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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
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