Nicosia - St John's Cathedral

(Local Name: Áyios Yiánnis) In the old center of Nicosia, a town of narrow lanes enclosed within a massive ring of Venetian walls, stands the Gothic St John's Cathedral, seat of the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Cyprus.

This is one of the most-revered churches in Cyprus. Official services are held here, presided over by the Archbishop and in the presence of the political leaders of the country.

This was once the Benedictine monastery where it is claimed that the finger of John the Baptist was preserved until the Mamelukes stole it. It then became a Greek Orthodox monastery and the present buildings were constructed in 1662 by Archbishop Nikoforos.

The 18th century wall paintings inside depict scenes from the bible and the discover of the tomb of St Barnabas.