Nicosia Old Aqueduct: An Ottoman Water-Supply Structure in Cyprus
Site at a Glance
- Rating
- 4.1
- Popularity
- Very Low
- Country
- Cyprus
- Primary era
- Early Modern
- Eras represented
- Early Modern
- Civilizations
- Ottoman
- Site type
- Infrastructure
- Remains
- Aqueduct
History
Nicosia old aqueduct is an eighteenth-century Ottoman water-supply structure in Nicosia, Cyprus, built during the period when the island was governed by the Ottoman Empire. It formed part of the city’s former water system and carried water from the mountains north of Nicosia to fountains in the inner quarters. It is regarded as the oldest aqueduct in Cyprus.
Ottoman Water Supply
The aqueduct followed a route from Kyrenia Gate in the north toward Famagusta Gate in the east. The section between these two gates was called the Silihtar Aqueduct, taking its name from the Ottoman governor of the period. Along its course, the structure supplied several fountains serving Nicosia’s inner neighborhoods.
Discovery and Restoration
Eleven arches came to light when a private building was demolished. The arches had been incorporated into a newer adjoining construction, which had concealed them and contributed to their extensive deterioration. A nineteenth-century Nicosia Master Plan project restored the monument and reshaped its surroundings, including irrigation and drainage systems as well as nearby walkways and passages.
