The Archbishop's Palace is the headquarters of the Church of Cyprus, one of the oldest autocephalous churches in the Christian world. The current building, completed in 1960, is a grand Venetian-Gothic pastiche that houses both the working offices of the Archbishop and the Byzantine Museum. A large bronze statue of Archbishop Makarios III — the first President of Cyprus — stands in the courtyard, a striking monument to the man who led the independence movement and dominated Cypriot politics for two decades.
Adjacent to the palace is the Cathedral of Saint John, a small 17th-century building whose relatively modest exterior conceals some of the finest Byzantine frescoes in Cyprus. The wall paintings date from 1736 and cover every surface with scenes from the New Testament in vivid detail; the Last Judgment on the west wall is particularly elaborate. The cathedral is one of the most rewarding small churches on the island and is often overlooked by visitors heading to the larger museums nearby. It is open Monday to Saturday and admission is free.