Author: Christos

Located at the end of the Foinikoudes promenade, the Medieval Castle of Larnaka (Larnaca) (also referred to as Larnaka Fort) is believed to have been originally built during the Middle Ages, and took its present form during the Ottoman rule, although there is some contestation of its origins.

Chronographer Florius Boustronius dates it to the years of Lusignan King James I (1382 – 1398 AD), who built it to protect the harbour of the town. During the same time, the Genovese occupied Famagusta (Ammochostos) and the Lusignans had to develop another major port for the needs of their kingdom. Sources from the 18th century insist that the castle was built by the Turks in 1625 AD, even though a Turkish garrison was stationed there since 1570 AD. Other references by travellers confirm that the castle was constructed before 1625.

After the end of the Ottoman era in Cyprus, the British converted it into a prison and it was used during the first years of their rule. The western chamber of the ground floor in the east was used for the execution of prisoners. The gallows – which must had been constructed in the room – were in use until 1948.

Today, the castle houses the small Larnaka Medieval Museum across three rooms, and exhibits artefacts from the Early Christian period (4th-7th centuries) to the Ottoman period (18th-19th century).

The architectural ruins of the ancient city-kingdom of Kition provide the first clear evidence that the Mycenaean Achaeans arrived in Larnaka (Larnaca) in the 13th century BC and stayed until the end of the 11th century BC. The Phoenicians inhabited the city in the 9th century BC.

Around the end of the 13th century, Mycenaean Achaeans fortified the city with cyclopean walls made of giant blocks of limestone. Later on, the Phoenicians settled in the area in the 9th century, and built the temple of Astarte, Goddess of Fertility, related with the worship of Goddess Aphrodite. In 312BC, Kition was originally occupied and then destroyed by Ptolemy 1st Soter (the Egyptian Pharaoh). In spite of this, habitation continued into Christian times.

Kition was well known for its harbour in antiquity, from which many agricultural products were exported to the eastern Mediterranean, Egypt and the Aegean. Moreover, its strategic position rendered it an exceptional naval base. Of particular interest at the ancient port are the drawings of ships etched into the walls of buildings.

The most interesting architectural remains are those of the Temple of Aphrodite-Astarte, built by the same Phoenician masons that built the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem, both originating in the 9th century BC.

Egyptian-style temples of the 18th Egyptian Dynasty – which are older than their Greek equivalents and served the pre-Hellenic Cypriot population – have also been found nearby.

The site is one of the first that the Cyprus Department of Antiquities excavated, after the island gained its independence from British Rule in the early 1960’s, and is linked to the Aphrodite Cultural Route.

The Neolithic Age settlement of Tenta is situated a short distance from Kalavasos village and dates to 7000 BC. It is one of the most significant Neolithic settlements on the island, and is covered by a characteristic cone-shaped roof, which forms a contemporary architectural intervention in the landscape.

According to local tradition, the name of the site goes back to 327 AD when St. Helen – the mother of Constantine the Great – stayed in a tent (‘tenta’) in this location during her visit to the island following the discovery of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem.

The monument is located on the west bank of the Salt Lake and was erected over different phases, commencing from 1760 and completed in 1817. It is an important Islamic monument, one of the most revered sites in the Muslim world and it is used to this day for religious purposes. The mosque was built over the grave of Umm Haram or Ummü Haram, who was believed to be the sister of the Prophet Mohammed’s foster mother or a follower from Medina to Cyprus. Umm Haram arrived on the island either in 647 or 649, during the Arab raids led by the Arab Governor of Syria, Moawiya, in an effort to expand the Muslim empire in the Mediterranean Sea. However Umm Haram died shortly after her arrival and buried in the same place where she had fallen off her mule and died. Conservation works, aiming at preserving the monument, are being conducted by the Department of Antiquities on a systematic basis since 1967, involving the masonry, the wooden or other artistic elements.

Hala Sultan Tekke Larnaka – Audio Guide 

The archaeological site of Choirokoitia is a remarkably well-preserved settlement from the Neolithic Age that has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998.

Remains from all phases of the Neolithic Age are evident in the settlement, and provide an insight of living conditions in the region during prehistoric times, as well as how the Neolithic culture was spread throughout the region.

Five characteristic cylindrical shaped dwellings have been reconstructed near the settlement, using the same construction methods and materials used in Neolithic times. The dwellings are fitted with replicas of household objects found inside the original dwellings, thus providing a vivid representation of how they actually were in the past. The vegetation around the dwellings consists of native plants and trees that have grown in Cyprus since Neolithic times.

Choirokoitia Neolithic Settlement – Audio Guide 

The Kebir (Buyuk) mosque is possibly the first Ottoman mosque in Cyprus, and was originally a Catholic church dedicated to St. Catherine in the 13th – 14th century, before its conversion.

The oldest reference of its existence is found in a 1747 document of Bekir Pasha, creator of the Larnaka (Larnaca) aqueduct. The document specifies that a public fountain at the mosque should receive water from his aqueduct, and this public fountain still exists outside the mosque today.

This 11th century Byzantine church of Angeloktisti (which means ‘built by angels’ in Greek) was erected over the ruins of an Early Christian basilica of the 5th century.

The original apse of the basilica has survived along with one of the finest pieces of Byzantine art on the island – a rare 6th century mosaic of the Virgin Mary and Child between the two archangels Michael and Gabriel, which rivals the mosaics of Ravenna-Italy. Such mosaics from this period have only been discovered in Cyprus and Mount Sinai.

After the 11th century, additions were made. The Franks added a new facade and bell tower. The sanctuary houses a very old and unique icon of the 10th century, that depicts the Virgin Mary, Saint Lazarus and the Evangelist Loukas. According to legend, the three were family friends and all met in Kition during the island’s first difficult Christian years.

Located in its own square in the centre of town, the magnificent stone church of Agios Lazaros is one of the most remarkable examples of Byzantine architecture in Cyprus and lies over the tomb of the saint.

Built by Byzantine Emperor Leo VI in the 9th century, the church was restored in the 17th century. Although the three domes and original bell tower of the church were destroyed in the first years during Ottoman rule, the gold-covered iconostasis has survived to today and is a superb example of baroque woodcarving.

Saint Lazarus came to Cyprus after being resurrected by Jesus. He was ordained as Bishop of Kition by the Apostles Barnabas and Paul and lived in the town for 30 years. His tomb can be seen under the sanctuary.

The saint is so revered that a procession is held in his honour eight days before Easter. During the procession, the icon of Saint Lazarus is carried through the streets of Larnaka (Larnaca).

Next to the church is the Byzantine Museum, which exhibits important religious icons, artefacts and relics.

Agios Lazaros Church and Ecclesiastical Museum – Audio Guide

The chapel of Agios Georgios Arperas is situated about 2km from Larnaka (Larnaca) in the village of Tersefanou, where the Medieval village of Arpera once stood.

The chapel was built by the Dragoman Christofakis Konstantinou in 1745 and has a fresco depicting himself and his family as founders, as well as many icons signed by the painter Ioannikios. The family painting is believed to show the Dragoman offering the church to Saint George as thanks for the successful completion of the difficult project of Larnaka’s aqueduct ‘Kamares’, of which he was in charge of.

The office of Dragoman was introduced in Cyprus at the start of the Ottoman Rule and was abolishedduring the Greek Revolution against the Ottoman Empire in 1821. Dragomans acted as liaisons between the Pasha (high ranking military official) and the local people. They were the most important political figures after the Pasha.