The famous Ataturk, which is located in the northern Turkish part of Nicosia, is one of the most important historical sites of the city. It is also called "The barn area", as before, in the era of the Lusignan, there was a beautiful palace, which later, when the Ottomans took control of the island, settled the governor. Even the Turks called this building "Shed" - "Palace". The mansion was designed in a sophisticated Venetian style - it was a real palace complex with a courtyard, arcades, many beautiful rooms and even the throne room.

However, when the city entered the British army, this beautiful building was completely destroyed. From the grandeur of the past there was only a large fountain, built in the days of the Ottomans. In addition, the square remains high granite column, which was moved to the Venetians still in 1489 from the Greek city of Salamis (Salamis). She was decorated with the traditional lion sculpture. After the capture of the city by the Turks, the lion was removed from the column. Later, the British strengthened on top of a large bronze globe that was supposed to symbolize the power of the British Empire. Also in 1953, they found the square stone pedestal with a new coat of arms in honor of Britain's ascent to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II. Also, the British in the early XX century there were erected several large buildings, one of which is now in the Supreme Court, and the other - the bank.

Its present name of the square was named after the famous Kemal Ataturk - the first president of the Turkish Republic, which is actually the founder of modern Turkey.