Bedesten

Bedesten (Turkish: Bedesten, Greek: Μπεζεστένι) or Bedestan is a historical building located in the Selimiye quarter in the northern part of Nicosia, right next to the Selimiye Mosque. This structure has a long history spanning over a thousand years. Originally, it was a church built around the 6th century and later expanded and rebuilt between the 12th and 16th centuries, dedicated to Saint Nicholas. It was later converted into a bedesten (a type of covered market) during the Ottoman period. Today, it functions as a cultural center.