Archbishop's Palace & Byzantine Museum
Αρχιεπισκοπικό Μέγαρο
A neo-Byzantine Archbishop's Palace housing the Byzantine Museum, which holds the island's richest collection of icons and the repatriated Kanakaria mosaics.
The Archbishop's Palace was built in 1956–1960 in the neo-Byzantine style. It is the residence of the Archbishop of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, and the palace itself is not open to the public. The Byzantine Museum, run by the Makarios III Foundation, holds about 230 icon paintings from the 9th to 19th centuries, the most important icon collection on the island. It also displays 6th-century mosaic fragments and frescoes from the Kanakaria church that were recovered from abroad. Admission is about €5. The museum is closed on Sundays. Next door are St John's Cathedral and the Museum of the National Struggle.
Opening hours
Mon-Fri 09:00-16:30, Sat 09:00-13:00
Nearby sights
- St. John's Cathedral
- House of Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios
- Ömeriye Mosque & Hammam
- Famagusta Gate
- Bandabulya (Municipal Market)
- Bedesten (St Nicholas Church)
- Panagia Chrysaliniotissa Church & Quarter
- Selimiye Mosque (Cathedral of Saint Sophia)