C&N Brothers : About Larnaca
About Larnaca
Larnaca is the 3rd largest town in Cyprus after Nicosia & Limassol with a population of around 100,000 people. The local economy is largely geared towards tourism. Larnaca is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world; it is the modern gateway to Cyprus and known for lovely sights such as the Palm Tree Promenade. Being the home of the island's main international airport Larnaca offers many visitors their first taste of Cyprus.
One of the first sights is the beautiful salt lake, home in the cooler months to colonies of graceful Flamingos and other migratory birds. Over 10,000 flamingos arrive during the months of January and February. The salt lake quickly dries out once their waters evaporates and by July both have a thick glistening salt crust nearly 10cm thick. Larnaca Salt Lake has always been important commercially, and is still referred to as” Aliki”- the Greek word for salt.
Beside the lake, in a tranquil setting crowned by lush palms, is the Hala Sultan Tekesi Mosque. The mosque is an important place of Moslem pilgrimage ranking immediately after the shrines of Mecca, Medina and AI Aqsha in Jerusalem. The Mosque is today a wonderfully peaceful sanctuary.
One of Larnaca's most distinctive features is the town seaside promenade lined with tall palm trees. A project to improve the area around the promenade and turn it into a large precinct bordered by tavernas and a sandy beach was recently completed. Nearby is the Larnaca marina, one of the few shelters for yachts on the island. Palm trees and Minarets which dot the horizon also give Larnaca a Middle Eastern ambience, particularly in the old, inner city.
The advantages of Larnaca as a tourist resort are numerous. The town is large enough to give everything one may need but still is not overcrowded especially at its beautiful beaches which extend for 25kms. The archaeological sites and its six museums are in the centre of the city within walking distance. Summer sports, sea activities and cruises are readily available. The shops are well stocked, medical care is excellent. There are a great variety of restaurants, tavernas, cafeterias and bars around the town which are well worth exploring. Night life is interesting and visitors will always find a variety of entertainment to choose from.
