Description of the attraction
The Byzantine Museum, which is located in the city of Nicosia, has perhaps one of the richest collections of art from the Byzantine era. It was created under the patronage of the Archbishop Makarios III Foundation. The museum first opened its doors to visitors on January 18, 1982 - the opening ceremony was held by Archbishop Chrysostomos I and then President of the Republic of Cyprus Spyros Cypriano. At that time, all the treasures of the institution were located in just one room. However, just six years later, the area occupied by the museum has expanded significantly, as has its collection. To a large extent, it was replenished with items that were illegally exported outside the country after the seizure of power by Turkey in the north of the island, which were subsequently returned to the Republic.
The exposition of the museum presents about 230 icons painted in the period from the 9th to the 19th centuries, old books, religious utensils, vestments of Orthodox priests. All these items are located in three large rooms in the premises of the Foundation's Cultural Center.
Particular attention in the museum should be paid to the icons that were created in the XII century, because this period of time is considered the "golden age" of Byzantine iconography. In addition, the real star of the collection is a fragment of a 6th century mosaic, which was originally located in the church of Panagia Kanakaria in the village of Litrankomi, and then, like many other valuable works of art, was illegally sold abroad, but eventually returned to Cyprus. In addition, the museum contains fragments of magnificent 15th century frescoes from the Church of Christ Antiphonitis.
The Art Gallery displays paintings by European artists from the 16th century. to the 19th century, mainly on religious topics.
