Reuniting Memory through Stone: Cultural Restoration as a Path to Trust in Cyprus

The island of Cyprus, long defined by its layered history and cultural complexity, has recently witnessed the completion of two significant conservation projects that speak to both its rich heritage and the possibilities of renewed reconciliation. The preservation of the Church of St George of the Latins in Famagusta and the Tuzla Mosque in Larnaca marks a critical milestone in collaborative heritage protection, achieved through a tri-partite partnership between the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage in Cyprus, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH), with financial backing from the European Union.

Implemented under the auspices of the UN Office of the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Cyprus (OSASG), these projects form part of a wider framework of confidence-building measures. Designed to foster intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding between the island’s Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, this initiative reaffirms the role of cultural heritage as a medium of shared identity and peace-building in post-conflict settings.

The Church of St George of the Latins, one of the oldest extant Gothic ecclesiastical structures in Cyprus, stands as a testament to the island’s medieval Latin presence. Dated to the late 13th or early 14th century and severely damaged during the siege of Famagusta in 1570, the church had long been in a precarious condition. Conservation works, which commenced in September 2024 and concluded in June 2025, focused on structural consolidation, the preservation of dressed limestone masonry, and roof insulation. This intervention has not only safeguarded the monument’s physical integrity but has also revitalised its symbolic role within the urban fabric of Famagusta.

Equally significant is the conservation of the Tuzla Mosque in Larnaca, a building that encapsulates Cyprus’s architectural and religious palimpsest. Originally constructed as a medieval Christian church atop the foundation of an early basilica, the structure was later converted into a mosque during the Ottoman period. Restoration efforts concentrated on structural reinforcement, the stabilisation of architectural elements, and the uncovering and preservation of frescoes previously concealed beneath layers of whitewash. The conservation methodology drew upon a decade of experience accumulated by the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, with an emphasis on minimal intervention and authenticity in line with ICOMOS principles.

These conservation outcomes were celebrated in a public event attended by members of the diplomatic corps, representatives from ALIPH, the European Commission, UNDP, and the local communities. Speaking at the event, Bariza Khiari, Chair of the ALIPH Foundation Board, emphasised the unifying potential of heritage: “The rehabilitation of these historic sites was made possible through the joint efforts of representatives from both communities of the island. At ALIPH, we believe that preserving cultural heritage not only safeguards memory but also fosters reconciliation and unity.”

This sentiment was echoed by representatives of the European Commission and UNDP. Jutta Pomoell-Segurola, Head of Section at the European Commission, underscored the trust built through consistent heritage collaboration, while Jakhongir Khaydarov, Head of Office at UNDP Cyprus, framed the restoration work as the product of “trusted collaborations” that transform shared heritage into a platform for sustainable peace.

Crucially, the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot Co-Chairs of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, Sotos Ktoris and Ali Tuncay, respectively, affirmed the broader socio-cultural implications of these conservation achievements. Ktoris spoke of Cyprus as a “crossroads of cultures” and emphasised the symbolic resonance of restoring monuments that reflect both historical plurality and contemporary unity. Tuncay highlighted ALIPH’s essential role in supporting the preservation of religiously and historically significant sites in a context fraught with historical sensitivities, while also reinforcing the Committee’s vision of “shared responsibility” and “respect for cultural diversity.”

This dual intervention in Famagusta and Larnaca illustrates the role of conservation not merely as a technical process, but as an instrument of diplomacy and community engagement. The project’s success testifies to the capacity of heritage to serve as a bridge—linking past and present, memory and identity, and, crucially, communities divided by decades of political strife.

Established in 2008 under the auspices of the United Nations, the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage in Cyprus functions as a bi-communal mechanism for safeguarding the island’s immovable heritage. The Committee’s mandate, reaffirmed through its Advisory Board and operational partnerships, aims to facilitate non-political, technically grounded heritage interventions that contribute to reconciliation and the peace process.

[Source: ALIPH].

JCHC

The Journal of Cultural Heritage Crime (JCHC), con sottotitolo L’Informazione per la Tutela del Patrimonio Culturale, è una testata giornalistica culturale, registrata presso il Tribunale di Roma con n. 108/2022 del 21/07/2022, e presso il CNR con ISSN 2785-7182. Si configura sul web come contenitore di approfondimento, il primo in Italia, in cui trovano spazio i fatti che quotidianamente vedono il nostro patrimonio culturale minacciato, violato e oggetto di crimini. I fatti sono riportati, attraverso un linguaggio semplice e accessibile a tutti, da una redazione composta da giornalisti e da professionisti del patrimonio culturale, esperti nella tutela. JCHC è informazione di servizio, promuove le attività di contrasto ai reati e sostiene quanti quotidianamente sono impegnati nella attività di tutela e valorizzazione del nostro patrimonio culturale.