Larnaca
Southeast Cyprus provides a complete contrast to the rest of the country. The one-time sleepy little town of Larnaca has been brought to life by the nearby international airport. There is also a harbour with a number of deep-water berths, and a marina which accommodates up to 200 yachts. New hotels and apartment blocks have been built to keep pace with the town's growing popularity as a winter resort. The seafront is fringed by palm trees and cafés and tavernas. Other places of interest include Agia Faneromeni Church, dating from the eighth century BC and built over a rock cave; Larnaca Fort, the Archaeological District Museum, the Pierides Museum (another archaeological museum) and the ruins of the ancient city of Kition. The feast of Kataklysmos (the Greek Orthodox Whitsun) is celebrated throughout Cyprus, but with special enthusiasm in Larnaca. Crowds from all over the district and from Nicosia (Lefkosia) arrive at the shore for watersports, singing, dancing, eating and drinking.
Excursions: Near the airport is the Hala Sultan Tekkesi, standing in beautiful gardens on the edge of the Salt Lake, the winter home of migratory flamingoes. Nearby is the Church of Panayia Angeloktisti (meaning 'built by the angels'), containing a fine piece of Byzantine art -a sixth-century life-size mosaic of the Virgin Mary and Child.
Westwards is the village of Lefkara, famous for its lace, and the Nunnery of Ayios Minas; off the Limassol-Nicosia(Lefkosia) road stands Stavrovouni Monastery, the Chapelle Royal in Pyrga and Kornos village, famous for its pottery. Visitors can take camel rides on Sundays, when a caravan of camels is taken down to the sea from the Daktari Camel Park at Mazotos (tel: 322 210). Further west is Khirokitia, which has the remains of one of the earliest settlements in Cyprus dating from 5800 BC (neolithic period). To the east, Larnaca Bay has a public bathing beach with facilities comparable to those of Limassol, and several newly-built hotels.
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