Larnaca

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.[3] 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".[4]

In the vernacular, Larnaca is also known as Scala (Greek: Σκάλα [ˈskala] from the word σκάλα, a loanword from the Italian scala, meaning "ladder" or "landing stage") referring to the historical port.

During the Middle Ages, until the end of the 18th century, a small port-anchorage close to Larnaca Bay is referred to on maps, engravings, in travel descriptions and documents as Scala di Saline and may account for this second name; other names that appear on maps include: Porto delle Salines, Rada delle Saline, Ponta delle Saline, Punta delle Salino, Golfo delle Saline, Port Salines, Selines, Salines, Le Seline, Le Salline, Saline, Salin, Salinas, Arnicho di Salinas, Port of Lazarus, Lazare [o], Marine, Marina, and Commercio [customs].

Street in Larnaca in 1878

1880 drawing of market in Larnaca

The former city-kingdom of Kition was originally established in the 13th century BC.[5] New cultural elements appearing between 1200 BC and 1000 BC (personal objects, pottery, new architectural forms and ideas) are interpreted as indications of significant political changes and the arrival of the Achaeans, the first Greek colonists of Kition.[6] 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 or 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[7] 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".[7] 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[8]—and its neighborhood.

The Kamares aqueduct was built in 1747—bringing water to the city from a source around 10 kilometres (6 miles) from the city.

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, it yielded good quality salt scraped from the dried surface. The salt from the lake is now considered unsuitable for consumption.

Panoramic view of Phoinikoudes beach

The city's landmarks include: the Church of Saint Lazarus; the Catacomb of Phaneromeni Church; Hala Sultan Tekke; the Kamares Aqueduct; and the Fort of Larnaca.

So-called "Foinikoudes" is the promenade along Athenon Avenue on the seafront. A row of palm trees (Cypriot Greek: φοινικούδες, foinikoudes) lines either side of it.

Monuments

Church of Saint Lazarus, Larnaca

• A bust of Kimon the Athenian stands on the Foinikoudes Promenade, with this quote referring to him on the pedestal: "Even in death he was victorious" (Greek: "Kαι νεκρός ενίκα").
• The marble bust of Zeno stands at the crossroads near the American Academy. Zeno was born in Kition in 334 BC. After studying philosophy in Athens, he founded the famous Stoic school of philosophy.
• The Armenian Genocide Memorial stands on Athinon Avenue.

Europe's square with government buildings

Larnaca's economy has been growing since 1975, after the loss of the Port of Famagusta, which handled 80% of general cargo, and the closure of Nicosia International Airport, meant that Larnaca's airport and seaport played 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. Many travel and tour operators and other travel-related companies have a head office 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 educational institutions in the city, including the American Academy, Larnaca Nareg Armenian school and the Alexander College.

Larnaca's neighbourhoods include Skala, Prodromos, Faneromeni, Drosia, Kamares, Vergina and Agioi Anargyroi.

Larnaca International Airport

The city's transport hubs are Larnaca International Airport and Larnaca Port—the Republic's busiest airport and second busiest port.

• Zeno of Citium (c. 334 – c. 262 BC), Stoic philosopher
• Apollonios of Kition (1st century BC), physician, nicknamed "the Cypriot Hippocrates"
• Ebubekir Pasha (1670 – 1757/1758), Governor of Larnaca and philanthropist
• Demetrios Pieridis (1811–1895), founder of the Pieridis Museum
• Dimitris Lipertis (1866–1937), national poet
• Neoclis Kyriazis (1877–1956), medical doctor and historian
• Mehmet Nazim Adil (1922–2014), leader of the Nakshbandi Sufi order (or Tekke), born in Larnaca
• Kyriacos A. Athanasiou, Cypriot-American academic, entrepreneur, and past president of the Biomedical Engineering Society
• Stass Paraskos, artist
• Mihalis Violaris, singer and composer who helped popularise Cypriot music in Greece
• Giorgos Theofanous, composer
• Anna Vissi, singer
• Loucas Yiorkas, singer, The X Factor winner in 2009
• Ada Nicodemou, actress
• Garo Yepremian, Armenian-Cypriot former NFL placekicker, played as a member of the 1972 Miami Dolphins, to date the only team in NFL history to finish with a perfect record
• Chrystalleni Trikomiti, Commonwealth Games gold-medalist rhythmic gymnast
• Martino Tirimo, Cypriot classical pianist
• Tio Ellinas, Cypriot racing driver

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  Fishing port "Psarolimano"
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  Hala Sultan Tekke
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  Castle exterior
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  Castle square pier
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  Kimon statue
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  Finikoudes Avenue
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  View of Larnaca from sea
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  Larnaca marina
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  Larnaca Salt Lake
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  Aspect of the old town
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  Souvenir shops
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  Old town
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  Old aqueduct "Kamares"
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  Angeloktisti medieval church
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  Street in town center
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  Ermou square
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  Saint Lazarus
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  Vessels near Larnaca port
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  Larnaca International Airport
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  Larnaca Castle interior
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  Building of District Administration Larnaca
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  Europe square
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  Pierides Museum
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  Larnaca seafront panorama
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  Panoramic view from Oroklini Hill towards Larnaca
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  The Armenian Genocide Memorial, unveiled in 2008

• Larnaca District
• Kittim
• Chryspolitissa Orthodox Church

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Larnaca.

• Municipality
• Discovering Larnaca Historic City Centre
• Larnaca travel guide from Wikivoyage