Cyprus Interest

Around Larnaca

Historic Buildings and Archaeology

KAMARES AQUEDUCT
A beautiful l8th century aqueduct, which was in use until 1930.

HALA SULTAN TEKESI
Built in 1816 over the tomb of Umm Haram, allegedly a relative of Prophet Mohammed who died on this spot in 649 during the first Arab raids. The mosque is an important place of Moslem pilgrimage ranking immediately after the shrines of Mecca, Medina and AI Aqsha in Jerusalem.

CHOIROKOITIA
Neolithic settlement dated to 7000 BC. Excavations have brought to light one of the most important Neolithic cultures in the world with a defence wall, circular houses, tombs and many stone utensils. The Visitors' Centre at the entrance of the site presents a replica of the Neolithic settlement.

KALAVASOS-TENTA
Tenta, one of the most important Neolithic settlements in Cyprus lies near the village of Kalavasos.

Monasteries and Churches

ANGELOKTISTI CHURCH
Angeloktisti means, "Built by the Angels". This 11th century Byzantine church was erected over the ruins of an Early Christian basilica. The original apse survived together with one of the finest pieces of Byzantine art, a rare 6th century mosaic of the Virgin Mary and Child between the two archangels, which rivals the Ravenna Mosaics.

ROYAL CHAPEL
Built by the Lusignan King Janus in 1421, it contains a wall painting of the king with his wife, Charlotte de Bourbon, on one of its walls. It is considered one of the most interesting structures surviving from the Frankish Period.

STAVROVOUNI MONASTERY
Perched on a rocky peak, Stavrovouni means, “Mountain of the Cross”. According to tradition it was founded in the 4th century by Saint Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, who left a fragment of the Holy Cross to the monastery. The brotherhood is extremely devout, keeping vows as strict as those of the Mount Athos brotherhood in Greece. Women are not allowed in the monastery (can stay outside and enjoy the beautiful scenery), though men may visit the monastery daily from sunrise to sunset, except from 12:00-13:00 (15:00 in summer), on Green Monday and the following day. There is an impressive ceremony and celebrations on l4th September, the day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The Monastery of Agia Varvara (Saint Barbara) at the foot of Stavrovouni hill is easily accessible. The monks here have a high reputation for icon painting.

AGIOS MINAS CONVENT
15th century monastery with a church at the centre of the cloisters. The nuns, besides performing their religious rites, are involved in icon painting. The monastery is closed to visitors between 12:00 -15:00 from Sunday to Friday and all day on Saturdays.

Hala Sultan Tekke mosque
Palm trees and the mosque near Larnaca combine in an orientalist fantasy.

Sports and Activities

LEFKARA
A picturesque village, famous for its local lace known as "Lefkaritika" and for its silverware. According to tradition, Leonardo Da Vinci visited the village and bought an altar cloth, which he donated to the Milan cathedral. The beautiful House of Patsalos houses the Lace and Silverware Museum of Lefkara. The church of Archangelos Michael in Kato Lefkara is of the single aisled domed type and has wall paintings of the late l2th century. At Pano Lefkara there is the church of the Holy Cross with a beautiful l8th century iconostasis and a unique l3th century silver cross. A religious fair takes place on the l3th - l4th September, in celebration of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.