LARNACA, The city of Zenon (Half day excursion)

Our trip begins by driving to Larnaca with destination being the oasis mirage on the edge of the salt lake, a favourite winter habitat for flamingos and other migratory birds. After our stop there we drive in to the city visiting the impressive 10th century Church of St Lazarus in the centre of the town which is built over the saint’s tomb and is one of the finest examples of Byzantine architecture in Cyprus (Larnaca was the second home of St. Lazarus, who lived here after his resurrection and later became its first Bishop). The town of Larnaca is built over the ancient city kingdom of Kition, a rich sea port and major centre of the copper trade and later a Phoenician stronghold. As we continue we reach the Pierides museum which exhibits a collection of ancient, medieval, Byzantine and contemporary objects belonging to the Pierides family. Housed in the ancestral Pierides family home, a colonial style building built in 1815, it is one of the most important museums on the island as it contains some of the most representative items of the island’s civilisation. Our next stop is the palm-lined sea-front promenade, known as “Phoinikoudes”, ending up to  Larnaca Fort which stands on the shore at the south end built during the reign of James I (1382 -1398) to protect the town’s harbour. Many rooms of the fort are used as a museum, exhibiting items related to its long history. The courtyard is used for many cultural events. While we drive back we can see today’s remains of the cyclopean walls made of giant blocks of stone of 12th century BC Mycenaean Greek temples.