Nicosia, Cyprus

Phaneromenis 70

A unique art center and shop just below a United Nations Checkpoint in central Nicosia.

Phaneromenis 70 is a one-of-a-kind artist collective nestled within the Venetian walls of Nicosia’s historic center. The entire island of Cyprus is split by a jagged horizontal line, with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on the top and the Republic of Cyprus on the bottom. The division is an official United Nations Buffer Zone, and it was closed to the civilian population until 2003.

Today, Cypriots and tourists alike can move between the north and south of Cyprus via a handful of designated checkpoints. Phaneromenis 70 is a five-minute walk from the Lidras Street checkpoint in the Greek Cypriot half of Nicosia. It’s easy to overlook this shop due to its understated sign and location amid many bustling cafes. However, once you step inside you will find a hidden abundance of creativity.

This shop, founded by Cypriot artist Kyriaki Costa, showcases goods from local artists who work in ceramics, jewelry, printmaking, drawing, painting, and textiles. Most of the artwork displays a unique combination of ancient archaeology (think traditional Roman sculptures and Greek terra-cotta vases) with a smirkingly modern twist.

Additionally, Phaneromenis 70 publishes Delivering Views, a serial cultural publication that shows Nicosia through the eyes of foreign visitors. There have been 24 chapters of Delivering Views thus far, and each one features a different visitor, along with his or her unique take on Cypriot culture expressed in the mediums of photography and writing.