The renovated Trikoupi Street was inaugurated on Tuesday, June 2, marking the completion of one of the most important urban regeneration projects in Nicosia’s historic centre. The upgraded street has now been officially handed over to the public, with the ambition of becoming the core of a new Creative Business District within the walled city.
The project was implemented through the THALIA 2021-2027 Cohesion Policy Programme, with co-financing from the European Union and a total eligible cost of €5.4 million.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou, European Commission DG REGIO Director-General Themis Christophidou, Finance Minister Makis Keravnos, MPs, representatives of state services, local government, the European Union, as well as residents and professionals from the area.
The redevelopment of Trikoupi Street, one of the main routes linking modern Nicosia with the walled city, included extensive upgrades to infrastructure and public space. Roads and pavements were rebuilt, utility networks were placed underground, smart city features were installed, and new road and decorative lighting was added.
What the Creative Business District Means for Trikoupi
Beyond the renovation of streets and buildings, Trikoupi Street is at the centre of a broader plan to create a new creative economy neighbourhood within Nicosia’s walled city.
The so-called Creative Business District aims to attract professionals and businesses active in creativity, innovation and culture. The area is expected to host architectural and design offices, craft workshops, art and cultural spaces, digital applications and creative content businesses, as well as modern co-working spaces for young professionals.
The thinking behind the project is that upgraded public spaces and infrastructure can act as an incentive for new investment and business activity. Through this process, Nicosia Municipality aims to strengthen residential life, increase footfall and give the capital’s historic centre renewed economic and social momentum.
New Public Spaces for the Community
New public spaces have also been created and new rows of trees planted, adding more greenery and improving the image of the area. These interventions are expected to make a visible difference to the daily life of residents, professionals and visitors in a part of the city that has gradually developed in recent years as a centre for creative businesses and cultural activity.
Particular importance is also attached to the restoration of the facades of 53 buildings, 16 of which are listed. The work helped highlight the architectural character of the area, restoring elements of its historic identity that had been altered over time.
The redevelopment stretches from Town Hall Square to the OXI roundabout and covers an area where dozens of small businesses, workshops and creative spaces operate, many of them housing young professionals and creators.
Speaking to Politis, Nicosia Mayor Charalambos Prountzos said the completion of the project is another step in efforts to bring life back to the capital’s historic centre.
“Trikoupi is an example of what we can achieve when we combine respect for history with the needs of a modern city. Our goal is to create the conditions that will bring more people to live, work and invest in Nicosia’s walled city,” he said.
Prountzos said the redevelopment is part of a wider plan that includes upgrades to roads, public spaces and infrastructure in various parts of the old city, with the aim of improving quality of life and strengthening economic activity.
He also noted that commerce and entertainment are not being overlooked. In the area, many young people are returning and opening food and drink venues, while during the summer months activity is visibly higher, a development that has given the municipality grounds for optimism.
“The walled city has enormous potential. We want it to develop into a place where entrepreneurship, creativity, education and culture coexist and give new momentum to the centre of the capital,” the mayor said.
With the project now complete, Trikoupi Street takes on a new role in Nicosia’s urban fabric, serving not only as a connecting road, but also as a reference point for the new development effort under way inside the walled city.
