From below – within the walls

Abstract

The article focuses on the recent history of walled Nicosia, a particular urban area of the capital
of Cyprus, which, while located at the geographical centre of Greater Nicosia and the island as a
whole, is defined on the one hand by its round Venetian walls and, on the other hand, by its
character as a border area resulting from the dividing line that runs through it. Specifically, I
focus on the change that followed the opening of the crossing points of the dividing line in 2003
and resulted in the transformation of the neglected, old city of Nicosia. The restoration of
moving between the two sides, for the first time since 1974, led to the revival of the hitherto
politically and culturally neglected area, and provided the in-between space for the development
of unmediated practices that challenged the predetermined symbolic and material boundaries of
Cypriot separation. The article examines the conflicts, disagreements and negotiations that
emerged when new actors gathered in the region claiming visibility through their presence and
through their political and cultural action.