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Larnaca is the oldest living city of Cyprus and was originally known as Kition, or Kittium. Legend has it that the first settlement at the spot was founded by Noah’s grandson Khittim. Unlike other ancient cities of Cyprus, which were abandoned by their inhabitants, Larnaca from the time of its founding 6000 years ago, has existed and still exists on the same site. Being in the crossroad of civilization from the early dawn of history, Larnaca has attracted many visitors. Some came as colonizers, others as traders and others as invaders, conquerors or tourists. The Greeks, the Persians, the Egyptians, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Franks, the Venetians, the Turks,and the British and today all the annual three million travellers and tourists entering Cyprus from the town' s Airport, the Marina and the Port.

Saint Lazarus is the patron saint of Larnaca. Kition became his second home after the resurrection by Christ, and he lived here for another 30 years. He was ordained Bishop of Kition by Saints Barnabas and Mark.
...In the 9th century a magnificent church was erected over his tomb by Emperor Leo VI. The church, one of the finest examples of Byzantine architecture in Cyprus, was faithfully restored in the 17th century, and the iconostasis is an excellent example of baroque woodcarving. Visitors can see the tomb of Saint Lazarus under the sanctuary and an ecclesiastical museum behind the church.
...Eight days before the Greek Orthodox Easter the icon of Saint Lazarus is taken in procession through the streets of Larnaca.
...Visitors can see the tomb of the Saint Lazarus under the sanctuary and the ecclesiastical museum behind the church. Tel. (24) 652489

About 20 miles (32km) from Larnaca on the Lefkosia-Lemesos road archaeological excavations have revealed one of the oldest Neolithic sites on Cyprus, dating to 7,000 BC. Choirokoitia (also known as Khirokitia) was home to primitive farmers who cultivated wheat and barley. Visitors can explore the settlement’s defensive wall, circular houses and tombs. The site is close to the dry Maroni riverbed atop a hill that was once covered in dense vegetation. It was first excavated in 1934, but excavations by French archaeologists are continuing. Four of the beehive-shaped houses made of mud and stone have been reconstructed to show how these early farmers lived. Most of the archaeological finds from Choirokoitia are displayed in the Cyprus Museum in Nicosia.
Opening time: Monday to Friday 7.30am to 5pm; Saturday and Sunday 9am to 5

Kamares is in the area of the Larnaca - Limassol road.
A beautiful 18th century aqueduct which was in use until 1930.

Approximately 500 m. northeast of the Archaeological Museum. One of the most important of the ancient city-kingdoms, with architectural remains dating back to the 13th century BC. In about 1200 BC, it was rebuilt by the Mycenaean Greeks, and excavations have revealed cyclopean walls made of giant blocks of stone and a complex of five temples.

The Phinikoudes promenade, famed for its palm trees, suitably named due to the fact that Phinikia, translated into English, means palm tree. The beach is suitable for all ages and a favourite with the tourists. In the evening the Phinikoudes seafront offers the best night out in Larnaca, with countless choices of pubs, bars, restaurants and clubs, which have events mostly during the Summer and bring world famous DJs to ensure a great night out.

Perched on top of a solitary mountain, 25 miles (40km) from Larnaca and six miles (10km) off the Lefkosia-Lemesos Road, is the oldest monastery in Cyprus, founded in the 4th century by Saint Helena, mother of Constantine the Great. The monastery contains an important relic, a fragment of the Holy Cross. It is however only accessible to men; women are not allowed to enter.
Opening time: Daily except between the hours of 12pm and 1pm (men only)

At the seafronts promenade.
The Athenian General Kimon led 200 triremes in 450 BC to free Cyprus from the Persians. He died while he was besieging Kition.

Lies to the west of the town of Larnaca. It is a complex network of four salt lakes (3 of them interconnected) of different sizes. The largest lake is Lake Aliki followed by Lake Orphani, Lake Soros and Lake Spiro. They form the second largest salt lakein Cyprusafter the Limassol Salt Lake. The total surface area of the lakes adds up to a combined 2.2 square km.This is one of the most distinctive landmarks of the area. It is considered one of the most important wetlands of Cyprus and has been declared a Ramsar site, Natura site, Special Protected Area, an Important Bird Area.
It is surrounded by scrubland and on its banks lays the Hala Sultan Tekke, one of the holist of shrines within Ottoman Islam. It houses Umm Harams tomb, Muhammad’s “wet-nurse”.
Besides its picturesque beauty, the lake is the haunt of 85 species of water birds with an estimated population of between 20,000-38,000.
It is one of the important migratory passages through Cyprus. Among them are 2,000 – 12,000 flamingos which spend the winter months there feeding off populations of the Brine Shrimp.
During the winter months the lake fills with water, whilst in the summer the water evaporates leaving a crust of salt and a haze of grey dust. According to legend, the lakes saltiness stems from St Lazarus request to an old woman for food and drink. She refused, claiming her vines had dried up, to which Lazarus replied “may your vines be dry and be a salt lake forever more” A more scientific explanation is that the salt water penetrates the porous rock between the lake and the sea, making the water very salty.
Salt harvested from this lake used to be one of the islands major exports, being collected by donkeys, carried away to the edge of the lake and piled up into huge pyramidal heaps.
With rising labour costs harvesting dwindled to a negligible amount and stopped altogether in 1986 as the island imports most of this commodity.