Top Larnaca Attractions
Visit Agios Lazaros, When Lazaros rose from the dead he lived here in Larnaca (then known as Kition) for another 30 years and was ordained as Bishop of Kition. When he finally died – this time for good – he was buried here, where the stately Agios Lazaros (Church of St. Lazarus) now stands. The church was built in the 9th century by Emperor Leo VI and was faithfully restored in the 17th century. Check out the incredibly ornate iconostasis for an excellent example of Baroque woodcarving.
The Pierides Archaeological foundation Museum This fantastic museum, set in a restored 18th-century mansion, houses a remarkable private exhibition of Cypriot antiquities, In the first room, Neolithic pottery and various representations of goddesses, along with bowls used in rituals can be seen. Room Two contains more pottery with pictures of birds and fish, as well as figurines used in religious rites. Room Three includes jugs from the site at Marion, alabaster vases, and a mask on the wall, and Room Four has pottery from the medieval period and a collection of glass, as well as some jewelry.
Larnaca’s most interesting district to explore, the old Turkish Quarter (also called Skala) begins at Larnaca Fort and rambles south in a jumble of narrow lanes. As the district has been ignored by modern developers, it retains much of its traditional character with whitewashed cottages, nattily decorated with colorful window frames. Come here to see a quaint old fashioned architecture style that is fast disappearing in Cyprus’ seaside resorts and to browse the pottery shops that are popping up within the back lanes.
