
Prountzos envisions Old Nicosia as a vibrant historic centre bustling with life and activity. The area between Trikoupi and Famagusta Gate is already showing signs of regeneration, with urban improvements and affordable rents attracting a new wave of young people and businesses. The municipality aims to replicate this success from Trikoupi towards Paphos Gate while preserving iconic establishments such as “Matthaios”, “Melissa”, “Zannetos”, and “Tria Fanaria”.
The Historic Centre has faced challenges since the division of Nicosia in 1963. The municipality has made recommendations to the President aimed at improving conditions in and around the Buffer Zone, fostering cooperation and trust between communities, and enhancing daily life for all residents.
In a promising development, the extension of the Pedieos linear park into the Buffer Zone and occupied Nicosia has been agreed upon, marking a significant step forward after decades of stalled efforts. Supported by the EU and UNDP, this initiative aligns with Prountzos’s vision for a revitalised and interconnected city.
