Larnaca | |
---|---|
City and municipality | |
Nickname(s): "Skala" in Greek: "Σκάλα", in Turkish: "İskele" [1] | |
Location within Cyprus Location within the Eastern Mediterranean Location within the European Union Location within Asia | |
Coordinates: 34°55′N33°38′E / 34.917°N 33.633°E | |
Country | Cyprus |
District | Larnaca District |
Government | |
• Type | Municipal council |
• Mayor | Andreas Vyras (AKEL) |
Area | |
• Municipality | 32.85 km2 (12.68 sq mi) |
• Urban | 118.62 km2 (45.80 sq mi) |
Elevation | 26 m (85 ft) |
Population (2021) [3] | |
• Municipality | 52,038 |
• Rank | 4th municipality, 3rd urban in Cyprus [4] |
• Urban | 90,419 |
• Urban density | 760/km2 (2,000/sq mi) |
• District | 155,753 |
[lower-alpha 1] | |
Demonym(s) | Larnacan(s) (en) Larnakiotis, (masc.), Larnakiotissa (fem.) (gr), Skaliotis, (masc.), Skaliotissa (fem.) (gr, colloquial) |
Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
Post code | 6010-6060 [5] |
Area code | 24 |
Patron saint | Saint Lazarus (12 April 2025) |
Major airport(s) | Larnaca International Airport |
Website | www |
Larnaca, [lower-alpha 2] also spelled as Larnaka, is a city on the south east coast of Cyprus and the capital of the district of the same name. It is the third-largest city in the country, after Nicosia and Limassol, with a district population of 144,200 in 2015. [6]
Larnaca is known for its palm-tree seafront also called Finikoudes (Greek: Φινικούδες) as well as the Church of Saint Lazarus, Hala Sultan Tekke, Kamares Aqueduct, and Larnaca Castle. It is built on the ruins of ancient Citium, which was the birthplace of Stoic philosopher Zeno. Larnaca is home to the country's primary airport, Larnaca International Airport. It also has a seaport and a marina.
The name Larnaca originates from the Ancient Greek noun λάρναξ larnax 'coffer, box; chest, e.g. for household stores; cinerary urn, sarcophagus, coffin; drinking trough, chalice'. An informal etymology attributes the origin of the name to the many larnakes (sarcophagi) that have been found in the area. [7] Sophocles Hadjisavvas, a state archeologist, states that "[the city's U.S.] consul of the last quarter of the 19th century, claimed to have explored more than 3,000 tombs in the area of Larnaca, so-called after the immense number of sarcophagi found in the modern town". [8]
The former city-kingdom of Kition was originally established in the 13th century BC. New cultural elements appearing between 1200 BC and 1000 BC, including pottery, new architectural forms. These archaeological findings are interpreted as indications of significant political changes and the arrival of the Achaeans, the first Greek colonists of Kition. Around the same time, Phoenicians settled the area.
At the archaeological sites of Kiteon, remains that date from the 13th century BC have been found. Around 1000 BC, Kition was rebuilt by Phoenicians and it subsequently became a center of Phoenician culture. The remains of the sites include cyclopean walls and a complex of five temples and a naval port.
It was conquered in the first millennium BC by a series of great powers of the region. First by the Assyrian Empire, then by Egypt. Like most Cypriot cities, Kition belonged to the Persian Achaemenid Empire. In 450 BC, the Athenian general Cimon died at sea, while militarily supporting the revolt against Persia's rule over Cyprus. On his deathbed, he urged his officers to conceal his death from both their allies and the Persians.
Strong [9] earthquakes hit the city in 76 AD and the year after.
Earthquakes of 322 AD and 342 "caused the destruction not only of Kition but also of Salamis and Pafos". [9] Kition's harbor silted up, and the population moved to the seafront farther south, sometime after this. Contributing factors to the silting are thought to have been earthquakes, deforestation, and overgrazing.
The commercial port was located at Skala, during the Ottoman Period starting in 1571. Skala is the name of the seashore immediately south of the Larnaca Castle [10] and its neighborhood.
The Salt Lake fills with water during the winter season and is visited by flocks of flamingoes who stay there from November until the end of March. It usually dries up in the summer. In the past,[ when? ] it yielded good quality salt scraped from the dried surface. The salt from the lake is now considered unsuitable for consumption.
The climate in this area is described by the Köppen Climate Classification System as a hot semi-arid climate (BSh) due to its low annual rainfall and hot summer temperatures resulting in highly negative water balance. It is sometimes described as a mediterranean climate due to the pronounced rainy season in winter and virtually rainless summers, but the total annual rainfall is below the required amount to avoid the semi-arid classification.
Climate data for Larnaca (Larnaca International Airport) (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1881-present) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 24.0 (75.2) | 26.2 (79.2) | 30.3 (86.5) | 34.1 (93.4) | 40.6 (105.1) | 41.5 (106.7) | 41.1 (106.0) | 40.9 (105.6) | 39.7 (103.5) | 34.8 (94.6) | 31.5 (88.7) | 26.6 (79.9) | 41.1 (106.0) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 17.1 (62.8) | 17.5 (63.5) | 19.9 (67.8) | 23.0 (73.4) | 27.0 (80.6) | 30.6 (87.1) | 33.0 (91.4) | 33.3 (91.9) | 31.4 (88.5) | 28.3 (82.9) | 23.3 (73.9) | 18.9 (66.0) | 25.3 (77.5) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 12.4 (54.3) | 12.6 (54.7) | 14.5 (58.1) | 17.6 (63.7) | 21.7 (71.1) | 25.3 (77.5) | 27.8 (82.0) | 28.2 (82.8) | 26.0 (78.8) | 22.9 (73.2) | 18.2 (64.8) | 14.3 (57.7) | 20.1 (68.2) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 7.8 (46.0) | 7.6 (45.7) | 9.1 (48.4) | 12.1 (53.8) | 16.4 (61.5) | 20.1 (68.2) | 22.6 (72.7) | 23.0 (73.4) | 20.6 (69.1) | 17.5 (63.5) | 13.2 (55.8) | 9.7 (49.5) | 15.0 (59.0) |
Record low °C (°F) | −0.9 (30.4) | −1.3 (29.7) | −1.0 (30.2) | 2.0 (35.6) | 8.5 (47.3) | 12.5 (54.5) | 16.0 (60.8) | 15.6 (60.1) | 12.4 (54.3) | 7.6 (45.7) | 1.9 (35.4) | 0.6 (33.1) | −1.3 (29.7) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 83.2 (3.28) | 47.4 (1.87) | 30.3 (1.19) | 15.8 (0.62) | 11.5 (0.45) | 2.1 (0.08) | 0.7 (0.03) | 0.4 (0.02) | 5.2 (0.20) | 16.0 (0.63) | 42.0 (1.65) | 95.4 (3.76) | 350.1 (13.78) |
Average relative humidity (%) | 72 | 71 | 68 | 65 | 63 | 64 | 67 | 66 | 61 | 60 | 64 | 72 | 66 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 181.4 | 189.4 | 243.0 | 273.6 | 338.4 | 378.6 | 394.4 | 370.3 | 314.7 | 272.5 | 214.5 | 177.1 | 3,348 |
Source 1: NOAA [11] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: Meteo Climat (record highs and lows) [12] |
Finikoudes is the promenade along Athenon Avenue on the seafront. A row of palm trees (Cypriot Greek: φοινικούδες, foinikoudes) lines either side of it.
Much of the activity is centered on the city promenade during the major festivals. The most important of these is Kataklysmos or the Festival of the Flood, celebrated in early summer with a series of cultural events. The festival used to last for about a week, but, in recent years, with the increased commercialism of peripheral stalls, rides, and temporary Lokma restaurants, the festival has been extended to about three weeks, during which the seafront is closed to traffic in the evenings.
The city's landmarks include the Church of Saint Lazarus, the Catacomb of Phaneromeni Church, Hala Sultan Tekke, the Bekir Pasha Aqueduct, and the Larnaca Castle.
Larnaca's economy has been growing since 1975,[ citation needed ] after the loss of the Port of Famagusta, which handled 80% of general cargo, and the closure of Nicosia International Airport, events which have seen Larnaca's airport and seaport play increasingly important roles in the economy of the island. A €650m upgrade of Larnaca Airport has been completed.
The service sector, including tourism, employs three-quarters of Larnaca's labour force.[ citation needed ] Many travel and tour operators and other travel-related companies have a head office in Larnaca.
There are over a hundred educational institutions in the city,[ citation needed ] including the American Academy, Larnaca Nareg Armenian school and the Alexander College.
Larnaca has a theatre and an art gallery, which are operated by the municipality. The Cornaro Institute was a cultural centre founded by the celebrated Cypriot artist Stass Paraskos in the Old Town in 2007, which staged contemporary art exhibitions and other cultural events, prior to its closure by Larnaca Municipality in 2017.
Local institutions include the Municipal Wind Orchestra.
Local teams include (football:) AEK Larnaca FC and ALKI Larnaca FC. Due to the Turkish occupation of Famagusta, the two teams of Famagusta, Anorthosis and Nea Salamina, are located here.
Local sports arenas include AEK Arena - Georgios Karapatakis, GSZ Stadium, Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium and Ammochostos Stadium.
International competitions held in the city, include the Larnaka International Marathon since 2017, the Shooting Shotgun European Championships in 2012, the FIVB Beach Volleyball SWATCH Youth World Championship in 2012, the European Under-19 Football Championship final in 1998 and the European Under-17 Football Championship final in 1992.
Larnaca attracts windsurfers from around the world, especially in autumn. Mackenzie Beach hosts a windsurfing centre together with an extreme sports centre.
Museums found in Larnaca include the Larnaca District Archaeological Museum, Pierides Museum, Agios Lazaros Byzantine Museum, Kallinikeio Municipal Museum of Athienou, Larnaca Medieval Museum, Larnaca Municipal Museum of Natural History, Larnaca Municipal Historical Archives - Museum of Larnaca, Folklore Museum ‘Kostas Kaimakliotis’ - Aradippou, Theasis Museum, Kyriazis Medical Museum and Museum of Michel Platini.
The beaches of Larnaca are lined with nearly identical seafood restaurants catering to tourists. Although there are many continental and international restaurants in Larnaca, visitors do not miss out on indulging in the local food. Many of the staple dishes involve beans, such as fasolaki (French beans cooked in red wine with lamb), and louvi me lahana (black-eyed peas with chard).
Some of the standard appetizers are potato salad, kohlrabi salad, and hot grilled black olives. The next course may include Cyprus village sausage and sheftalia, dolmades and keftedes, kolokassi in tomato sauce, and several aubergine-based dishes. Baked or grilled lamb ( souvla ) usually appears somewhere in the course of dining, as does some kind of fish.
Larnaca's neighbourhoods include Skala, Prodromos, Faneromeni, Drosia, Kamares, Vergina and Agioi Anargyroi.
The city's transport hubs are Larnaca International Airport and Larnaca Port—the Republic's busiest airport and second busiest port.
Public transport in Larnaca is served only by buses. Fares cost 2.40 cash (April 2024)
Larnaca Municipality is twinned with the following: [13]
As of October 2024 [update] , Larnaca hosts 2 consulates general and 13 consulates. [17]
Amathus or Amathous was an ancient city and one of the ancient royal cities of Cyprus until about 300 BC. Some of its remains can be seen today on the southern coast in front of Agios Tychonas, about 24 miles (39 km) west of Larnaca and 6 miles (9.7 km) east of Limassol. Its ancient cult sanctuary of Aphrodite was the second most important in Cyprus, her homeland, after Paphos.
Zeno of Citium was a Hellenistic philosopher from Citium, Cyprus. He was the founder of the Stoic school of philosophy, which he taught in Athens from about 300 BC. Based on the moral ideas of the Cynics, Stoicism laid great emphasis on goodness and peace of mind gained from living a life of virtue in accordance with nature. It proved very popular, and flourished as one of the major schools of philosophy from the Hellenistic period through to the Roman era, and enjoyed revivals in the Renaissance as Neostoicism and in the current era as Modern Stoicism.
Nicosia, also known as Lefkosia and Lefkoşa, is the capital and largest city of Cyprus. It is the southeasternmost of all EU member states' capital cities.
Limassol, also known as Lemesos, is a city on the southern coast of Cyprus and capital of the Limassol district. Limassol is the second-largest urban area in Cyprus after Nicosia, with an urban population of 195,139 and a district population of 262,238. The Limassol municipality is the most populated in Cyprus, with a population of 108,105, followed by Strovolos in Nicosia.
Famagusta, also known by several other names, is a city located on the eastern coast Cyprus. It possesses the deepest harbour of the island. During the Middle Ages, Famagusta was the island's most important port city and a gateway to trade with the ports of the Levant, from where the Silk Road merchants carried their goods to Western Europe. It is under the de facto and unrecognised state of Northern Cyprus.
Paphos, also spelled as Pafos, is a coastal city in southwest Cyprus and the capital of Paphos District. In classical antiquity, two locations were called Paphos: Old Paphos, today known as Kouklia, and New Paphos. It is the fourth-largest city in the country, after Nicosia, Limassol and Larnaca, with an urban population of 63,600 in 2018.
The ancient history of Cyprus shows a precocious sophistication in the Neolithic era visible in settlements such as at Choirokoitia dating from the 9th millennium BC, and at Kalavassos from about 7500 BC.
The Kyrenia District, or simply Kyrenia, is one of the six districts of Cyprus. Its capital city is Kyrenia. It is the smallest of Cyprus's districts, and is the only one controlled in its entirety by the unrecognised de facto state of Northern Cyprus, where the same territory is administered as the de facto Girne District, a distinct entity.
The Larnaca District, or simply Larnaca, is one of the six districts of Cyprus. Its capital is Larnaca. It is bordered on the east by Famagusta District, on the north by Nicosia District and on the west by Limassol District.
Dali is a town in Cyprus, located south east of the capital Nicosia and close to the ancient city of Idalion. In 2001, it had a population of 5,834. By 2011, the population had almost doubled to 10,466.
Dromolaxia is a village near Larnaca International Airport, in Larnaca District, Cyprus. In 2011, it had a population of 5,064.
Apollonios of Kition, was a physician belonging to the Empiric school of thought. He studied medicine in Alexandria under the surgeon Zopyrus, but he lived in Kition. Another theory is that he studied medicine in Kition although it is not clear whether a medical school existed at the time.
The practice of medicine and therapeutics in Cyprus has its roots into ancient times. Many of the classical practices were well documented at the time by Greek or Roman physicians, and some therapies have originated from Cyprus itself.
Alexis Michaelides served as the deputy mayor of Larnaca, Cyprus between 2001 and 2012.
Kition was an Ancient Greek city-kingdom on the southern coast of Cyprus, one of the Ten city-kingdoms of Cyprus.
Larnaca Castle is a castle located on the southern coast of Cyprus. It was constructed to defend the southern coast of Cyprus and the harbour town of Larnaca and was later used as an artillery station, prison, and a museum.
Larnaca District Museum is a museum in Larnaca, Cyprus that has displays that show the "historical development of the city of Kition and the District of Larnaka in general." It was inaugurated in 1969. and was formerly named Larnaca District Archaeological Museum. It is controlled by the Department of Antiquities.
The Chrysosotiros church, also known as the Cathedral of the Holy Transfiguration of the Saviour is a church in Larnaca, Cyprus.
The Kition Resheph pillars are two Phoenician inscriptions discovered in Cyprus at Kition in 1860. They are notable for mentioning three cities - Kition, Idalion and Tamassos.
Pumayyaton and Pnytarion's inscriptions are two separated inscriptions, Phoenician and Greek, engraved on the same marble base which was found in Gdhi or Gai locality near Dromolaxia. About 3 hundred years after the first inscription, the Phoenician, was engraved, the base was turned upside down and the second inscription, in Greek, was engraved; the inscriptions have no connection and are not a bilingual inscription. Eventually, it was used as a press. It is now exhibited in Larnaca District Archaeological Museum.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)