Cyprus Interest

Larnaca

A major town with a population of 62,000 Larnaca is located on Larnaca Bay on the south-east coast of Cyprus.

The popularity of Larnaca is on the increase both as a destination for holiday accommodation and retirement. Larnaca is one of the oldest cities in Cyprus and has it’s own International Airport, a Marina and a long sea-front which has recently been revitalised. The Marina and extensive beach to the east of the town are both to be redeveloped in the near future following the planned removal of the oil storage tanks adjacent to the beach. This will greatly improve the tourist facilities which currently include water sports and a long café-lined promenade. Larnaca has a small number of important archaeological and historical sites as well as museums and is a popular place of pilgrimage for Muslims. Migrant birds often stop at the nearby salt-lakes during the winter migration. Larnaca is well known for it’s celebration of the Greek Orthodox festival of Whitsun – the Feast of Kataklysmos.

Part of the town occupies the site of the ancient fortified town of Citium (Cition) which is of Mycean origins (12th Century). The Phoenicians used Larnaca as the seat of a powerful kingdom here in the 9th century. It was also an important town during the reign of the Assyrians due to its port and the local saltworks and copper trading. Citium was the birthplace of the philosopher Zeno, who emigrated to Greece and subsequently founded the Stoic School of philosophy. Local history has it that St Lazarus came to Citium and became its bishop after his resurrection and his tomb can be found under the sanctuary of the church of st Lazarus in the centre of the town. Under Turkish rule a fort was build in Larnaca to guard the town in 1625, and this remains to this day. In the l8th century it became a commercial centre and the seat of the European consulates. In 1878 the British landed here at the beginning of their period of ruling the island.

Historic Buildings and Archaeology

KITION
One of the most important ancient city kingdoms, with architectural remains dating back to the l3th century BC. In about 1200 BC the Mycenaean Greeks rebuilt it, and excavations have revealed cyclopean walls made of giant blocks of stone, and a complex of five temples.

Choirokoitia – Oldest Neolithic Settlement on island

Kalavassos Tenta - Neolithic Settlement

Kition, Archaeological Site

Monasteries and Churches

AGIOS LAZAROS CHURCH
Saint Lazarus is the patron saint of Larnaca. Cition became his second home after his resurrection by Christ, and he lived here for another 30 years. Saints Barnabas and Mark ordained him Bishop of Cition. In the 9th century Emperor Leo VI erected a magnificent church over his tomb. The church, one of the finest examples of Byzantine architecture in Cyprus, was faithfully restored in the l7th century, and the iconostasis is an excellent example of baroque woodcarving. Visitors can see the tomb of Saint Lazarus under the sanctuary and an ecclesiastical museum behind the church. Eight days before the Greek Orthodox Easter the icon of Saint Lazarus is taken in procession through the streets of Larnaca.

Stavrovouni Monastery

Church of Angeloktisti.

Museums and Galleries

THE BUST OF KIMON
The Athenian General Kimon led 200 triremes in 450 BC to free Cyprus from the Persians. He died while he was besieging Kition.

Larnaca DISTRICT ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM
Interesting collection of finds from the Larnaca area dating from the Neolithic Age to the Roman period.

PIERIDES MUSEUM
Remarkable private exhibition of Cypriot antiquities originally collected by Demetrios Pieridis (1811-1895) and further enriched by members of his family.

Larnaca MEDIAEVAL MUSEUM - Larnaca FORT
Built in 1625, it was used as a prison in the first years of British rule. It houses the District Mediaeval Museum. The fort is also used as the Larnaca Municipal Cultural Centre during the summer.

Sports and Activities

Hala Sultan Tekke - Salt Lake