Paphos Gate

The Paphos Gate, also known as Porta San Domenico, is a historic city gate in the walls of Nicosia, Cyprus. It originally served as the western entrance to the city, on the road toward Paphos, and sits on a rise that dominates the surrounding area. Designed by the Venetian military architect Giulio Savorgnano, construction began in 1567, shortly before the Ottoman conquest. Under the Ottoman Empire, the buildings above the gate housed the artillery barracks and the residence of the local governor, and during the British colonial period they served as police headquarters until 1958. Today they remain an important administrative seat. During Ottoman rule, the gate was locked after sunset and not reopened until the next morning, with strict rules governing entry and exit. In 1878, Great Britain took control of Cyprus, and the handover to the British commander Lord John Hay took place at this very spot. Soon afterward, the gate was closed to regular traffic and replaced by a new opening in the city wall, which bears the inscription "VR 1879."