Larnaca ( el, Λάρνακα ; tr, Larnaka) is a city on the south east coast of Cyprus and the capital of the district of the same name. It is the third-largest city in the country, after

Nicosia Nicosia ( ; el, Λευκωσία, Lefkosía ; tr, Lefkoşa ; hy, Նիկոսիա, romanized: ''Nikosia''; Cypriot Arabic: Nikusiya) is the largest city, capital, and seat of government of Cyprus. It is located near the centre of the Mesaor ...

and Limassol, with a metro population of 144,200 in 2015. Larnaca is known for its palm-tree seafront also called Finikoudes (Greek: Φινικούδες) as well as the Church of Saint Lazarus, Hala Sultan Tekke,

Kamares Aqueduct Kamares Aqueduct, also known as the Bekir Pasha Aqueduct, is an aqueduct near Larnaca, Cyprus. Located outside the city, near the old road to Limassol, it was built starting in 1747. Tassos Mikropoulos has described it as the most prominent wat ...

, and Larnaca Castle. It is built on the ruins of ancient Citium, which was the birthplace of Stoic philosopher Zeno. Larnaca is home to the country's primary airport, Larnaca International Airport. It also has a seaport and a marina.

Names

The name ''Larnaca'' originates from the Ancient Greek noun 'coffer, box; chest, e.g. for household stores; cinerary urn, sarcophagus, coffin; drinking trough, chalice'. An informal etymology attributes the origin of the name to the many ''larnakes'' ( sarcophagi) that have been found in the area. Sophocles Hadjisavvas, a state archeologist, states that "

he city's U.S. He or HE may refer to: Language * He (pronoun), an English pronoun * He (kana), the romanization of the Japanese kana へ * He (letter), the fifth letter of many Semitic alphabets * He (Cyrillic), a letter of the Cyrillic script called ''He'' in ...

consul of the last quarter of the 19th century, claimed to have explored more than 3,000 tombs in the area of Larnaca, so-called after the immense number of sarcophagi found in the modern town". In the vernacular, Larnaca is also known as ''Scala'' ( el, Σκάλα from the word , a loanword from the Italian , meaning "ladder" or " landing stage") referring to the historical port. During the Middle Ages, until the end of the 18th century, a small port-anchorage close to Larnaca Bay is referred to on maps, engravings, in travel descriptions and documents as Scala di Saline'' and may account for this second name; other names that appear on maps include: Porto delle Salines, Rada delle Saline, Ponta delle Saline, Punta delle Salino, Golfo delle Saline, Port Salines, Selines, Salines, Le Seline, Le Salline, Saline, Salin, Salinas, Arnicho di Salinas, Port of Lazarus, Lazare Marine, Marina, and Commercio ustoms

History

The former city-kingdom of Kition was originally established in the 13th century BC. New cultural elements appearing between 1200 BC and 1000 BC (personal objects, pottery, new architectural forms and ideas) are interpreted as indications of significant political changes and the arrival of the Achaeans, the first Greek colonists of Kition. Around the same time, Phoenicians settled the area. At the archaeological sites of Kiteon, remains that date from the 13th century BC have been found. Around 1000 BC, Kition was rebuilt by Phoenicians and it subsequently became a center of Phoenician culture. The remains of the sites include

cyclopean wall Cyclopean masonry is a type of stonework found in Mycenaean architecture, built with massive limestone boulders, roughly fitted together with minimal clearance between adjacent stones and with clay mortar or no use of mortar. The boulders typic ...

s and a complex of five temples and a

naval A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval warfare, naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral zone, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and ...

port. It was conquered in the first millennium BC by a series of great powers of the region. First by the Assyrian Empire, then by Egypt. Like most Cypriot cities, Kition belonged to the Persian or

Achaemenid Empire The Achaemenid Empire or Achaemenian Empire (; peo, 𐎧𐏁𐏂, , ), also called the First Persian Empire, was an ancient Iranian empire founded by Cyrus the Great in 550 BC. Based in Western Asia, it was contemporarily the largest em ...

. In 450 BC, the Athenian general

Cimon Cimon or Kimon ( grc-gre, Κίμων; – 450BC) was an Athenian ''strategos'' (general and admiral) and politician. He was the son of Miltiades, also an Athenian ''strategos''. Cimon rose to prominence for his bravery fighting in the naval Batt ...

died at sea, while militarily supporting the revolt against Persia's rule over Cyprus. On his deathbed, he urged his officers to conceal his death from both their allies and the Persians. Strong earthquakes hit the city in 76 AD and the year after. Earthquakes of 322 AD and 342 "caused the destruction not only of Kition but also of Salamis and Pafos". Kition's harbor silted up, and the population moved to the seafront farther south, sometime after this. (Contributing factors to the silting are thought to have been earthquakes, deforestation and overgrazing.) The commercial port was located at Skala, during the Ottoman Period starting in 1571. Skala is the name of the seashore immediately south of the Larnaca castle—and its neighborhood. The

Kamares aqueduct Kamares Aqueduct, also known as the Bekir Pasha Aqueduct, is an aqueduct near Larnaca, Cyprus. Located outside the city, near the old road to Limassol, it was built starting in 1747. Tassos Mikropoulos has described it as the most prominent wat ...

was built in 1747—bringing water to the city from a source around from the city.

Geography

The

Salt Lake A salt lake or saline lake is a landlocked body of water that has a concentration of salts (typically sodium chloride) and other dissolved minerals significantly higher than most lakes (often defined as at least three grams of salt per litre). ...

fills with water during the winter season and is visited by flocks of flamingoes who stay there from November until the end of March. It usually dries up in the summer. In the past, it yielded good quality salt scraped from the dried surface. The salt from the lake is now considered unsuitable for consumption.

Climate

The climate in this area is described by the Köppen Climate Classification System as a

hot semi-arid climate A semi-arid climate, semi-desert climate, or steppe climate is a dry climate sub-type. It is located on regions that receive precipitation below potential evapotranspiration, but not as low as a desert climate. There are different kinds of semi-ar ...

(''BSh'') due to its low annual rainfall and hot summer temperatures resulting in highly negative water balance. It is sometimes described as a mediterranean climate due to the pronounced rainy season in winter and virtually rainless summers, but this winter rainfall is below the required amount to avoid the semi-arid classification.

Landmarks

The city's landmarks include: the Church of Saint Lazarus; the

Catacomb of Phaneromeni Church The Catacomb of Phaneromeni Church in Larnaca, Cyprus is a catacomb. It has been dated to the 8th century. It has been used as a church. Built above it, is a church from the early 20th century—the Phaneromeni Church. The (top) stairs leading to ...

; Hala Sultan Tekke; the

; and the Fort of Larnaca. So-called "Foinikoudes" is the promenade along Athenon Avenue on the seafront. A row of palm trees ( Cypriot Greek: , ) lines either side of it.

Monuments

* A bust of Kimon the Athenian stands on the Foinikoudes Promenade, with this quote referring to him on the pedestal: "Even in death he was victorious" ( el, "Kαι νεκρός ενίκα", links=no). * The marble bust of Zeno stands at the crossroads near the American Academy. Zeno was born in Kition in 334 BC. After studying philosophy in Athens, he founded the famous Stoic school of philosophy. * The Armenian Genocide Memorial stands on Athinon Avenue.

Economy

Larnaca's economy has been growing since 1975, after the loss of the Port of Famagusta, which handled 80% of general cargo, and the closure of Nicosia International Airport, meant that Larnaca's airport and seaport had increasingly important roles in the economy of the island. A €650m upgrade of Larnaca Airport has been completed. The service sector, including tourism, employs three-quarters of Larnaca's labour force. Many travel and tour operators and other travel-related companies have a head office Larnaca.

Education

There are over a hundred educational institutions in the city, including the American Academy, Larnaca Nareg Armenian school and the Alexander College.

Culture

Arts

Larnaca has a theatre and an art gallery, which are operated by the municipality. The Cornaro Institute was a cultural centre founded by the celebrated Cypriot artist

Stass Paraskos Stass Paraskos ( el, Στας Παράσκος; 17 March 1933 – 4 March 2014) was an artist from Cyprus, although much of his life was spent teaching and working in England. Early life Paraskos was born in Anaphotia, a village near the city ...

in the Old Town in 2007, which staged contemporary art exhibitions and other cultural events, prior to its closure by Larnaca Municipality in 2017.

Music

Local institutions include the Municipal Wind Orchestra.

Sports

Local teams include (

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...

AEK Larnaca FC AEK Larnaca FC ( el, AEK; for short Αθλητική Έvωση Κίτιον Λάρνακας , translit=''Athletiki Enosi Kition Larnakas'', "Athletic Union Kition of Larnaca") is a Cypriot professional football club based in Larnaca. The club ...

and

ALKI Larnaca FC Alki Larnaca ( el, ΑΛΚΗ Λάρνακας, ''ALKI Larnakas'') was a Cypriot football club based in the town of Larnaca. The club was founded in 1948 and it was dissolved on the 6th of May of 2014 due to financial issues. The club's colours wer ...

. Due to the Turkish occupation of

Famagusta Famagusta ( , ; el, Αμμόχωστος, Ammóchostos, ; tr, Gazimağusa or ) is a city on the east coast of Geography of Cyprus, Cyprus. It is located east of Nicosia District, Nicosia and possesses the deepest harbour of the island. Duri ...

, the two teams of Famagusta, Anorthosis and Nea Salamina, are located here. Local sports arenas include AEK Arena - Georgios Karapatakis, GSZ Stadium, "

Antonis Papadopoulos The Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium ( el, Στάδιο «Αντώνης Παπαδόπουλος») is a football stadium in Larnaca, Cyprus. With a current seating capacity of 10,230, it has been the home stadium of Anorthosis Famagusta since its co ...

" and " Ammochostos". International competitions held in the city, include the

Larnaka International Marathon Larnaca ( el, Λάρνακα ; tr, Larnaka) is a city on the south east coast of Cyprus and the capital of the district of the same name. It is the third-largest city in the country, after Nicosia and Limassol, with a metro population of 144 ...

since 2017, the

Shooting Shotgun European Championships Shooting is the act or process of discharging a projectile from a ranged weapon (such as a gun, bow, crossbow, slingshot, or blowpipe). Even the acts of launching flame, artillery, darts, harpoons, grenades, rockets, and guided missiles can b ...

in 2012, the FIVB Beach Volleyball SWATCH Youth World Championship in 2012, the European Under-19 Football Championship final in 1998 and the European Under-17 Football Championship final in 1992. Larnaca attracts windsurfers from around the world especially in autumn. Mackenzie Beach hosts windsurfing centre together with an extreme sports centre.

Festivals

Much of the activity is centered on the city promenade during the major festivals. The most important of these is '' Kataklysmos'' or the ''Festival of the Flood'', celebrated in early summer with a series of cultural events. The festival used to last for about a week, but, in recent years, with the increased commercialism of peripheral stalls, rides and temporary Loukoumades restaurants, the festival has been extended to about three weeks, during which the seafront is closed to traffic in the evenings.

Museums

Museums found in Larnaca include the Larnaca District Archaeological Museum,

Pierides Museum The Pierides Museum is a museum in Larnaca, Cyprus that was founded by the Pierides Foundation. It is the nation's oldest private museum. The placard on the museum building says (as of 2013) "Perides Museum - Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation". ...

, Agios Lazaros Byzantine Museum, Kallinikeio Municipal Museum of Athienou, Larnaca Medieval Museum, Larnaca Municipal Museum of Natural History, Larnaca Municipal Historical Archives - Museum of Larnaca, Folklore Museum ‘Kostas Kaimakliotis’ - Aradippou, Theasis Museum, Kyriazis Medical Museum and Museum of Michel Platini.

Cuisine

The beaches of Larnaca are lined with nearly identical seafood restaurants catering to tourists. Although there are many continental and international restaurants in Larnaca, visitors do not miss out on indulging in the local food. Many of the staple dishes involve beans, such as ''fasolaki'' ( French beans cooked in red wine with lamb), and ''louvi me lahana'' ( black-eyed peas with

chard Chard or Swiss chard (; ''Beta vulgaris'' subsp. ''vulgaris'', Cicla Group and Flavescens Group) is a green leafy vegetable. In the cultivars of the Flavescens Group, the leaf stalks are large and often prepared separately from the leaf blade; ...

). Some of the standard appetizers are potato salad, kohlrabi salad, and hot grilled black olives. The next course may include Cyprus village sausage and sheftalia, dolmades and keftedes, kolokassi in tomato sauce, and several aubergine-based dishes. Baked or grilled lamb ('' souvla'') usually appears somewhere in the course of dining, as does some kind of fish.

Neighbourhoods

Larnaca's neighbourhoods include Skala, Prodromos, Faneromeni, Drosia, Kamares, Vergina and Agioi Anargyroi.

Transport

Aerial view of the Larnaca International Airport in 2022

The city's transport hubs are Larnaca International Airport and

Larnaca Port Larnaca ( el, Λάρνακα ; tr, Larnaka) is a city on the south east coast of Cyprus and the capital of the district of the same name. It is the third-largest city in the country, after Nicosia and Limassol, with a metro population of 144 ...

—the Republic's busiest airport and second busiest port.

Public transport

Public transport in Larnaca is served only by buses. Bus routes and timetables can be foun
here

International relations

Twin towns – sister cities

Larnaca Municipality is

twinned Twinning (making a twin of) may refer to: * In biology and agriculture, producing two offspring (i.e., twins) at a time, or having a tendency to do so; * Twin towns and sister cities, towns and cities involved in town twinning * Twinning inst ...

with the following: *

Acapulco Acapulco de Juárez (), commonly called Acapulco ( , also , nah, Acapolco), is a city and major seaport in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, south of Mexico City. Acapulco is located on a deep, semicircular bay and has bee ...

, Mexico (since 2011) *

Ajaccio Ajaccio (, , ; French: ; it, Aiaccio or ; co, Aiacciu , locally: ; la, Adiacium) is a French commune, prefecture of the department of Corse-du-Sud, and head office of the ''Collectivité territoriale de Corse'' (capital city of Corsica). ...

, France (since 1989) *

Bratislava Bratislava (, also ; ; german: Preßburg/Pressburg ; hu, Pozsony) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Slovakia. Officially, the population of the city is about 475,000; however, it is estimated to be more than 660,000 — approxim ...

, Slovakia (since 2013) * Galaxidi, Greece (since 2005) * Giannitsa, Greece (since 2003) * Glyfada, Greece (since 1998) * Ilioupoli, Greece (since 2000) *

Larissa Larissa (; el, Λάρισα, , ) is the capital and largest city of the Thessaly region in Greece. It is the fifth-most populous city in Greece with a population of 144,651 according to the 2011 census. It is also capital of the Larissa regiona ...

, Greece (since 1990) * Leros, Greece (since 2000) * Marrickville, Australia (since 2005) * Piraeus, Greece (since 1999) * Poti, Georgia (since 1987) * Sarandë, Albania (since 1994) * Szeged, Hungary (since 1993) * Tarpon Springs, U.S. (since 2009) * Tianjin, China (since 2007) * Tripoli, Lebanon * Tulcea, Romania (since 2003) *

Venice Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 ...

, Italy (since 2010)

Notable residents

* Zeno of Citium (c. 334 – c. 262 BC), Stoic philosopher *

Apollonios of Kition Apollonios of Kition (or Apollonius of Citium; el, Ἀπολλώνιος ὁ Κιτιεύς), was a physician (fl. c. 60 BC) belonging to the Empiric school of thought. He studied medicine in Alexandria under the surgeon Zopyrus, but he lived i ...

(1st century BC), physician, nicknamed "the Cypriot Hippocrates" * Ebubekir Pasha (1670 – 1757/1758), Governor of Larnaca and philanthropist *

Demetrios Pieridis Demetrios Pierides ( el, Δημήτρης Πιερίδης; 1811–1895) was a Greek Cypriot banker, vice consul of Great Britain and collector of ancient Cypriot artefacts. He was the son of Pierakis Demetriou Corella (1790–1821) and Maria Cari ...

(1811–1895), founder of the

Pieridis Museum Pieridis Museum is a museum in Athens, Greece. Its collection includes items dating back almost nine thousand years, from the neolithic period to the Middle Ages. They are a part of the archaeological collection of the Pierides Museum in Larnaca, ...

Dimitris Lipertis Dimitris Theophani Lipertis (; 1866–1937) was a Greek Cypriot poet. Biography Lipertis was born in Larnaca in 1866 (exact date disputed–either 22 September or 26 October). His father, Theofanis Lipertis hailed from Kyrenia, but moved to Lar ...

(1866–1937), national poet *

Neoclis Kyriazis Neoklis Kyriazis ( el, Νεοκλής Κυριαζής; 1877 – August 1956) was a Cypriot medical doctor and historian known for his significant contributions to the history of Cyprus. He was a member of the National Council of Cyprus. Family N ...

(1877–1956), medical doctor and historian *

Mehmet Nazim Adil Shaykh Muhammad Nazim Adil Al-Qubrusi Al-Haqqani (qaddas Allahu sirruhu) (born Mehmet Nâzım Âdil; 21 April 1922 – 7 May 2014) ( tr, Şeyh Muhammed Nâzım Âdil El-Kıbrısî Hakkanî), commonly known as Shaykh Nazim ( tr, Şeyh Nâzım ...

(1922–2014), leader of the Nakshbandi

Sufi Sufism ( ar, ''aṣ-ṣūfiyya''), also known as Tasawwuf ( ''at-taṣawwuf''), is a mystic body of religious practice, found mainly within Sunni Islam but also within Shia Islam, which is characterized by a focus on Islamic spirituality, ...

order (or Tekke), born in Larnaca *

Kyriacos A. Athanasiou Kyriacos A. Athanasiou ( gr, Κυριάκος Αθανασίου; born 1960) is a Greek Cypriots, Greek Cypriot-American bioengineer who has contributed significantly to both academic advancements as well as high-technology industries. He is curre ...

, Cypriot-American academic, entrepreneur, and past-president of the Biomedical Engineering Society *

, artist * Mihalis Violaris, singer and composer who helped popularise Cypriot music in Greece * Giorgos Theofanous, composer * Anna Vissi, singer * Loucas Yiorkas, singer, The X Factor winner in 2009 *

Ada Nicodemou Ada Nicodemou (Greek: Άντα Νικοδήμου) (born 14 May 1977) is an Australian actress of Greek Cypriot descent . She began her acting career in 1994 in TV serial ''Heartbreak High'' as Katerina Ioannou. She also starred in ''Police Res ...

, actress * Garo Yepremian, Armenian-Cypriot former NFL

placekicker Placekicker, or simply kicker (PK or K), is the player in gridiron football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals and extra points. In many cases, the placekicker also serves as the team's kickoff specialist or punter. Spe ...

, played as a member of the 1972 Miami Dolphins, to date the only team in NFL history to finish with a perfect record *

Chrystalleni Trikomiti Chrystalleni Trikomiti (born 30 November 1993) is a Rhythmic Gymnast from Cyprus. Career Trikomiti At the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, she burst on to the scene when she won two gold medals, one silver medal, and two bronze medals ...

, Commonwealth Games gold-medalist rhythmic gymnast *

Martino Tirimo Martino Tirimo (born 19 December 1942) is a Cypriot classical pianist. Born into a musical family in Larnaca, he began piano and violin lessons with his father, a distinguished conductor and violinist. He gave his first concert at the age of six, ...

, Cypriot classical pianist * Tio Ellinas, Cypriot racing driver

Gallery

File:Finikoudes Beach, Larnaca.jpg, Larnaca File:Fishing port (psarolimano).JPG, Fishing port "Psarolimano" File:Larnaca 01-2017 img30 Salt Lake.jpg, Hala Sultan Tekke File:Larnaca 01-2017 img01 Larnaca Fort.jpg, Castle exterior File:Castle square wharf.JPG, Castle square pier File:Kimon statue.JPG, Kimon statue File:Larnaca 01-2017 img27 Finikoudes.jpg, Finikoudes Avenue File:Palm trees promenade by night (foinikoudes).JPG, View of Larnaca from sea File:Larnaca 01-2017 img26 Larnaca Marina.jpg, Larnaca marina File:Salt lake at sunset.JPG, Larnaca Salt Lake File:Aspect of the old town.JPG, Aspect of the old town File:Aspect of the old town2.JPG, Souvenir shops File:Aspect of the old town3.JPG, Old town File:Larnaca 01-2017 img25 Kamares Aqueduct.jpg, Old aqueduct "Kamares" File:Angeloktisti (built by angels) medieval church.JPG, Angeloktisti medieval church File:Street in town center.JPG, Street in town center File:Ermou square.JPG, Ermou square File:Larnaca 01-2017 img02 StLazarus Church.jpg, Saint Lazarus File:Vessels near Larnaca port.JPG, Vessels near Larnaca port File:Larnaca Airport.JPG, Larnaca International Airport File:Larnaca castle.jpg, Larnaca Castle interior File:Larnaca 01-2017 img13 Larnaca District Administration.jpg, Building of District Administration Larnaca File:Larnaca 01-2017 img11 Municipal Gallery.jpg, Europe square File:Larnaca 01-2017 img08 Pieridis Museum of Antiquities.jpg,

File:Larnaca seafront panoramic.jpg, Larnaca seafront panorama File:View from Oroklini Hill towards Larnaca.jpg, Panoramic view from Oroklini Hill towards Larnaca File:Larnaca 01-2017 img12 Armenian Genocide Memorial.jpg, The Armenian Genocide Memorial, unveiled in 2008

References

External links

Municipality
* {{Authority control Cities in ancient Cyprus Communities in Larnaca District Mediterranean port cities and towns in Cyprus