A major breakthrough has been reached regarding the University of Cyprus’s presence in Old Nicosia, with Archbishop Georgios set to approve the transfer of the Department of History and Archaeology to the historic Faneromeni school building.
The move marks a turning point for the regeneration of the walled city after previous plans to house the Architecture School collapsed due to high construction costs for supplementary facilities. The Archbishop confirmed his support for the new proposal, noting that the priority was always to bring a significant number of students to the area.
“We were clear that we wanted a solution involving a substantial number of students to contribute to the city’s revitalisation,” the Archbishop said. He explained that while he rejected a previous suggestion to house research centres because they lacked sufficient student numbers, the new proposal for the History and Archaeology Department meets this requirement.
University Rector Tasos Christofides and the Archbishop reportedly reached a verbal agreement during a brief meeting on Friday. The plan now depends on a government commitment to provide several million euros for the renovation of the former school building.
The arrival of approximately 200 students is expected to serve as a vital boost for the historic centre’s economy and social fabric. Beyond the university’s gain, the state will avoid the multi-million euro cost of building a new facility, and the Archbishopric will see a landmark building restored at no cost while securing long-term rental income.
The project aligns with a 2021 memorandum signed between the government, the Church, the university, and Nicosia Municipality. It also complements existing government incentives, including a €30 million student housing scheme and support for local businesses intended to transform the capital’s historic core.