The successful HUB-IN initiative will become digital
10 Heritage Walks, 50 routes, about 1000 participants: these are the numbers of the successful initiative developed by Nicosia’s HUB-IN between March and mid-June 2024.
The Heritage Walks was one of the actions set in Nicosia’s Action Plan. The aim was to promote neighbourhood pride for residents and visitors alike through the design and implementation of walking routes within the walled city.
An event needed to unveil the city center’s historic beauty
Data from a short questionnaire participants had to complete during registration showed that:
- There is insufficient knowledge about Nicosia’s history and culture [~ 600 know very little about it]
- People visit the area sporadically during the year [~ 600 visit the area a few times per year]
- Walking in the area is limited [~ 400 walks a few times per year] largely because of constraints, such as narrow pavements, heatwave, and lack of adequate infrastructure.
These results came as no surprise to the HUB-IN team – Nicosia Municipality and the Cyprus Energy Agency. It proved that this initiative was very much needed to reconnect residents to the historic area of their city. The aim was that, through these Walks, the different cultural and creative elements of both tangible and intangible heritage of the city’s historic urban area would be highlighted, increasing its attractiveness and hopefully leading to increased visits and enhanced use of soft mobility/active travel.
Boosting a sense of wonder and belonging
Participants really loved the Walks. The follow-up questionnaire filled out by 100 participants confirmed that people’s perception of Nicosia and its cultural heritage has changed positively thanks to the Walks, and their pride has increased dramatically. Another conclusion drawn from that survey is that the Walks indeed enhanced city visiting and promoted social engagement. Furthermore, about 50 respondents, said they would stay home if it wasn’t for the Walk(s).
Interesting insights from the survey also include that the majority of those registered to the event joined in search of some personal entertainment (57), awareness-raising about the city and its culture (47), personal relaxation (45), admiration of local architecture (40), and quality time with family/friends (38). A high percentage also stated that the Walks motivated them to participate in more local initiatives (59), dive deeper into Nicosia’s history and culture (56), visit the city within walls more often (37), support local businesses and artists (34) (which it happened in some extend during the Walks, according to the survey), and interact further with the local community (32) while developing synergies.
A new, virtual way to explore the city center
The overall experience was beyond expectations for both the organisers and the public. People have already requested new walks in autumn to discover other aspects of Nicosia’s heritage. What they do not know yet is that the Municipality plans to embed the Walks in its Digital Twin in a digital form supported with audiovisual material to enable anyone who visits the historic urban area to navigate themselves and discover the patchwork of culture the city is gifted with.
Find out more about Nicosia’s HUB-IN here!
