Larnaca, Cyprus

Larnaca is a city in Cyprus. Larnaca has a reasonable claim to being the oldest city in Cyprus, with evidence of habitation up to 6000 years ago. Modern Larnaca, like other Cypriot coastal towns, is divided into an older city center and a wide sprawl of hotels and restaurants along the beach. This port city of 70.000 is the site of the main international airport and the most modern of Cyprus towns. Larnaca offers numerous sightseeing attractions but most visitors arrive and then leave quickly. If you do find yourself in Larnaca spend time on the beaches or tour the Ayia Phaneromeni Church (icons) and the 9th-century Byzantine Church of St. Lazarus which is reputed to hold the remains of the saint. In the winter the nearby Great Salt Lake is home to thousands of pink flamingos, which is situated near the international airport. Larnacas former name was Kition or Kittim (one of Noah's descendants). The name Larnaca is derived from Greek word 'larnax' (coffin), which is probably a reminder of the many ancient coffins found on Kition's grounds. Kition was one of the towns settled by the Mycaeneans in the 13th century BC. Under Ottoman and British rule, Larnaca was the main trade centre of the island. At the beginning of our century it lost its rank, first to Famagusta (1918) and later to Limassol. Larnacas seaport today seldom sees large ships - but it still caters hundrets of private yachts. It has several industrial plants, as well as a large oil refinery. Larnaca is slowly rebuilding its overseas trade now, along with Famagusta in the Turkish zone.