Bandabulya Municipal Market

Bandabuliya, Nicosia Municipal Market (1932 to present).

Bandabulya, which was built geographically in the middle of Nicosia, also known as the Municipality Bazaar, is the first vegetable market in Nicosia. The bazaar, which was completely open at the beginning, was established in 1932 with the shape of Arasta as it is today, and brought a new dynamism and wealth to the region.

Bandabulya is the place where Cypriot food, drinks, spices, vegetables and fruits meet in a historical place.

Bandabuliya (Old Market) / Belediye Pazari / Bazaar - Cultural Events ~ Cyprus

From October to December 2012! Everyday at BANDABULIYA (Old Market) in the northern part of Nicosia!

The European Commission and the United Nations Development Programme - Partnership for the Future (UNDP-PFF) in collaboration with the Bandabuliya Management are pleased to present the Bandabuliya Cultural Programme for October, November and December 2012.

Starting this Friday October 05th until end of December 2012, the Bandabuliya (Old Market) in the northern part of Nicosia, will host a series of workshops, exhibitions and competitions that will bring together Cypriot non-profit institutions as well as private individuals. These activities are financed by the European Union and supported by UNDP Partnership for the Future.

The programme of activities includes: a monthly crafts market (every second Saturday of the month), daily handicrafts and embroideries workshops, olive oil soap laboratories, Master Chef cooking competition, clay sculptures workshops, a science festival and art workshops for children, and different Bandabuliya media initiatives!

The detailed calendar of activities will be available soon on UNDP-PFF website undp-pff.org and Facebook page:

The cultural programme will provide you with an opportunity to rediscover Cypriots handicrafts traditions, cultural/culinary tradition, and re-create moments of fun and art-sharing for children, youth and persons with disabilities at the Bandabuliya.

With the launch of this cultural programme, we aim to create a momentum towards the complete rehabilitation of the renovated market into the cultural, economic and social life of Nicosia and of its residents. These activities aim to bring Cypriots back to Bandabuliya and to the Selimiye area, and make Cypriots re-discover and re-value their urban cultural heritage -- Tiziana Zennaro, UNDP-PFF.

The activities were selected amongst the applications received last August through the Bandabuliya Fund for cultural and community activities in Bandabuliya. The Fund is one of the activities foreseen within the Upgrading of local and urban infrastructure project in order to support the revitalization of the walled city of Nicosia.

All activities are financed by the European Union under the Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community and supported by UNDP Partnership for the Future.

History:

During the Lusignan and Venetian period, the area of St Sophia (Selimiye) was the main religious and trade centre of Nicosia. This continued under the OttomansTurkish Cypriots, who started using the Cathedral as a mosque. Selimiye was the meeting point for the citizens of Nicosia, especially on Fridays, to coincide with Friday prayers.

St Nicholas Church (Bedestan) served as a market where mostly textiles were sold. Because of population growth, and because people from all over Cyprus came to the city to sell their goods, new buildings were built around the Bedestan, including the Hans where tradesmen could stay.

In the 1800s, the weekly market place was turned into a permanent market place, and this continued till the Bandabuliya was built.

Construction of the Bandabuliya started in 1930, and it was opened two years later in 1932. The bazaar housed everything from greengrocers to butchers and fishmongers.

Population increase, and the movement towards the outskirts of Nicosia, forced shopping centres to be closer to the new settlement areas. The closure of roads leading to Turkish Cypriot parts of the city in 1958, lead to a further decline.

Recent years have seen a revival of trade, and this historic bazaar is still a superb market for fresh vegetables and meat, as well as Turkish Cypriots souvenirs. It as mainly frequented by local shoppers, so any visitor can get a taste of shopping in the old city.

In 2010, the Bandabuliya closed for restoration, and re-opened in the Spring of 2012. Sadly the refurbishment has meant that all the character of the old market has been lost. Instead of a Middle East bazaar, we now have the feel of a 1960s English provincial indoor market, that a mediocre architect would be embarrassed to put his name to! Hopefully some of the character will eventually return.

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