Larnaca Attractions
The Larnaca region has become much more popular since the 1974 Turkish invasion. The area inherited most of the refugees who lost their homes in the invasion and subsequent occupation.
The area thrived with the new population and it now has numerous modern tourist centers, especially in Larnaca town and on the Larnaca-Dhekelia Road.
The area thrived with the new population and it now has numerous modern tourist centers, especially in Larnaca town and on the Larnaca-Dhekelia Road.
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Kalavasos - Tenta Neolithic Settlement, Cyprus
Tenta is located 40km from Larnaca, 2.5km off the Nicosia-Limassol road near the village of Kalavasos. It is one of the most important Neolithic settlements in Cyprus.
A number of circular huts with plastered walls were found here. On these walls, traces of paintings have been discovered, including what seems to be a depiction of a human figure. The same sort of burials are found here as at Khoirokoitia.
A number of circular huts with plastered walls were found here. On these walls, traces of paintings have been discovered, including what seems to be a depiction of a human figure. The same sort of burials are found here as at Khoirokoitia.
Kornos, Cyprus
A short distance northwest of the Stavrovouni Monastery is the village of Kornos, famed for its unglazed pottery in Archaic designs.
Larnaca - Kamares Aqueduct
The Kamares Aqueduct is located in the Kamares area on the Larnaca-Limassol road. This beautiful aqueduct was built in 1746 by the Turks to provide water for the town and was in use until 1930. It has 33 arches.
Larnaca - Makenzie Beach
Just east of Larnaca town, off the airport road, is Makenzie Beach, which is popular with the locals and has numerous cafes and restaurants specializing in local delicacies.
There are water-sports facilities on the beach.
There are water-sports facilities on the beach.
Larnaca - St Minas Convent
Near Lefkara is the Ayios Minas Convent, a 15th century monastery with a church at the center of the cloisters. The nuns, besides performing their religious rites, paint icons.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | Closed | 8:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | |
| Open | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | |
| Close | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 |
Larnaca - Villages, Cyprus
There are numerous small villages in the Larnaca region. Many of these grew with the influx of refugees who lost their homes in the 1974 Turkish invasion and subsequent occupation of the Famagusta area.
Kiti - Church of the Madonna Built by Angels
This beautiful 11th century Byzantine church was erected over the ruins of an early Christian basilica. The original apse survived together with one of the finest pieces of Byzantine art, a rare sixth century mosaic of the Virgin Mary and Child between the two archangels (Michael and Gabriel), which rivals the Ravenna Mosaics.
The Virgin is standing on a footstool with Christ in her left arm. It is an extremely delicate design and much more naturalistic in style than other contemporary paintings.
This has puzzled many Byzantine scholars and they have been unable to determine exactly when it was painted, although there is a consensus that it belongs to the sixth century.
A small chapel attached to the north end of the church has some good 15th century paintings, including one of St George.
In the village is a bridge which was once part of a medieval castle destroyed by the Arabs.
The village is becoming a tourist center and has several shops, banks and cafes.
(Near )
Two km/1.25mi southwest of Larnaca, in the village of Kiti, is the Church of the Panayía Angeloktistos, with beautiful early Byzantine mosaics (sixth century).This beautiful 11th century Byzantine church was erected over the ruins of an early Christian basilica. The original apse survived together with one of the finest pieces of Byzantine art, a rare sixth century mosaic of the Virgin Mary and Child between the two archangels (Michael and Gabriel), which rivals the Ravenna Mosaics.
The Virgin is standing on a footstool with Christ in her left arm. It is an extremely delicate design and much more naturalistic in style than other contemporary paintings.
This has puzzled many Byzantine scholars and they have been unable to determine exactly when it was painted, although there is a consensus that it belongs to the sixth century.
A small chapel attached to the north end of the church has some good 15th century paintings, including one of St George.
In the village is a bridge which was once part of a medieval castle destroyed by the Arabs.
The village is becoming a tourist center and has several shops, banks and cafes.
Lefkara
Lefkara is 8km from Skarinou, off the Nicosia-Limassol road, 40km from Larnaca. It is a picturesque village famous for its local lace, known as "lefkaritika" and for its silverware.
The local "Lefkara lace" is hand-made by local women using Irish linen. Many of the women sit in their doorways where you can watch them practicing their trade.
The beautiful House of Patsalos houses the Lace and Silverware Museum of Lefkara. The Church of Archangelos Michail in Kato Lefkara is of the single-aisled domed type and has wall paintings of the late 12th century.
At Pano Lefkara there is the church of the Holy Cross, with beautiful 18th century and 13th century artifacts. A religious fair takes place September 13-14, in celebration of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
The village has a traumatic history, as it was the sight of two major battles. The first was between Richard I and Comnenos in the 12th century and one in 1426 between Arabs and King Janus. It was then sacked by the Venetians and many of its inhabitants were massacred.
(Near )
The village of Lefkara, west of Larnaca, is famous for its lace. It is said that Leonardo de Vinci bought lace here in 1481 for an altar-cloth in Milan Cathedral.Lefkara is 8km from Skarinou, off the Nicosia-Limassol road, 40km from Larnaca. It is a picturesque village famous for its local lace, known as "lefkaritika" and for its silverware.
The local "Lefkara lace" is hand-made by local women using Irish linen. Many of the women sit in their doorways where you can watch them practicing their trade.
The beautiful House of Patsalos houses the Lace and Silverware Museum of Lefkara. The Church of Archangelos Michail in Kato Lefkara is of the single-aisled domed type and has wall paintings of the late 12th century.
At Pano Lefkara there is the church of the Holy Cross, with beautiful 18th century and 13th century artifacts. A religious fair takes place September 13-14, in celebration of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
The village has a traumatic history, as it was the sight of two major battles. The first was between Richard I and Comnenos in the 12th century and one in 1426 between Arabs and King Janus. It was then sacked by the Venetians and many of its inhabitants were massacred.
Ormidhia
Its church, Agios Konstantinos Alamos, is said to contain the saint's bones, which were found nearby.
There was once numerous archeological sites in the area but these were destroyed by Cesnola, the American consul in Larnaca in 1865, who was given power to excavate the island's archeological sites.
The vast majority of the finds were shipped to New York and the sites were rendered useless for further excavation.
(Near )
Ormidhia, on the road from Larnaca to Agia Napa, is a small village, inhabited mainly by refugees from the 1974 Turkish invasion. The village dates from the Byzantine period and later was a popular summer resort for the foreign residents of Larnaca.Its church, Agios Konstantinos Alamos, is said to contain the saint's bones, which were found nearby.
There was once numerous archeological sites in the area but these were destroyed by Cesnola, the American consul in Larnaca in 1865, who was given power to excavate the island's archeological sites.
The vast majority of the finds were shipped to New York and the sites were rendered useless for further excavation.
Larnaca International Airport
The Larnaca International Airport was built after the Turkish invasion of 1974, when the Nicosia airport was put under the control of the United Nations. Its construction led to the development of Larnaca into a major tourist center.
It is the main point of entry to the island, the other being the smaller Paphos International Airport.
There are rental car agencies and a tourist information office on the premises.
The Cyprus Flying School also operates on nearby runways.
It is the main point of entry to the island, the other being the smaller Paphos International Airport.
There are rental car agencies and a tourist information office on the premises.
The Cyprus Flying School also operates on nearby runways.
Hermes Airports Ltd
PO Box 43027
6650 Larnaka International Airport
Lanarka
Cyprus
PO Box 43027
6650 Larnaka International Airport
Lanarka
Cyprus
Larnaca Shooting Club
The Larnaca Shooting Club is located on the southwest side of the salt lake, off the Limassol-Larnaca Highway, behind the old Roman Aqueduct (Kamares).
Hours
May 1 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | 16:00 | Closed | Closed | 16:00 | Closed |
| Close | 20:00 | 20:00 |
October 1 to April 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | 14:00 | Closed | Closed | 14:00 | Closed |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Pervolia, Cyprus
This village, near Kiti, is quickly becoming a tourist center and is especially popular with locals looking for a summer holiday at the beach.
The village has two lighthouses, one modern and one ancient, as well as ruins of a Phoenician temple and a Venetian watchtower. In the tower is the coat of arms of the lion of St Mark.
There is a shipwreck from the Byzantine period lying offshore.
The village has two lighthouses, one modern and one ancient, as well as ruins of a Phoenician temple and a Venetian watchtower. In the tower is the coat of arms of the lion of St Mark.
There is a shipwreck from the Byzantine period lying offshore.
Potamos, Cyprus
Potamos, in the eastern Larnaca region, is a small fishing harbor on a creek (Potamos in Greek means creek). It is an idyllic place, especially early in the morning, when the fishermen are returning with their night's catch.
The banks of the creek provide a very pleasant place to stroll.
At the far end of the track is a rocky but pleasant beach and a small church.
The banks of the creek provide a very pleasant place to stroll.
At the far end of the track is a rocky but pleasant beach and a small church.
Pyla, Cyprus
Pyla is a unique village in that it has a mixed community of Greeks and Turks, supervised by the United Nations. It is often held up as an example of how Greeks and Turks can live together in harmony, but there is still a feeling of tension underlined by the military and there is little mixing between the communities.
The village is accessible only to residents, but there is an annex on the coast, with several good fish restaurants.
The village is accessible only to residents, but there is an annex on the coast, with several good fish restaurants.
Xylophagou, Cyprus
Xylophagou, near Ormidhia, has a 15th century church dedicated to St George. Its paintings are in a poor state of repair, blackened by smoke from a fire, but they are slowly being restored. Those that have been already restored, at the eastern end of the church, show the birth of Christ and associated scenes. In the apse is an impressive coat of arms with a double headed eagle, probably the coat of arms of the benefactor of the church. There is also an iconostasis of St George from 1772 and a huge depiction of the Archangel Michael on the north wall.
