The Kyrenia Gate (Girne Kapısı) is the northern of the three original Venetian gates through Nicosia's walls. The Venetians built the gate in 1567 as part of the great star-shaped fortifications meant to hold the city against Ottoman attack — fortifications that, in the event, did not save Nicosia in 1570.
The original stone gate now stands isolated in the middle of a roundabout — the wall on either side was demolished by the British in 1931 to ease traffic. A small Ottoman inscription panel survives over the arch. The North Cyprus tourist information office sits inside the gatehouse.