A Green Space in the Nicosia Walled City Historical Texture Urban Landscape: “Yiğitler Bastion Park”

Abstract

Historical urban textures and cultural heritages bridging the past and the present.  Showing a development through the historical process, these spaces reach the present as a cultural mosaic, and have an important effect on the identity that cities possess.  As the most important component of historical textures, green spaces bring together textures with nature, and give life to them.  Preserving historical textures together with urban landscape with correct planning policies is of great importance for their sustainability and survival into the future.

Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, has possessed a very rich historical texture with the cultural heritages from the periods of past civilizations.  The historical texture in the walled city, which is in a central position, could not preserve the rich landscape in its past, and reached the present almost deprived of green.

In our study, Yiğitler Bastion Park, a green area, which is an important green area in the historical city texture of the northern Nicosia walled city, was the subject and the current situation of the park with the owner was examined through literature review, on-site observations, and interviews with people residing in park couples. Suggestions have been made to reveal the current milk problems of the park, increase availability and protect it.