Larnaca is one of the oldest cities in Cyprus. The calm and beautiful sea with soft sandy beaches and warm sunsets, hospitable people, fun water sports and numerous antiquities has provided a perfect environment for tourists.
Cyprus is a fascinating and spectacular island in the Mediterranean Sea, due to its good geographical location, it has many tourists from all over the world. Larnaca is located on the south-east coast of Cyprus and is the third largest city here. Larnaca has always been one of the most popular seaside cities due to its stunning beaches and history.
This city is located in Larnaca province which is one of the 6 provinces of Cyprus. Larnaca is full of hotels and tourist attractions that pay a colorful role in attracting tourists. This city has a population of about 150.000 and boasts a marina, harbor and beaches full of palm trees.
People speak Greek and Turkish in the city and their currency is the euro.
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Larnaca Climate
Cyprus has a subtropical and Mediterranean climate. Larnaca has similar conditions. Summers here are accompanied by hot and dry and winters are cold enough. So if you’re planning to travel to Cyprus of Larnaca, spring and fall are the best times to visit this coastal city.
Tourist attractions of Larnaca
Agios Lazaros
This church is one of the most beautiful and ancient attractions in Larnaca. This church is very sacred to Christians and they tell an interesting story. The story is that Lazarus Bethany dies in Bethany and is resurrected after four days by Christ. He decides to flee to Cyprus to live there. He lived in this city for thirty years, where people came to know him as Bishop and after his death, buried him in the place where the church is today.
Church construction dates back to the 9th century. In the past, the church had three domes and bell towers that were completely demolished today, but the stunning carvings and Roman art symbols that were drawn in baroque-style gold on the public portion of the church remained intact.
A unique pulpit is built on top of the first column and is widely decorated with gold. Also beautiful paintings of Mary and St. George and the Dragon can be found on the other column. Next to these buildings, a staircase lead to the tomb of Lazarus, of course it is not certain that the tomb belongs to Lazarus.
Pierides Archaeological Foundation Museum
This is the oldest museum in Cyprus. It was founded in 18th century by Demetrios Pierides to support buildings and history of Cyprus. You can see the culture, economic and social history of Cyprus from 4.000 years ago to present. He was a Cypriot scholar and archaeologist during his lifetime collecting these works, also after his family members pursued his goals.
Hala Sultan Tekke in Larnaca
Just a few minutes from the city, you will reach the salt lake. This lake is home to migratory birds, especially flamingos. Hala Sultan Tekke is located next to the lake.
This mosque is very important among the Muslims of Cyprus. There is the tomb of a lady (Um Haram) inside the mosque. She was one of the Islam Prophet’s relative, who traveled to Cyprus with her husband during the first Arab invasion to the Eastern Roman Empire in 649 AD.
Archaeological Museum in Larnaca
At the Larnaca Archaeological Museum, a collection of artifacts is found throughout the surrounding area dating back from the Neolithic to the Roman period. In the first room, there are sculptures from women with reddish-brown faces, while in the next room you can see pottery collections from excavations at Kition and Livadia, a village in eastern Larnaca with Mycenaean pots and ornaments that are kept in bronze, clay and glass.
Larnaca Fort
One of the attractions of Larnaca is the spectacular city castle. The castle has been in charge of protecting the city for many years, and now has become a sightseeing museum in the heart of Cyprus.
Its construction dates back to 12th century and was widely known in the Medieval. The main purpose of constructing this fortress was to preserve the southern coast of Cyprus, but over time it changed to artillery, prison and finally a museum.
Kamares Aqueduct
Built in 1746, this remarkable canal in the outskirt of Larnaca, supplied water for the city up to 1980s. The canal was part of a complex water engineering system that included a combination of tunnels and was used to irrigate the city.
It was built under the command of a local Ottoman ruler and was designed in the style of channels common to the Royans. Today, the 33 stunning arches along the green areas have become one of the Larnaca attractions.
Turkish Quarter
The most fascinating neighborhood for sightseeing in Larnaca, is its old Turkish neighborhood which is also known as Scala. The neighborhood begins at Larnaca Castle and stretches southwest along crowded and narrow paths.
After the Turkish invasion to northern Cyprus in 1974, people settled in this area, but for a few years Scala was ignored and isolated for decades. Then it has recently been able to get out of the situation and become a tourist destination.
Beaches
The spectacular beaches are one of the Larnaca’s attractions and have a great time for swimming from May to September, with many locals and tourists choosing to swim.
Lefkara
The village of Lefkara, west of Larnaca, is known for its lace weaving. It’s a great place for fun and filled with beautiful architecture, coffee shops, and a collection of lace shops. The shops sell handicrafts and knitwear made by local women. In fact, one of the attractions of Larnaca is its embroidered mesh. Leonardo da Vinci bought a large embroidered tablecloth from the village in 1481 and donated it the altar of the Church of Milan.
Ayia Napa Monastery
At the center of Ayia Napa, is a Byzantine Roman monastery known as “Our Lady of the Jungle”. Legends say that the structure was built inside the cave. In this cave, an icon of the Virgin Mary was found by a local hunter. It was one of the last buildings built by the Venetians in Cyprus.
Hobos Amusement Spot
This amusement park is a great spot for families and their children. You can show your children all kinds of animals such as camels, donkeys, kangaroos, or walk in the beautiful park. There are also a lot of water amusement parks that can be fun for hours.
