Haydarpasha Mosque
(St Catherine's Church)
After St. Sophia it is the most
notable Lusignan building in Nicosia. Historian Sir Harry Luke describes it as
the most elegant and perfect Gothic building in Cyprus.
The St. Catherine church was
built in the fourteenth century and converted into a mosque after the Ottomans
gained control of the island.
Long, narrow Gothic windows
have been placed between the pedestals which get narrower as they approach the
ceiling.
The top parts of the windows
are ornamented with geometric designs.
The
church has three entrances: the fine masonry of the Gothic south entrance and
the carvings of the Lusignan insignias on its frame are notable features.
The west entrance is larger
with the same architecture; its frame is ornamented with motifs of roses and
dragons.
The north entrance is
comparatively plain. It is ornamented with the pattern of a nude woman holding a
fish and dragon like effigies.
Inside,
there is a chancel, a vestry and a small baptizing pool.
The building currently serves
as a venue for major art exhibitions under the name HP Gallery.
Pictorial Guide
Nicosia 
