Originally known as Kition or Kittium, Larnaca is one of the oldest Cyprian cities. If one goes by the legends it says, Noah’s grandson Khittim founded the first settlements at the spot. Founded about 6000 years ago, Larnaca still stands its ground unlike most of the ancient Cyprian cities, which were abandoned by their inhabitants.
Initially the prime Phoenician colony in Cyprus, it later became a part of the Hellenistic world. The primeval site is at the north end of modern Larnaca. The earliest relics go back to the Mycenaean age (1400-100 BC) and give the impression of an Aegean colony. But in historic times Citium was the principal center of Phoenician influence in Cyprus. An allusion in a list of the allies of Assurbanipal of Assyria in 668 BC to a King Damusu (Damasos) of Karti-hadasti (Phoenician "new city"), suggests that this was till a recent settlement in the 7th Century BC. (The same ten kings appear in an earlier list of Esarhaddon's 673/672 BC, which might simply have been copied by Assurbanipal's scribes.) That Citium may have belonged to Tyre is suggested by a Phoenician dedication to Baal (dated to the 7th Century BC). The sighting of an official monument of Sargon II suggests that Citium was the administrative center during the Assyrian protectorate (709-668 BC). Citium during the Ionian- Greek revolts of 4th century BC led the side loyal to Persia & was besieged by Athenian forces in 449 BC.
Mycenaean Greeks established the Kition City Kingdom in 13th century BC, which served as both a rich port & a major copper trading center. Excavations of the ruins of that period can be seen in its Cyclopean walls & a complex of Mycenaean temples.
Larnaca, being at the crossroads of historical juncture has attracted countless visitors, in the form of colonizers, traders, invaders, conquerors or tourists! The Greeks, the Persians, the Egyptians, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Franks, the Venetians, the Turks, the British and now the annual three million travelers and tourists entering Cyprus from the town' s Airport, Port and the Marina are among them.
Larnaca’s Byzantine Period is of enormous significance! It left many fascinating monuments, including the 9th century AD Basilica of Saint Lazarus. The town regained its footing during the Ottoman rule when it became the political & commercial center of Cyprus. The British reigned over this island from 1878 to 1960. The town toes the line of the country in its fast changing history. In 1973 the population of Larnaca was 22,000. In 1974 Turkey invaded the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Army displaced by force about 200,000 Greek-Cypriots, the inhabitants of its Northern part. Larnaca received over 40,000 refugees, thus tripling its population overnight, to about 65,000.
Larnaca as the tourist destination: It is large enough yet not teeming with populace, gives the tourist almost everything they come looking for in a holiday destination. Beautiful beaches stretching over 25kms, archeological sites, its museums are all easily accessible. Summer sports, sea activities and cruises are readily available. The shops are well stocked, medical care is excellent, and its cinemas screen films concurrently with those of Europe and the USA. Array of restaurants, taverns, cafeterias, bars abound. The Cyprus ‘meze’ is the food-attraction of the town. Its nightlife is rocking with satisfying security arrangements. It has a rich cultural life with the Municipality contributing to it daily with new events.
The serene winter climate and the warm hospitality of the local people, Larnaca enjoys a healthy tourist inflow all round the year. Larnaca with its wider area has 9,500 hotel beds, about 10% of the total all island tourist capacity. Luxurious beach hotels and bay side holiday resorts offer low price stays. Being in the center Cyprus, Larnaca is ideal for exploring rest of the country. Its international airport lies a few kilometers from the center of the town.
Larnaka