About the city
Larnaca is the third the biggest city of Cyprus and another one with long history. In the XIIth century B.C. Phoenicians built here the city called Kition which next to Cadiz and Carthagin was an important colonial centre. On the island wholly controlled by the Greek Kition was the only refuge for the Phoenicians. Zenon, Greek philosopher and the creator of stoicism, was born in Kition.
The city’s modern history is closely connected with St. Lasarus whose remains were burried in the Christian church located at present on the edge of the old Turkish district. The name Larnaca comes from the Greek word meaning ‘grave’ – burrial place of St. Lasarus, the founder of the Christian community in Cyprus. Whereas Hala Sułtan mosque is the burial place of Muhammad’s aunt and because of that fact is a very important place also for Muslims.
The modern city was built on the ruins of the ancient Kition, additionally damaged by the British occupiers of Cyprus. Sparse archeological excavations which are still being conducted, brought certain results in the form of exhibitions organised in the archeological museum.
