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Larnaca
Museums in Larnaca
 Larnaca,
or Larnaka, is a city on the southeast coast of Cyprus. The
major international airport of Cyprus is located in this city.
In ancient times, Larnaca was known as Kition or Citium. The
biblical name Kittim, though derived from Citium, was in fact
used quite generally for Cyprus as a whole, and occasionally
by the Hebrews for the Greeks and Romans.
Larnaca is set in wide bay facing Lebanon which has strong links
to the past. The earliest remains go back to the Mycenean age
(ca 1400-1100 BCE) and seem to mark an Aegean colony, but in
historic times Citium was the chief centre of Phoenician influence
in Cyprus. That this was still a recent settlement in the 7th
century is suggested by an allusion in a list of the allies
of Assurbanipal of Assyria in 668 BCE to a King Damusu (Damasos)
of Karti-hadasti (Phoenician "new city"), where Citium would
be expected. (The same ten kings appear in an earlier list of
Asarhaddon's 673/2 BCE, which might simply have been copied
by Assurbanipal's scribes.) A Phoenician dedication to Baal,
dated also to the 7th century, suggests that Citium may have
belonged to Tyre . The discovery here of an official monument
of Sargon II suggests that Citium was the administrative centre
of Cyprus during the Assyrian protectorate (709 - 668 BCE).
During the Ionian Greek revolts of the 4th century BCE Citium
led the side that was loyal to Persia and was besieged by an
Athenian force in 449 BC.
 Like
other cities of Cyprus, it has repeatedly suffered from earthquakes.
In medieval times when its harbour silted up (a sign that the
island was deforested and overgrazed) the population moved to
Larnaca, on the open seafront further south. The harbour and
citadel have now disappeared. Traces remain of the circuit wall,
and of a sanctuary with copious terra-cotta offerings. The large
cemetery has yielded constant loot to illicit excavation for
more than a century.
The whole district of Larnaca has something special to offer
to the visitor, including Choirocoitia, the oldest Neolithic
settlement on the island, Stavrovouni Monastery and the famous
church of Angeloktisti. Although very much a working city; the
palm-lined waterfront promenade, ancient fort and historic quarter
imbue Larnaca with a distinct antique flavour. Today the city
is a relaxed place well-loved for its easy going attitude and
friendly people.
Modern Larnaca
is a bustling town with its own international airport,
yet it has somehow managed to retain a good deal
of historic Levantine charm. Tourism is beginning
to catch on in a big way and hotels and resort-complexes
are springing up on the outskirts of the town. The
nearby beaches aren’t the best that Cyprus
has to offer, but they improve markedly along the
coast; making Larnaca a good base for exploring the island. Larnaca’s
nightlife is also growing and the town centre corrals together
an enviable collection of bars, cafes and tavernas.
Larnaca's main tourist attraction is the nearby mosque of Hala
Sultan Tekke, which draws pilgrims from across the Moslem world.
The mosque is located next to a salt-lake southwest of the city
and both can be visited in a day-trip. Heading out of town towards
Limassol takes you into the green foothills of the Troodos Mountains,
while to the west the frenetic charms of Ayia Napa await. Scuba
divers are in for a treat in the shape of the Zenobia, a passenger
ferry which sank in 1983 and is now rated as one of the world's
top ten wrecks.
One of the oldest, continually-inhabited cities in the world,
Larnaka flourishes with sights. Nearby is an 18th-century aqueduct,
and two wonderful museums - the Pierides Foundation and the
Larnaka District Archaeological Museum. Both contain exceptional
examples of Mediterranean art. |
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