Aglandjia ( []; ) is a suburb and a municipality of Nicosia, Cyprus. The municipality has a population of 20,783 (2011) and is contiguous with Nicosia Municipality. Aglandjia is near the buffer zone. It has an area of about 31 km2, of which 14 km2 is agricultural land occupied by the Turkish army since 1974. Of the remaining 17 km2, 9 km2 are national forest parks (Athalassa park, 8.6 km2 and Pedagogical Academy park 0.4 km2). Name The word Aglandjia is of Turkish origin, deriving from , meaning "entertainment". Its pronunciation in Cypriot Greek is . Another theory states that the name derives from the surname of the Frankish family de Aglande who owned the area during the Frankish rule in Middle Ages. Geography Aglandjia is Nicosia's highest suburb, since its largest part is built either on hills or at tableland level. Aglandjia was built in mediaeval times, before Ottoman rule. Although it was an important site for defensive purposes, it also offered natural resources and a healthy climate. Aglandjia contains many green spaces. The largest is the "big lung" of Nicosia, Athalassa Forest, but the municipality also offers Ayios Yeorgios Park, Aglandjia Municipal Park, and 45 small parks and other green spaces. Aglandjia is built along the road that led from Nicosia to Larnaca before the invasion. Two trapezoidal hills overlook the road on both sides. The hill on the north is Arona hill, which is now under Turkish occupation. The hill on the south is called Aronas of Athalassa or Mount Lion or Liontarovounos. Demography Aglandjia has a population of 22,000 inhabitants, of whom 7,500 are refugees. It maintains a nucleus with traditional brick houses with yards and narrow streets, surrounded by more recently constructed houses, blocks of flats, and refugee housing. Administration Aglandjia was declared a Municipality by a referendum in May 1986. The Municipal Council is made up of the mayor and sixteen Municipal Councilors. The current mayor is Andreas Konstantinou. Aglandjia Municipality employs 24 permanent employees and 30 workers (permanent and casual) who staff the services below, which have their seat in the Town Hall: Secretariat Technical services Financial services Greenery and Environment services Hygiene services Cultural services History The history of Aglandjia goes back as far as 3888 BC. Several tombs dating to the Bronze Age have been found on Arona hill (Mount Lion or Liontarovounos). The hill is strategically located for the defense