Engomi

Engomi (Greek: Έγκωμη) is a suburb and municipality of the Cypriot capital Nicosia. In 2011, it had a population of 18,010. Of these, 14,254 were citizens of Cyprus.

It is a mainly residential neighbourhood with many large villas. It also includes a very important annexe to the powerful Monastery of Our Lady Eleousa. The University of Nicosia is also located within the municipality and thus is home to a large student population made up mainly of foreign students from Eastern European and Arab countries amongst other minority nationalities such as British, French and American.

Engomi has a large diplomatic presence. The embassies of Egypt, France, the United States and Russia are located in the neighborhood.

History

Engomi most likely originated in 1567 after the demolition of houses and 80 roughly churches and monasteries outside Nicosia, when the Venetians built the new walls around Nicosia, which stand to this day. When the old Lusignan walls were demolished and the new walls erected, the perimeter was reduced from 4 miles to 3 miles in order to strengthen their defensive capability and limit the number of soldiers that were required for their manning. The homeless residents of the demolished settlements were moved to south-west of Nicosia to a distance of 1.5 miles from the new wall of city and half a mile the existing village of St. Dometios. Joining with farmers of the local area, they founded Engomi. The initial core of settlement constituted the area north-east of the old church of St Nicholas (near Makarios square).