Larnaca, Cyprus

Larnaca is the third largest city in Cyprus, after Nicosia and Limassol. The name of the city might come from the many sarcophaguses (larnakes) found in the area.
The city-kingdom of Kiteon, the predecessor of Larnaca, was founded around the 13th century BC with the first Greek colonists arriving between 1200 and 1000 BC. The city was rebuilt by the Phoenicians around 1000 BC, becoming an important centre of Phoenician culture.
It was later dominated by other powers but the earthquakes of 322 and 342 AD completely destroyed the city forcing the population to move to the seafront.
It eventually became an important commercial port starting in the Middle Ages through Ottoman occupation.
The main points of interest in Larnaka are Saint Lazarus church, the medieval fort, the Hala Sultan Tekke, the Archaeological Museum, the Pierides Museum, the Ancient Kition site and Finikoudes Avenue (pictured below).





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