Larnaca facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Larnaca Λάρνακα (Greek) Larnaka  (Turkish)
City and municipality
Finikoudes Promenade Hala Sultan Tekke Larnaca Marina Larnaca Castle St Lazarus Church Larnaca District Administration Kamares Aqueduct
Larnaca Location in Cyprus
Country	Cyprus
District	Larnaca District
Government
• Type	Municipal council
Elevation	26 m (85 ft)
Population  (2015)
• City and municipality	51,468
• Urban	84,900
• District	144,200
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Post code	6010-6060
Area code	24
Patron saint	Saint Lazarus (12 April 2025)
Major airport(s)	Larnaca International Airport

Larnaca is a city on the southeast coast of Cyprus. It is the capital of the Larnaca region. It is the third-largest city in Cyprus, after Nicosia and Limassol. In 2015, about 144,200 people lived in the district.

Larnaca is famous for its palm-tree lined seafront called Finikoudes. Other well-known places include the Church of Saint Lazarus, Hala Sultan Tekke, Kamares Aqueduct, and Larnaca Castle. The city is built on the ancient ruins of Citium. This was the birthplace of Zeno, a famous philosopher. Larnaca is also home to Larnaca International Airport, the main airport in Cyprus. It also has a busy seaport and a marina for boats.

What's in a Name?

The name Larnaca comes from an old Greek word, larnax. This word means 'coffer' or 'chest'. It can also mean a 'sarcophagus' or 'coffin'.

Some people believe the city was named this way because many ancient sarcophagi were found there. A state archaeologist said that a consul in the late 1800s explored over 3,000 tombs in the Larnaca area. This shows how many sarcophagi were discovered.

A Look at Larnaca's History

A street in Larnaca in 1878

A drawing of a market in Larnaca from 1880

The ancient city-kingdom of Kition was first built around 1300 BC. New things like pottery and building styles appeared between 1200 BC and 1000 BC. These findings suggest big changes and the arrival of the Achaeans. They were the first Greek settlers in Kition. Around the same time, people called Phoenicians also settled here.

At the archaeological sites of Kition, remains from the 13th century BC have been found. Around 1000 BC, the Phoenicians rebuilt Kition. It then became a major center for Phoenician culture. The ruins include strong walls and a group of five temples. There was also a naval port.

In the first 1,000 years BC, many powerful empires took control of Kition. First, it was the Assyrian Empire, then Egypt. Like most cities in Cyprus, Kition was part of the Persian Achaemenid Empire. In 450 BC, the Athenian general Cimon died at sea. He was helping Cyprus fight against Persian rule. On his deathbed, he told his officers to keep his death a secret.

Strong earthquakes hit the city in 76 AD and again in 77 AD. Even bigger earthquakes in 322 AD and 342 AD destroyed Kition, Salamis, and Pafos. After these events, Kition's harbor filled with mud. The people moved to the seafront further south. Earthquakes, cutting down too many trees, and too much grazing by animals likely caused the harbor to silt up.

During the Ottoman Period, which began in 1571, the main port was at Skala. Skala is the area along the seashore just south of the Larnaca Castle.

Larnaca's Geography

The Salt Lake fills with water in winter. Many flamingoes visit it from November to March. It usually dries up in the summer. In the past, people collected good quality salt from its dry surface. However, the salt from the lake is now not safe to eat.

Larnaca's Climate

Larnaca has a hot, semi-dry climate. This means it has low rainfall and hot summers. It is sometimes called a Mediterranean climate. This is because it has a clear rainy season in winter and almost no rain in summer. However, the total yearly rainfall is too low for it to be fully called a Mediterranean climate.

The Finikoudes Promenade

Panoramic view of Finikoudes beach

Finikoudes is a popular walkway along the seafront. It has rows of palm trees on both sides. The name "Finikoudes" actually means "small palm trees" in Cypriot Greek.

Many city events happen on this promenade, especially during big festivals. The most important one is Kataklysmos, or the Festival of the Flood. It takes place in early summer and includes many cultural activities. The festival used to last about a week. Now, with more shops and food stalls, it can last up to three weeks. During evenings, the seafront is closed to cars.

Important Monuments

Church of Saint Lazarus, Larnaca

• A statue of Cimon stands on the Finikoudes Promenade. On its base, it says: "Even in death he was victorious."
• A marble statue of Zeno of Citium is near the American Academy. Zeno was born in Kition in 334 BC. He studied philosophy in Athens and started the Stoicism school of thought.
• The Armenian Genocide Memorial is on Athenon Avenue.

Famous Landmarks

Larnaca has many famous landmarks. These include the Church of Saint Lazarus and the Catacomb of Phaneromeni Church. Other important sites are Hala Sultan Tekke, the Bekir Pasha Aqueduct, and the Larnaca Castle.

Larnaca's Economy

Europe's square with government buildings

Larnaca's economy has grown a lot since 1975. This happened after the Port of Famagusta was lost and Nicosia International Airport closed. These events made Larnaca's airport and seaport very important for the island's economy. The Larnaca Airport has even had a big upgrade costing €650 million.

Most jobs in Larnaca are in the service sector, which includes tourism. About three-quarters of the city's workers are in this area. Many travel companies have their main offices in Larnaca.

Education in Larnaca

The former Cornaro Institute in Larnaca was an art school and cultural centre prior to its closure by the municipality in 2017

There are over a hundred schools and colleges in Larnaca. Some well-known ones include the American Academy, the Larnaca Nareg Armenian school, and Alexander College.

Culture and Arts

Arts and Music

Larnaca has a theatre and an art gallery, both run by the city. The Cornaro Institute was a cultural center in the Old Town. It showed modern art and held other cultural events. It was founded in 2007 by artist Stass Paraskos.

The city also has its own Municipal Wind Orchestra.

Sports in Larnaca

The Municipal Wind Orchestra

Larnaca has several football teams, like AEK Larnaca FC and ALKI Larnaca FC. Because of the situation in Famagusta, two teams from there, Anorthosis and Nea Salamina, are now based in Larnaca.

The city has many sports stadiums. These include AEK Arena - Georgios Karapatakis, GSZ Stadium, Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium, and Ammochostos Stadium.

Larnaca has hosted many international sports events. These include the Larnaka International Marathon since 2017. It also hosted the Shooting Shotgun European Championships in 2012. The city was home to the FIVB Beach Volleyball SWATCH Youth World Championship in 2012. It also held the final of the European Under-19 Football Championship in 1998. The European Under-17 Football Championship final was held here in 1992.

Larnaca is a great place for windsurfing, especially in autumn. Mackenzie Beach has a windsurfing center and an extreme sports center.

Museums to Explore

Larnaca has many interesting museums. These include the Larnaca District Archaeological Museum and the Pierides Museum. You can also visit the Agios Lazaros Byzantine Museum. Other museums are the Kallinikeio Municipal Museum of Athienou and the Larnaca Medieval Museum. There's also the Larnaca Municipal Museum of Natural History. The Larnaca Municipal Historical Archives - Museum of Larnaca is also here. Don't forget the Folklore Museum ‘Kostas Kaimakliotis’ - Aradippou, Theasis Museum, Kyriazis Medical Museum, and the Museum of Michel Platini.

Delicious Cuisine

The beaches in Larnaca have many seafood restaurants. While there are also international restaurants, visitors love to try the local food. Many traditional dishes use beans. Examples are fasolaki (green beans cooked with lamb in red wine). Another is louvi me lahana (black-eyed peas with chard).

Common appetizers include potato salad, kohlrabi salad, and hot grilled black olives. The next course might have Cyprus village sausage and sheftalia. You might also find dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) and keftedes (meatballs). Other dishes include kolokassi (taro root) in tomato sauce. There are also several dishes made with eggplant. Baked or grilled lamb (souvla) is often served. Fish dishes are also very popular.

Larnaca's Neighbourhoods

Some of Larnaca's neighbourhoods are Skala, Prodromos, Faneromeni, Drosia, Kamares, Vergina, and Agioi Anargyroi.

Getting Around Larnaca

Larnaca International Airport

The main ways to travel to and from Larnaca are through Larnaca International Airport and Larnaca Port. The airport is the busiest in Cyprus. The port is the second busiest.

Public Transport

In Larnaca, you can get around using only buses. As of April 2024, a bus fare costs 2.40 in cash.

International Connections

Twin Towns and Sister Cities

Larnaca is connected with many cities around the world. These are called twin towns or sister cities.

Famous People from Larnaca

• Zeno of Citium (c. 334 – c. 262 BC), a philosopher who founded Stoicism.
• Apollonios of Kition (1st century BC), a doctor known as "the Cypriot Hippocrates."
• Ebubekir Pasha (1670 – 1757/1758), a governor of Larnaca and a generous person.
• Demetrios Pieridis (1811–1895), who started the Pierides Museum.
• Dimitris Lipertis (1866–1937), a national poet.
• Neoclis Kyriazis (1877–1956), a doctor and historian.
• Mehmet Nazim Adil (1922–2014), a leader of the Nakshbandi Sufi order.
• Kyriacos A. Athanasiou, a Cypriot-American professor and business person.
• Stass Paraskos, a famous artist.
• Mihalis Violaris, a singer and composer who made Cypriot music popular in Greece.
• Giorgos Theofanous, a composer.
• Anna Vissi, a singer.
• Loucas Yiorkas, a singer and winner of The X Factor in 2009.
• Ada Nicodemou, an actress.
• Garo Yepremian, an Armenian-Cypriot former NFL player. He was part of the 1972 Miami Dolphins, the only NFL team to have a perfect season.
• Chrystalleni Trikomiti, a rhythmic gymnast who won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.
• Martino Tirimo, a classical pianist from Cyprus.
• Tio Ellinas, a racing driver from Cyprus.

Images for kids

• 

  Fishing port "Psarolimano"

• 

  Hala Sultan Tekke

• 

  Castle exterior

• 

  Castle square pier

• 

  Kimon statue

• 

  Finikoudes Avenue

• 

  View of Larnaca from sea

• 

  Larnaca marina

• 

  Larnaca Salt Lake

• 

  Aspect of the old town

• 

  Souvenir shops

• 

  Old town

• 

  Old aqueduct "Kamares"

• 

  Angeloktisti medieval church

• 

  Street in town center

• 

  Ermou square

• 

  Saint Lazarus

• 

  Vessels near Larnaca port

• 

  Larnaca International Airport

• 

  Larnaca Castle interior

• 

  Building of District Administration Larnaca

• 

  Europe square

• 

  Pierides Museum

• 

  Larnaca seafront panorama

• 

  Panoramic view from Oroklini Hill towards Larnaca

• 

  The Armenian Genocide Memorial, unveiled in 2008

See also

In Spanish: Lárnaca para niños