CVAR’s exciting May events

Guided tours, walks with pets, women’s talks and lectures are some of the upcoming events organised by the CVAR Severis Foundation in May. The museum, while hosting a brand-new exhibition this month and celebrating International Museum Day, is putting together a series of happenings that welcomes all.

Taking place this Saturday is a women’s walk at Hala Sultan Tekke organised by CVAR and the Turkish Cypriot University Womens Association. Leaving from Ledra Palace crossing at 10am, the talk in Larnaca will begin at 11am with guest speaker Charis Psaltis, followed by a walk with the Imam guiding participants through the mosque. The day will end with a meal at a local tavern savouring old recipes of food made only in the Karpas region.

Then, as part of the celebrations for Museum Day 2022, CVAR is organising two guided museum tours with Dr Rita Severis, on May 18. The first tour will commence at 11am and will be held in English while the 3pm tour will be in Greek.

A few days later and still in a celebratory mood, CVAR will host a different kind of event not just for museum and art lovers but city strollers and in particular, furry four-legged friends. Together with the Cyprus School of Dog Training, the museum is organising a walking tour of old Nicosia on May 20, guided by Severis, on which participants can bring their pets.

“Museums have the power to transform the world around us,” say organisers. “As incomparable places of discovery, they teach us about our past and open our minds to new ideas – two essential steps in building a better future. On International Museum Day 2022 we want to explore the potential of museums to bring about positive change in our community through education. Through their collections and programmes, museums thread a social fabric that is essential in community building.”

Towards the end of the month, the museum collaborates with the Spanish embassy to present a lecture titled The Travels of Ali Bey el Abbassi, a spy in Cyprus.

“The life and journey of Domingo Badía, Ali Bey el Abbasi, is still little known,” say the organisers. “It is not clear whether he set off for a journey through Africa with the intention to carry out scientific research, or if this was just a pretence to enable him to prepare the conquest of Morocco. At one point, he says he was close to assuming power and soldiers and weapons were mobilised, but the plan was interrupted, and when it was re-planned it was already too late.

“The only way to flee from the dangerous situation was under the pretext of a pilgrimage to Mecca, and one thing we know for certain is that he did so under the name of Prince Abbasi and that he was the first European to describe this journey. On his travels through the Mediterranean to the Holy City, he also passed through Cyprus, and its capital Nicosia, which he described in detail.”

This testimony and description of Ali Bey el Abassi’s impressions of Cyprus are especially interesting, and will be the main focus of the presentation on May 31.

Women’s Walk & Talk

Organised by CVAR and the Turkish Cypriot University Women Association. May 14. 10am. Meeting point: Ledra Palace, Nicosia. Tel: 99-630872. [email protected]

Guided Tours

With Dr Rita Severis. May 18. CVAR Severis Foundation, Nicosia. 11am in English, 3pm in Greek. Tel: 22-300994

Walking Pet Tour

Tour of Nicosia with Dr Rita Severis where participants can bring their pets. May 20. CVAR Severis Foundation, Nicosia. 6pm. Tel: 22-300994

The travels of Ali Bey el Abbassi, a Spy in Cyprus

Lecture. May 31. CVAR Severis Foundation, Nicosia. 6.30pm. Tel: 22-300994