Facts About Larnaca
There are many fun facts about Larnaca that you should know. For instants, Larnaca is the third largest city in Cyprus but is home to the islands’ primary airport, Larnaca International Airport. It also has an ever-growing economy and the seaport is increasingly important to the economy in Cyprus.
In this post you will find 25 fun facts about Larnaca that include historical facts, information on its nature and the activities you can find in the city.
Fact About the History of Larnaca
- Larnaca is one of the oldest cities in Cyprus
2. The city has been under the rule of the Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Ottomans and the British
3. It was once known as Kition
4. Important relics were found in the Kition archaeological site. These include well preserved Cyclopean stone walls and remains of Mycenaean temples.
5. The location of Larnaca has meant that traders, invaders and conquerors found benefit in residing here.
6. The Byzantine era has left the largest visible impact on Larnaca. The Church of Agios Lazaros being the most famous landmark from this epoch.
7. Located in the town center, the stone church of Agios Lazaros lies over the tomb of the saint. It was originally built in the 9th century by the Byzantine Emperor Leo VI and then restored in the 17th century.
8. The second point on our list of fun facts about Larnaca mentioned how the Ottomans ruled Larnaca for some time, 3 centuries to be exact. The lasting monument of this time is Larnaca Fort. Built around 1625, the castle now has an archaeological museum with ancient Kition artefacts in.
9. The Ottomans also built the Hala Sultan Tekke mosque found on the outskirts of town.
10. The Hala Sultan Tekke mosque was built around 648AD after the aunt of Mohamad, Umm Haram died after falling from her horse. The mosque was first renovated in 1816 and then again in 2002.
Facts About Nature and Activities in Larnaca
11. Larnaca is also home to Cyprus’ 2nd largest salt-lake. It measures 2.2 square kilometers.
12. Larnaca Salt Lake was declared a protected area under Cypriot Law for the Protection and Management of Nature and Wildlife and under the European Habitats Directive in 1997.
13. During the winter, Larnaca Salt Lake fills with water and sees migrating birds return. These birds include flamingos, wild ducks and other water birds.
14. There are also other places to go birdwatching apart from the salt-lake. You can see a total of 190 species of birds if you visit Voroklini Lake.
15. Voroklini Lake is a Special Protection Area under the EU Birds Directive and a Site of Community Importance under the EU Habitats Directive.
16. Let’s now move on to diving facts abut Larnaca. Larnaca is home to some top-ranking wrecks that attract visitors from all over the world. These wrecks include the Zenobia Wreck and Alexandria Wreck.
17. The Zenobia Wreck is ranked as one of the Top 10 Best Wreck Dives in the world. The Zenobia was a Swedish Roll-on-roll-off ferry that sank in 1980. Marine life around the wreck include kingfish, moray eels, stingrays, turtles and octopus.
18. The Alexandria Wreck, located at Larnaca Bay is a depth of 32 meters with 25 meters of visibility. The wreck was an Egyptian fishing vessel that sank in 2006. As it is found just 200 meters away from the Zenobia wreck you can expect to find very similar marine life.
19. With Larnaca being a coastal city there is chance to try SUP Yoga. This is a yoga class using large and sturdy paddleboards. Many locals enjoy this type of activity when the sea is warm enough.
Facts About Larnaca and its Villages
20. The next set of facts about Larnaca include information of the villages and towns that make up the city. To start with, the village of Livadia, which is located on the north side of the city, is famous for basketry.
21. The basketry craft that Livadia is famous for has even made the village a UNESCO Intangible World Heritage Site. Although people of the village do not practice the craft, the municipality have ensured its preservation by creating a Basketry Museum.
22. A fact well-known to residents of the island, especially Larnaca, is that Leonardo Da Vinci visited Lefkara in 1481.
23. Lefkara is also renowned for its traditional lace embroidery produce. The village even has a Local Ethnological Museum of Traditional Embroidery and Silversmith-work. And, much like Livadia, the village is on the UNESCO Intangible World Heritage List.
24. The more mountainous villages of Larnaca were among the European Destinations of Excellence in 2017. These rural areas are full of authentic architecture, history and famous sites and traditions.
25. A more well-known village in the Larnaca district is Pervolia. Back in ancient times, Pervolia belonged to various royal families and high-society figures. Today, it is famous for its lighthouse (Faros) which is a relic from the island’s time under British Rule.
Conclusion
We have concluded on the 25 facts about Larnaca. As you can see the city has a lot of interesting history, some beautiful nature and natural wildlife habitats as well as plenty of activities including diving to join in on. If you want to learn even more facts about Cyprus then visit our article – 30 Fun Facts About Cyprus.
