Pupils are first to use Lefkoşa’s ‘hop-on, hop-off train’
VISITORS and locals will be able have a guided tour of historic attractions in Lefkoşa’s walled city on a 300,000TL “hop-on, hop-off train” in the New Year.
The Lefkoşa Municipality road “train”, similar to those already operating in touristic cities such as Amsterdam, Barcelona and South Nicosia, was three-quarters funded by the Turkish government with the remainder of the cost being raised in the TRNC.
Although the 18-seat train arrived in the summer, it could not be put into immediate service due to government delays in granting necessary permits.
“We have now secured those permits and the train is ready to roll,” Lefkoşa Mayor Mehmet Harmancı told Cyprus Today.
Mr Harmancı said the “train” would take passengers on a tour of best-known sights within the city’s 16th century walls. Tours will start and finish at Girne Gate, one of three entrances into the historic district, with the planned route then passing the Venetian Column at Sarayönu, the Ottoman-era Kumarcılar Han (Gamblers’ Inn), Büyük Han and Selimiye Mosque before reaching the indoor Bandabuliya market, the Yiğitler Bastion park and Ledra Palace border crossing point.
“There will have to be a temporary change to the route due to work in the area between Sarayönü and the Kumarcılar Han, which is part of our pedestrianisation plan for the historic quarter, but it will not stop the tours,” he said.
“The scheme will have a positive impact on tourism in the walled city. When you look at the profile of tourists, you can see that the majority are over the age of 65. The train will allow them to sit back and enjoy a gentle tour with an audio commentary, including in English, of the capital’s main attractions.”
A group of pupils at Gülen Yüzler Nursery School were the first passengers on the blue-and-white train under a joint project involving the municipality and the National Education and Culture Ministry which aims to take all nursery school pupils in Lefkoşa around the walled city.