The southeastern flank of Cyprus , centred on Larnaca, is still the most touristed portion of the island: main international airport. aside from its hilly western part, the district is not particularly scenic-not that this bothers most patrons of the burgeoning resorts, who seldom venture far from the clear, warm sea and their self-contained hotels.
Despite being a short motorway drive from two mega-resorts at the island’s southeastern tip, the district capital of Larnaca still claims its share of local tourism, though increasing industrialization-and the possibility that Varosha might soon be rehabilitated-shadows its future as a holiday destination.
However , just southwest of town lie two of the most appealing and most easily accessible, the monuments in the area: the Muslim shrine of Hala Sultan Tekke by Larnaca’s salt lake, and the mosaic-graced Byzantine church of Angeloktisti at Kiti. Perivolia, on the approach to Cape Kiti, is perhaps the last human-scale resort in this part of the island. The coast beyond rewards only determined explorers; at the end of the line, little Ziyi port with it famous fish tavernas is just as accessible from the main Nicosia Limassol expressway.
Inland and west in Larnaca district, attractions are scattered to either side of this highway. Neolithic Khirokitia is one of the oldest known habitations on Cyprus , and a visit can be easily twinned with one to Pano Lefkara, a picturesque village in the Troodos foothills renowned for its handicrafts. More directly approached from Larnaca along a secondary road, the Chapelle Royale at Pyrga houses a rare example of Lusignan sacred mural art and nearby Stavrovouni is an equally unusual instance of a strictly penitential Cypriot Orthodox monastery. Tokhni and nearby Kalavassos on the inland side of the A1 expressway are among the district’s more attractive villages, both now popular holiday bases thanks to some imaginative accommodation schemes taking advantage of their traditional architecture.
East of Larnaca, there is a little specifically to recommend along the coast: the sandy crescent of Larnaca Bay and the British Sovereign Base Area of Dhekelia are each compromised in their own way. Things only look up at the two overgrown resort to either side of Cape Greko : though by no means the largest permanent community. Ayia Napa mushrooms in season to become the busiest clubbers’ resort in the area, while the strip at Protaras to the northeast is slightly more upmarket and Cypriot-oriented .
With Larnaca as a base it’s easy to make several full-or half-day trips to surrounding attractions. But to do this any degree of flexibility, you’ll need a car for while public transport links the city with most of the sites detailed there are few connections between them. Outside Larnaca,Ayia Napa and Protaras, accommodation can be found at perivolia, Kalavassos, Tokhini, Vavla, modern Khirikitia and Pano Lefkara.
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Tags: cyprus larnaca, hala sultan tekke, holiday destination, larnaca dhekelia, larnaca beaches, larnaca holidays, larnaca hotels, larnaca international airport, larnaca salt lake, larnaca tourism, pano lefkara, pyrga, stavrovouni, tokhini