LARNACA HOLIDAYS and LARNACA HOTELS
If you are planning your holiday to Larnaca and are looking for a Larnaca hotel or an apartment, the following information may help by giving you an overview of the resort.
Larnarca [or Larnaka], is located on the southeast coast of Cyprus and is built on the remains of the Ancient City of Kition. It takes its name from the Greek
larnax meaning “sarcophagus”. Larnaca is the third largest town of Cyprus with an approximate population of 70,000. Its trademark is the famous mile long promenade lined with palm trees, some of which are fifty feet or more. The promenade is situated in the centre of the town and is full of hotels, restaurants, tavernas, shops and bars. At one end of the promenade is a well-equipped marina and beyond this is the town port, which is mainly used for commercial purposes, as cruises tend to operate from Limassol.
Larnaca Holidays - Getting to Larnaca:Cheap flights to Larnaca are available from many UK airports. Transfer time from Larnaca airport to Larnaca resort is approximately 20 minutes.
Like most cities the best way to explore Larnaca is by foot - during rush hour the narrow streets of Larnaca do get busy and its one-way system would not be a great place for the foreign driver. Near the centre of town you will find a popular man-made beach, which is lined with an abundance of cafés, restaurants and ice-cream sellers.
There are also 2 other areas outside the main town of Larnaca; Mackenzie Beach and the biggest resort of the area Larnaca-Dekelia Road. Mackenzie Beach is a small resort accessible off the airport road with a much-improved sandy beach when wave barriers were added. Mackenzie Beach has a large selection of modern restaurants with well-laid-out beach facing terraces, gardens, lawns and car parking facilities. The disadvantage of this area is that is actually borders the airport runway. Larnaca-Dekelia Road or Ayia Napa Road as it is also known, has good beaches with plenty of sand and clear waters. There are many shops, restaurants, tavernas and bars here as well as a small selection of discos/nightclubs.
Larnaca does have a long history, but much of the evidence has been covered by the modern city. Although the enthusiastic visitor will be able to track down archaeological remains and historic churches such as Agios Lazaros Church or the remains of Ancient Kition.
Larnaca Holidays - Beaches in Larnaca:There are three main beaches in Larnaca.
Mckenzie on the outskirts is well known for its beautiful white sandy beach and refreshing waters. Here you can enjoy the water sports facilities, which include scuba diving.
Dhekelia beach which stretches for miles forming the backdrop to many of Larnaca’s 4 and 5 star hotels and the bustling promenade beach, popular with visitors and Cypriots alike.
Dasoudi Public Beach - an excellent Larnaca holiday beach with great conditions for swimming and water sports. Here you can try windsurfing, parasailing, water skiing or simply lying in the sun. This Larnaca beach offers all the facilities and services to the public including a beach side café and sun loungers, together with water sports and a variety of other activities.
Cyprus Weather and Temperature Chart : | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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Sunshine
hrs per day | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 5 |
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Avg
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 19 | 23 | 26 | 30 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 26 | 21 | 19 |
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Rainfall mm
per month | 90 | 60 | 43 | 19 | 18 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 28 | 43 | 98 |
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Average daily hours of sunshine | Average daily temperature °C | Average monthly rainfall [mm]
Larnaca Holidays - Shopping in Larnaca:Larnaca has an extremely varied and interesting shopping centre. For the size of the town the shopping facilities are vast. You can find practically anything you want from shops specialising in nuts and sweetmeats to designer clothes. Nearly all of the shopkeepers speak good English and many speak enough German or Swedish to communicate. The only drawback to shopping in Larnaca is that you can spend a while day wandering around, and not even notice time passing as there are so many to choose from.
Larnaca Holidays - Eating out in Larnaca:Larnaca has a wonderful promenade with plenty of restaurants and cafes to choose from, together with some atmospheric Cypriot tavernas on the Larnaca to Dekelia road.
Larnaca Holidays - What to do in Larnaca:KitionThe ancient city of Kition lies to the northern part of Larnaca. According to tradition it was founded by Kittim, grandson of Noah. Archaeological excavations indicate, however, that the town was founded in the 13th century BC. Soon afterwards the Mycenaeans landed on the island, reinforced the city walls and built a temple. The Phoenicians, who conquered the city in the 9th century BC turned the temple into a shrine to the goddess Astarte.
Open : 08:00- 14:30 Monday to Friday and until 15:00 on Thursday.
Mycenaean SiteThe main archaeological site is near the cemetery for foreigners. There are wooded platforms from where you can view the dig. The defence walls dating from the late Bronze era were later strengthened by the Mycenaens who added fortifications built of stone and clay bricks.
AcropolisSituated on top of Bamboula hill which is immediately behind the Archaeological Museum was located the acropolis which had its won defence walls. In the late 1800s the hill was plundered by British soldiers who used the rubble to cover malaria-breeding swamps. In the 1960s archaeologists stumbled upon ancient tombs filled with ceramics and jewellery, as well as alabaster sculptures and stone fragments.
Archaeological MuseumDisplays of vases, sculptures and cult statues from Larnaca and the surrounding area. It has a collection of ceramics, votive terracotta figurines and glass objects from Roman times. There is also an interesting exhibition of Cypriot-Minoan inscriptions, as yet undeciphered. There are also sculptures in the garden.
Open: 08:00-15:00 from Tuesday to Friday and until 17:00 on Thursday. 09:00-15:00 on Saturday.
Pierides Foundation MuseumA part of this 1856 building houses the Pierides Museum with the largest private collection in Cyprus. Comprising some 2,500 relics assembled by 5 generations of the Pierides family, the collection spans from the Neolithic era to medieval times. The most precious objects include Neolithic stone idols and 3,000 year old ceramic vessels. There are also terracotta figurines, miniature war chariots and cavalry soldiers. Other exhibits include weaponry and a set of historical maps of Cyprus and of the eastern Mediterranean. In the rooms at the back of the building is a collection of handicrafts, including jewellery, embroidery and richly carved furniture.
Open: 09:00-16:00 Monday to Thursday and 09:00-13:00 Friday and Saturday.
Aqueduct [Kamares]Located on the outskirts of Larnaca by the road leading to Limassol, are the remains of an aqueduct that formerly supplied the town with water taken from inlets on the River Thrimitus. The aqueduct was built in 1745 by the Turkish governor, Elhey Bekir Pasha, and functioned until 1930. Some 75 spans of this impressive structure still stand and they are illuminated at night.
Agios Lazaros ChurchThe Church os St Lazarus stands in the southern part of Old Larnaca. It was constructed in the early 10th century on the site of a church dating from 900 AD which was built to house the saint’s tomb. The interior is built around 4 vast pillars supporting a roof with 3 small domes. Its main features are the Rococo pulpit and a small icon depicting Lazarus emerging from his tomb, an image paraded through the church at Easter.
Agia FaneromeniThis subterranean chapel is a two-chambered cave hewn into the rock. Its structure suggests a pagan tomb, probably dating from the Phoenician era. The chapel was famed for its magical properties. The sick would circle it twice, leaving behind anything from a scrap of clothing to a lock of hair in the hope that they were also leaving behind their illnesses. Girls, whose boyfriends were far away, would come here to pray for their safe return.
Larnaka Fort and Medieval MuseumThe fort in Larnaca was built by the Turks in around 1625 on the site of a medieval castle which had been destroyed by Mamelukes two centuries earlier. When ships sailed into the harbour they were welcomed by a gun salute fired from the castle. During the Byzantine period, the fort was used as a police headquarters, prison and execution site. In 1833 it was partially destroyed by a lightning strike and today the fort houses a small Medieval Museum with arms and armour dating from Turkish times and treasure troves unearthed in Kition and at the Hala Sultan Tekke. During summer the castle yard serves as a venue for concerts, occasional plays and other cultural events.
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Disclaimer:
By its very nature much of the information in our travel guides is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they are relying with the relevant authorities. Corona Holidays [UK] Limited cannot accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above.
