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larnaka / larnaca: |
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Larnaka or Larnaca seafront is vaguely reminiscent of the Continental promeande, with its line of mature palms and its languid air of sleepy charm. Cafes and tavernas line the area near the sea, making this a popular spot with visitors and Cypriots alike during the long summer. Nearby is the Marina, frequented by yachtsmen from all over the world.
All the western end of the promenade is the town's 17th century fort, which now houses the Larnaka mediaeval Museum.
As the home of the island's main international airport, Larnaka offers many visitors their first taste of Cyprus. One of the first sights is the beautiful Salt Lake, home in the cooler months to colonies of graceful flamingos and other migratory birds. Beside the Lake, in a tranquil setting crowned by lush palms, is the Hala Sultan Tekesi, built to the memory of Prophet Mohammed's aunt.
Larnaka's links with Christianity go back to the very beginning, for the town's first bishop was none other than Agios Lazaros, who chose to live his 'second life' there after Jesus had raised him from the dead.
A church built in his anme exists on the spot where his remains were said to be found.
Larnaka's District Archaelogiacal Museum and the Pierides Foundation Museum exhibit particularly interesting antiquities. The town's marble bust of Zenon, after the philosopher who founded the famous Stoic School, bears testimony to another famous son. Also of interest is the ancient city- kingdom of kition established by Mycenean Greeks in the 13th century B.C., the Church of Agia Faneromeni, built over a rock cave dating from the 8th century B.C. and the 18th century aqueduct on the outskirts of town.
Stavrovouni, one of the oldest and most dramatically sited monasteries in Cyprus, founded by Saint Helena, is within reach of Larnaka. Pearched atop a mountain it has stunning views in all directions. In accordance with the strict monastic tradition observed with this particular order, women are not allowed inside Stavrovouni Monastery.
Again within striking distance of Larnaka, is the Church of Panagia Angeloktisti which houses the 6th century lifesize Byzantine mosaic of the Virgin Mary- one of the finest in the world from this period.
A visit to the village of Lefkara, famed for the lace-like embroidery known as 'Lefkaritika' that was said to captivate Leonardo da Vinci, is also a treat. Further south, is the remarkable site of Choirokoitia, included in the Unesco World Heritage List, where excavations have yielded one of the most important Neolithic settlements found anywhere in the world. |
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The Bust of Kimon
At the seafront promenade. The Athenian General Kimon led 200 triremes in 450 BC to free Cyprus from the Persians. He died while he was besieging Kition.
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The Pierides Foundation Museum
4 Zinonos Kitieos Street. Tel.: (04) 652495.The oldest privately owned museum in Cyprus, set up by Dimitrios Pierides (1811-1895). It houses ancient, medieval, Byzantine and more recent objects belonging to the Pierides family. A display case of modern Greek and Cypriot sculptures can be seen in the courtyard.
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Larnaca Fort - Local Mediaeval Museum
Larnaca seafront.Built in 1625, it was used as a prison in the first years of British rule. It now houses the District Mediaeval Museum. The Fort is also used as the Larnaca Municipal Cultural Centre during the summer.
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Kition
Approximately 500 m. northeast of the Archaeological Museum.
One of the most important of the ancient city-kingdoms, with architectural remains dating back to the 13th century BC. In about 1200 BC, it was rebuilt by the Mycenaean Greeks, and excavations have revealed cyclopean walls made of giant blocks of stone and a complex of five temples. |
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Kamares Aqueduct
Kamares area on the Larnaka - Lemesosl road.A beautiful 18th century aqueduct which was in use until 1930.
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Hala Sultan Tekke
Larnaca Salt Lake.Built in 1816 over the tomb of Umm Haram, allegedly a relative of the 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 Al Aqsha in Jerusalem.
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Angeloktisti Church
Kiti village, 11km west of LarnakaAngeloktisti means "built by the angels".T
his 11th century Byzantine church was built on a destroyed early Christian basilica, the apse of which survives together with one of the finest pieces of Byzantine art, a 6th century mosaic of the Virgin Mary and Child between two archangels, which rivals the Ravenna Mosaics.
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Stavrovouni Monastery
9 km off the Lefkosia - Lemesos road
Perched on a rocky peak, 750 meters above sea level, Stavrovouni means the Mountain of the Cross. According to tradition it was founded 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, though men may visit the monastery daily from sunrise to sunset, except between 12.00-13.00 (15.00 hrs in summer), on Green Monday and the following day. There is an impressive ceremony and celebrations on 14 September, the day of Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The Monastery of Ayia Varvara (Saint Barbara) at the foot of Stavrovouni hill, is easily accessible. The monks here, as in Stavrovouni, have a high reputation for icon painting. |
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Choirokoitia
About 32 km from Larnaka
The ancient site of Choirokoitia, is included since 1988 in the Unesco World Cultural Heritage official list. It is the site of a Neolithic settlement found in a better state of preservation than most others from this period, not only in Cyprus but in the whole of the Eastern Mediterranean. It represents through its consecutive phases of building the whole history of the Neolithic period in Cyprus and divulges precious information as to the spread of the Neolithic culture throughout the region.
The general Development Plant of Choirokoitia has its objective to maintain the authenticity of the place, to protect the natural and man-made environment and to give out information through the creation of a Visitor's Centre.
Five dwellings in close proximity have been reconstructed following the Neolithic model, using the same methods and traditional materials and have been furnished with copies of objects actually found inside the houses during excavations, in order to give a better impression of the layout of the village as it was in antiquity. In addition the plant life around these huts represents plants that were cultivated or indigenous trees that grow in Cyprus since the Neolithic times. |
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Kalavasos - Tenta
40 km from Larnaka
Tenta, one of the most important Neolithic settlements in Cyprus of 7000 BC., lies near the village of Kalavasos.
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