Nicosia’s Christmas fair returns to old city

Nicosia’s Christmas fair will this year return to the moat around the old city in the Davila bastion parking space, leading to the closure of the parking area for about two months.

The old city traditionally hosted the fair which includes an amusement park, ice skating rink and food corners, but for the past several years it had been located in Strovolos with just a small collection of festive stalls in the old town.

The municipality has announced the Davila parking will remain closed between November 10 and January 19, 2022 to host the Christmas fair.

While the fair’s return will be welcomed by some, the increased pressure on parking and traffic congestion has already been the source of comments on social media, especially as works are due to begin next week at the old GSP stadium nearby which has also been used as a parking area for hundreds of vehicles.

During the period of the Christmas fair, holders of monthly prepaid cards can use the municipal parking spaces of Tripolis, Ledras – Ariadnes or Faneromenis, the municipality said.

Tripolis parking includes 352 spaces, with 13 being parking for people with disabilities, a municipality officer told the Cyprus Mail, which surpasses Davila’s 250 parking spaces.

Meanwhile, the public can also use Omirou parking space with 147 spaces including eight marked for people with disabilities, as well as the 204 spaces at the Kostanza designated parking space, which includes four spots for people with disabilities, the officer added.

The exact dates for the operation of the Christmas fair have not yet been announced.