Page 58 iGap travelguide 2023
P. 58
iGap Travel Guide
58
A beautiful port city on Cyprus’ southern coast,
visitors can expect swaying beachside palm trees,
striking 17th century buildings, and laidback locals
lounging outside the region’s many cafés and
bars. There are few places that manage to strike
the perfect balance between a beach break and a
historical city, but Larnaca is certainly one of them.
If you’re looking to soak up the sun and get your
head into a good book, Finikoudes Beach should be
your first port of call. Particularly popular in summer
months, the coastal stretch is centrally located for
convenient access to all of the city’s amenities.
Mackenzie Beach is only a one-mile walk away,
however, and has a more tranquil feel, boasting
peaceful waters, opportunities for windsurfing and
other water sports, and seafood restaurants with
stunning panoramic views of the Mediterranean.
Just a stone’s throw from Finikoudes, culture buffs
can get their fill at Agios Lazaros, or the Church of
Saint Lazarus. After being resurrected by Jesus,
Lazarus lived in Larnaca for 30 years before dying
(again) and being buried in the 9th century church.
Fully restored in the 17th century with ornate
Baroque woodcarving, the church is home to
impressive paintings and a chandelier centrepiece,
with the nearby Byzantine Museum featuring a
range of biblical relics.
For afternoon strolls and natural wonders, Larnaca
Salt Lake is two-miles west of the city and offers up
a special sight. Thousands of greater flamingos head
to the lake when the water rises in the rainy season
(November–December), with past counts reaching
up to 20,000. A truly spectacular view, the serene
Hala Sultan Tekke mosque – framed by palm trees
– takes centre stage in the background, providing
what is bound to be a spiritual experience.
From Larnaca’s Instagram-worthy Old Turkish Quarter,
where visitors wander down narrow alleys packed
with pottery and artisan goods, to the relaxing beach
bars perfect for watching the world go by in, it’s easy
to become attached to Larnaca. On your last night, sit
under the stars at one of the city’s many meze taverns
with a glass of Ouzo, and try to resist the temptation to
miss your flight – choosing instead to join Saint Lazarus
as a long-term Larnaca resident.
Culture-packed streets and crystal-clear waters
LARNACA
58
A beautiful port city on Cyprus’ southern coast,
visitors can expect swaying beachside palm trees,
striking 17th century buildings, and laidback locals
lounging outside the region’s many cafés and
bars. There are few places that manage to strike
the perfect balance between a beach break and a
historical city, but Larnaca is certainly one of them.
If you’re looking to soak up the sun and get your
head into a good book, Finikoudes Beach should be
your first port of call. Particularly popular in summer
months, the coastal stretch is centrally located for
convenient access to all of the city’s amenities.
Mackenzie Beach is only a one-mile walk away,
however, and has a more tranquil feel, boasting
peaceful waters, opportunities for windsurfing and
other water sports, and seafood restaurants with
stunning panoramic views of the Mediterranean.
Just a stone’s throw from Finikoudes, culture buffs
can get their fill at Agios Lazaros, or the Church of
Saint Lazarus. After being resurrected by Jesus,
Lazarus lived in Larnaca for 30 years before dying
(again) and being buried in the 9th century church.
Fully restored in the 17th century with ornate
Baroque woodcarving, the church is home to
impressive paintings and a chandelier centrepiece,
with the nearby Byzantine Museum featuring a
range of biblical relics.
For afternoon strolls and natural wonders, Larnaca
Salt Lake is two-miles west of the city and offers up
a special sight. Thousands of greater flamingos head
to the lake when the water rises in the rainy season
(November–December), with past counts reaching
up to 20,000. A truly spectacular view, the serene
Hala Sultan Tekke mosque – framed by palm trees
– takes centre stage in the background, providing
what is bound to be a spiritual experience.
From Larnaca’s Instagram-worthy Old Turkish Quarter,
where visitors wander down narrow alleys packed
with pottery and artisan goods, to the relaxing beach
bars perfect for watching the world go by in, it’s easy
to become attached to Larnaca. On your last night, sit
under the stars at one of the city’s many meze taverns
with a glass of Ouzo, and try to resist the temptation to
miss your flight – choosing instead to join Saint Lazarus
as a long-term Larnaca resident.
Culture-packed streets and crystal-clear waters
LARNACA
