Larnaca

Larnaca is located on the ancient site of Kition. Its name is derived from the greek word 'larnax', which means sarcophagus. This is because there were quite a few ancient tombs and medieval burial grounds within the area. Larnaca is the site for one of the two international airports located on the island and also features a sea port. The city has many interesting museums as well as a lovely promenade and tourist zone with shops, restaurants, cafes, and hotels.

The town centre holds many interesting places for tourists to visit. The Acropolis is located behind the Archeological Museum, on Bamboula Hill. The site was cleared by British troops in the late 19th century who used the rubble and ruins as filler to cover malaria-filled swamps. Forty years ago an archeological team accidentally discovered remnants of its former glory, excavating sculptures of alabaster and fragments of ceramics, jewelry and stone artifacts. Below the Acropolis at the base of the hill is another active archaeology site, the Mycenaean site. Within the location one is able to walk along platforms above the works and view the excavations. Below one can see the former walls and comprehend the scale of efforts put into the fortifications and defense.

Down the street is located the Pierides Foundation Museum. The museum was founded in 1839 by the Cypriot archaeologist Demetrios Pierides, who set aside a portion of his estate to assist in the preservation and protection of historical artifacts and antiquities. This museum contains some striking examples of ancient historic importance, notably 3,000 year old ceramic vessels and neolithic stone figures. In addition, there is an interesting collection of terracotta figures from the archaic period, a miniature set of warrior figurines (cavalry and chariot soldiers), Hellenic age statues, a large collection of goblets and amphorae of every shape and colour, a set of historic maps of the eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus, and a display of ancient weaponry. A small gallery also features the works of Michael Kashialos, a primitive artist who was killed by the Turks in 1974.

Historical Interest

In the southern part of Larnaca, in old town, stands the Church of St Lazarus. This church was built back around 900 AD on the site of the saint's final resting place. Both Eastern and Western influences can be seen in the architectural workings of the building. After the end of Turkish rule in the late 16th century, the edifice was used by the Orthodox and Roman Catholic communities for some 200 years, as witnessed by the inscriptions surrounding the portico which are in Greek, Latin and French. Within the church, points of note include the Rococo pulpit, dating to the late 1600s, and a famous icon of St Lazarus emerging from his burial place, which is paraded throughout the church at Easter with great reverence. A magnificantly carved iconostasis holds this particular icon as well as a number of other precious elements of the church. Next to the central nave is located a golden reliquary. Within this lies the skull of St Lazarus, and behind which stone sarcophagus, one of which originally held the relics and remains of the saint, bearing an inscription reading "Lazarus, Friend of Jesus". In the courtyard are graves of merchants, consuls and high-ranking civil servants. From the courtyard of Agios Lazaros, one accesses the Byzantine Museum, which features chasubles, bibles, liturgical materials, icons, and other objects associated with the Orthodox Church. Unfortunately it is shadow of its former self, as the previous collection of antiquities vanished. During the late 1960s and early 1970s the items were stored in the fort for safe keeping during the turbulence, but unfortunately when control of the fort, which had fallen into Turkish control, was regained, nearly all items had disappeared.

Agios Ioannis, which features a marble Venetian portal and an early 17th century iconostasis, Agios Chrysotrios, which was built in 1853, and Zahuri Cami, a 19th century mosque, are other notable religious institutions worth visiting. Agia Faneromeni, most likely originally a pagan tomb dating back to the Phoenician period, is a double-chambered cavern carved into the rock. The chapel was often frequented by women praying for the safe return of their loved ones and the infirmed hoping to rid themselves of illness.

Larnaca Harbour

Larnaca Fort was originally built by the Turks in the early 1600s, over the foundations of a castle which had been sacked a few centuries prior by the Mamelukes. As ships would sail into the old harbour a cannon salute would be fired from the fort to welcome them. In the Byzantine era the fort saw varied uses, from central police headquarters, to a prison, to an execution site, and 150 years ago a lightning strike to the fort destroyed a portion of the buildings. Within the fort lies a museum which features medieval arms and armour, and artifacts recovered from Kition and Hala Sultan Tekke. The viewing platform atop the wall, surrounded by the cannons and weaponry of the fort's heritage, provides an excellent view around the horizon and grants an excellent viewing aspect for the city.

Larnaca Marina is located about 1 kilometer north of the fort, past the promenade and a small beach. Tourists are allowed to walk along the breakwater, but the marina itself restricts access to crew and marina personnel. Past the marina is where the passenger and cargo terminals are located.

On the outer edge near the road leading to Limassol are the remains of the Thrimitus aqueduct system, which was built by the Turks in 1745 to supply the town with water from the nearby Thrimitus river. Elhey Bekir Pasha, then the Turkish Governor, commissioned the system, which functioned up to 1930. At present some 75 spans of the original system still stand, and are impressive when viewed at night with the illumination.

Restaurants in Larnaca

Santa Elena Fish Restaurant 4 Apostolou Varnava Zygi 7739 24332203 Kathari Kardia Fish Tavern 20 Konstantinoupoleos Zygi 7739 24332415 Zygiana Restaurant - Fishtavern 71 Grigori Afxentiou Michaelides Court Shop 2 Larnaca 7739 24332448 Koumbaris Fishtavern 71 Grigori Afxentiou Zygi 7739 24332450 Diana Fish Restaurant 22 Makedonias Hilda Bldg C Shop 1 Zygi 7739 24332860 Andros Fish Tavern 37 Grigori Afxentiou Zygi 7739 24333077 Eraclis Fish Tavern 63 Grigori Afxentiou Meridiana Complex 2 Shop 1 Zygi 7739 24333169 Marcos Fish Tavern Grigori Afxentiou Zygi 7739 24333404 Captains Table Fish Tavern 48 Grigori Afxentiou Zygi 7739 24333737 Iason Tavern Irakli Strouthou Lefkara Pano 7700 24342532 Great Britain Tavern 5 Eleftheriou Venizelou Lefkara Pano 7700 24342664 Mezedopiio Marias 24 Chrysoupoleos Larnaca 6041 24364400 Taverna Ypomoni 37 Timiou Prodromou Souvlakia Dromolaxia 7020 24423044 Soutsos Tavern 8 Dimokratias Perivolia 7560 24424832 Kypros O Psaras Fish Tavern Archiepiskopou Makariou Iii Vamiko Pervolia Gardens 14 Larnaca 7560 24425026 To Mangali Tou Michali Restaurant Petraki Kyprianou B' Demotiki Agora Larnakas Larnaca 6050 24669333 Vivoli Creperie 25 Pavlou Michaila Pantelouri Bldg Shop 4 Aradippou 7104 24669691 Ban Thai Restaurant 6-8 Pieridi Larnaca 6022 24815012 Mc.Am.Restaurant Ltd 102 Athinon Ave Larnaca 6022 24815900 Brainstorm Enterprises Ltd 5 Georgiou Griva Digeni Ave Larnaca 6030 24816662 T.G.I. Fridays 48 Athinon Ave Larnaca 6022 24816666 Galu Restaurant Lounge Bar 34 Mesopotamias Oroklini 7041 24824100 Ganga Indian Restaurant Selinis Oroklini 7041 24824949 Ganga Indian Restaurant Selinis Oroklini 7041 24824949 Shanghai Chinese Restaurant Ltd 4 Apollonos Larnaca 6016 24828575

Shanghai Chinese Restaurant 2 Ltd 53 Archiepiskopou Makariou Iii Kiti 7550 24426600 To Kalo Moro Tavern 6 Synergasias kiti 7550 24427037 Elikrinia Tavern 2 Smyrnis Anglisides 7571 24432588 Alethriko Tavern Eirinis Ave Erotokritou Bldg Shop 4 Alethriko 7570 24432960 Epochiaki Taverna 12 Eleftherias Kivisili 7575 24433700 Taipei Town Chinese Restaurant Ltd 63 Arch. Makariou Iii Ave Georghiades Bldg Larnaca 6017 24621399 Krateon Restaurant 21 Kimonos Larnaca 6015 24622062 To Vareli 123 Pigiale Pasa Makenzi Larnaca 6028 24623770 Charmer 75 Pigiale Pasa Makenzi Seagate Court 1 Shop 10 Larnaca 6028 24624127 Koma Tou Yialou Fish Tavern 33 Christodoulou Iakovidi Larnaca 6045 24625180 Spagetteria Italia Restaurant & Take Away Grigori Afxentiou Ave Academy Centre 3 Shop 50 Larnaca 6021 24629450 Mulan Chinese Restaurant 1 Areos Larnaca 6016 24629508 Asil Lysis Taverna 12 Rafail Santi Larnaca 6052 24634466 Alonia Tavern 37 Agias Paraskevis Livadia 7060 24634642 Leonidas Tavern 60 Sintika Chanim Larnaca 6051 24635599 Mezedopolio Oi Pirates Ton Gefseon 150 Pigiale Pasa Makenzi Makenzie Bldg 1 Shop 3-4 Larnaca 6028 24656744 Oasis Periochi Makenzi Oasis Restaurant Larnaca 6028 24657040 Yu-Shan Chinese Restaurant & Take Away 1 Ellispontou Larnaca 6030 24657044 Fengs House Chinese Restaurant 103 Athinon Ave Larnaca 6022 24657176 Plori Seafood Restaurant 144 Pigiale Pasa Makenzi Larnaca 6028 24657840 Paradosiako Piato Restaurant 2 Sakaria Larnaca 6026 24658318 Grandpapas Restaurant Pigiale Pasa Makenzi Larnaca 6028 24664430 Kyra Giorgena Taverna 7 Ouilliam Ouiar Larnaca 6010 24664978 Espresso 21 Pigiale Pasa Ave Castella Court 1 Shop 10 Larnaca 6027 24665655 Apostolos Andreas Taverna 9 Louther Kigk Larnaca 6957 24667999

Dilino Tavern 93 Agiou Georgiou Kontou Larnaca 6046 24638708 Alexis Tavern 16 Okeanias Georhiou Bldg Oroklini 7041 24644090 Lily Wong Chinese Restaurant 14 Ithakis Nicolaou Bldg Shop 4 Oroklini 7040 24644220 French Rendez Vous Afroditis Chrystoulla Bldg 1 Shop 8 Oroklini 7041 24644532 Lysia Restaurant Ltd 4 Ammochostou Pyla 7081 24644588 Kerkyra Tavern Restaurant 56 Archiepiskopou Makariou Iii Oroklini 7040 24644833 Masalas Indian Restaurant 10 Ithakis Pyla 7081 24644950 Chrystallo 8 Okeanias Paschalis Bldg Oroklini 7041 24645322 Socrates Bar Cafe Restaurant 9 Sokratous Pyla 7081 24645888 Aztecas Tex Mexican Restaurant 10 Kantaras Efstathiou Bldg Pyla 7081 24647002 Mer Blue Restaurant 8 Mesopotamias Mer Blue-Philippou Bldg Oroklini 7041 24648110 Sakura Japanese Restaurant Dekeleias Sapporo Bldg Shop 5 Pyla 7081 24648777 Black Turtle Tavern 11 Mechmet Ali Larnaca 6026 24650661 Zakos Beach Restaurant Periochi Makenzi Zakos Restaurant Larnaca 6028 24652411 Tsartellis Restaurant Periochi Makenzi Larnaca 6028 24652525 Prokimea (Promenade) Fish & Restaurant 47 Pigiale Pasa Makenzi Stadem Bldg Shop 3 Larnaca 6028 24653521 Dionyssos 7 Agkyras Larnaca 6026 24653658 Panos Steak House 7 Agkyras Larnaca 6026 24653707 Monte Carlo Restaurant 28 Pigiale Pasa Ave Larnaca 6026 24653815 Ouzeri Skala 24 Kleanthous Kalogera Larnaca 6022 24654060 Spileon Steak House 28A Lordou Vyronos Larnaca 6023 24655114 Psarolimano Fish Tavern 118 Pigiale Pasa Ave Larnaca 6027 24655408 Militzis Restaurant Ltd 42 Pigiale Pasa Ave Kentron Militzis Larnaca 6026 24655867 Archontiko Restaurant-Tavern 24 Athinon Larnaca 6023 24655905 Ta Kalyfouthkia Tavern 7 Odysseos Larnaca 6030 24655954 Pytharka Tavern 39 Arch. Makariou Iii Ave Larnaca 6017 24656181