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Nicosia Shakolas Tower skyline during daylight Republic of Cyprus photo by NicosiaEurope –

Top 10 Facts about Shacolas Tower Museum

A tower is a tall building that is frequently noticeably taller than it is wide. Towers are self-supporting constructions like tall buildings, however, they differ from masts in that they don’t have guy wires.

Towers especially differ from buildings in that they are constructed for other purposes employing the height of the tower rather than for human habitation.

Cyprus has recently had a significant construction boom phase, which started in late 2013 when legislation favouring construction was implemented. Since then, a sizable number of high-rise residential and commercial structures are added to Cypriot cities every year.

There are now around 70 proposed or under-construction structures that, when finished, will stand taller than 50m, of which 32 are skyscrapers. The Shacolas Tower Museum is one of the top ten commercially used high-rise construction projects in Cyprus in terms of height (up to 100 m).

The old town of Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, is home to the high-rise structure known as Shacolas Tower, which was finished in the 1990s. Here are the top 10 facts about the tower.

1. Shacolas Tower Museum was completed in 1959

Shakolas tower in Ledra Street in Nicosia Republic of Cyprus photo by Leadingcity –

The Shacolas Tower or “Ledras Tower” is a high-rise building in Nicosia, Cyprus. It was completed in 1959.

2. Shacolas Tower Museum was built by Costas Manglis

Costas Manglis was the first geologist who identified picrolite in archaeological contexts. He noted that Picrolite was a soft, green massive, banded or crudely fibrous metamorphic rock with a hardness of 3.5, a waxy feel and a conchoidal to subconchoidal fracture (massive), whilst crudely fibrous varieties splinter easily.

Picrolite artefacts comprise some of the most distinctive material remains in the prehistory of the island of Cyprus, in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Picrolite exploitation dates from at least 12,000 years ago for the manufacture of personal ornaments and items with a symbolic function. The Shacolas Tower was built by Costas Manglis and completed in 1959.

3. Shacolas Tower was the tallest building in Cyprus until 1978

The tower was the tallest building in Cyprus until 1978. Shacolas Tower is a high-rise building completed in the 1990s, which is located in the old town of Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus. It is currently the 29th tallest high-rise building in Cyprus and the twelfth in Nicosia.

360 Nicosia is currently the tallest building in Cyprus  standing at an impressive 135m-high, composed of 34 floors of premium real estate and resort-style offerings.

4. Shacolas Tower Museum was formerly known as the Manglis Tower

Nicosia Shakolas Tower skyline during daylight Republic of Cyprus photo by NicosiaEurope –

After the tower was built and completed by Costas Manglis, it was officially named Manglis Tower. It however was renamed Shacolas Tower by the Cypriot government later on.

5. It housed offices of the General Engineering and Hellenic Mining Company

The Shacolas Tower Museum and Observatory, a high-rise structure, was initially constructed in 1959 by Costas Manglis and served as the offices of the General Engineering and Hellenic Mining Company.

6. Shacolas Tower Museum has a Museum on the 11th floor

The 11th floor serves as an observatory and a museum with telescopes and videos that show the history of Nicosia. 

The Shacolas Tower Museum & Observatory features exhibits of photographs and narratives describing Nicosia. In addition, visitors can listen to a taped history, available in several languages.

7. The tower’s museum feature recorded history of the capital

Photo by Toa Heftiba on

There are interactive exhibits that explain the context and history of the visible buildings and can be viewed in a variety of languages. The exhibition presents a collection of photos, videos, interactive maps and valuable historical information on the history of the capital, Nicosia. 

There is a timeline that visitors may use to follow the growth of the city and the historical problems that caused it to be divided. This could have used a little more specificity.

Additionally, there is a tiny video projection with seating for five people that walks visitors through key moments in the growth of the city.

A tiny gift shop offers a variety of typical Cypriot souvenirs in addition to well-received literature about the city’s past. This museum combines a modern museum and details the past of the city.

8. The tower offers panoramic views of the old city

View of Nicosia, taken from Shacolas Tower, Republic of Cyprus. July 2014 photo by Molly –

Shacolas Tower is one of the highest buildings in Nicosia and this allows a spectacular panoramic view of all parts of the city, including the northern part. The 11th floor is an observatory overlooking the whole capital.

The tower offers panoramic views of the old city. The tower is a few hundred meters from the Ledra street crossing with telescopes, and binoculars hence giving a particularly good view of the occupied North of the city.

The view extends across the mountains and the rest of the island. Additionally, visitors can utilize telescopes and binoculars to have a closer look at various monuments and sights.

9. The tower’s first 5 floors are H&M department stores

A medium-sized paper shopping bag issued by the Swedish multinational Hennes & Mauritz AB in the Groninger village of Oude Pekela. photo by Donald Trung Quoc Don-

The tower’s first 5 floors are H&M department stores. H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB or H&M Group (abbreviated H&M) is a multinational clothing company based in Sweden.

Its focus is fast-fashion clothing for men, women, teenagers, and children. H&M is the largest international clothing retailer only behind Spain-based Inditex (parent company of Zara).

The tower’s strategic position makes it an ideal location for shoppers across the area both international and local.

10. The tower was refurbished in 2016

Image by Wolfgang Eckert from

In 2016, the tower underwent renovations. The two basements and the tower’s first five floors, which were turned into an H&M department store, were renovated in 2016 under PAPA’s supervision.

While the client supplied the shop designs, some of the materials and finishing had to be found locally to meet brand requirements.