|
The Ruins of Kitium
Larnaca's most
popular historical attractions are the ruins of ancient Kitium,
a city which is said to have been founded by the grandson of
Noah, though historical evidence points to a more prosaic origin
as a Mycenean town. Kitium is most famous as the birthplace of
4th Century Stoic philosopher Zeno. Nowadays, the ruins of its
walls and about five temples are all that remain, but they
continue to draw thousands of visitors every year.
|
|
|
The Church of St. Lazarus (Ayios Lazaros Church)
This lovely 9th
Century Orthodox Church in the heart of town is said to be built
over the tomb of St Lazarus, the bother of Mary and Marta. Apart
from its legendary origin, the church is also notable for
its baroque carvings and lovely icons.
|
|
|
Hala Sulatan Tekke
Mosque
Perched beside the
Larnaca Salt Lake near Larnaca airport is this quiet mosque,
which is built on the site where Umm Haram, the foster mother of
the Prophet Muhammad, is said to have been buried. The mosque is
a pilgrimage site for devout Muslims. The nearby Salt Lake was
once an important source of the mineral for locals, until the
salt was declared unfit for human consumption; still, the lake
itself is popular for the flocks of pink flamingoes which
usually appear in spring.
|
|
|
Larnaca
Archaeological Museum
The town's most
comprehensive museum has interesting exhibits covering Larnaca's
history from the Neolithic period all the way to the Roman era.
|
|
|
Larnaca Fort
Located on the
seafront, this former prison is today best known for the small
archaeological museum housed within, which is itself best
visited for the interesting exhibits of items recovered from the
Kitium and Hala Sultan Tekke excavations. For locals, it is also
important as the town's Municipal Cultural Centre.
|
|
|
Choirokoitia
Located about 30km
from Larnaca, the fascinating Neolithic settlement was included
on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list because of its remarkable
state of preservation, as one of the earliest (dating as early
as 6800 BC) and most completely preserved of such sites in the
world.
|
|
|
