LARNACA, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, is the modern gateway to Cyprus, known for such sights as the beautiful Ag. Lazaros Church and leisurely Palm Tree Promenade. As the home of the island's main international airport, Larnaka offers many visitors their first tatste 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. Beside the lake, in a tranquil setting crowned

by lush palms, is the Hala Sultan Tekesi, built to the memory of Prophet Mohammed's aunt. Further west at Kiti village is Panagia Angeloktisti Church with tis famous mosaics.

Places of interest in Larnaca:

HALA SULTAN TEKKE Built in 1816 over the tomb of Umm Haram, allegedly a relative of Prophet Mohhamed who died on this spot in 649 during the first Arab raids. The mosque is an important place of Moslem pilgrimage ranking immediately after the shrines of Mecca, Medina and Al Aqsha in Jerusalem.                             

THE STAVROVOUNI MONASTERY Perched on a rocky peak, Stavrovouni means Mountain of the Cross. According to tradition it was founded in the 4th century by Saint Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, who left a fragment of the Holy Cross to the monastery. The brotherhood is extremely devout, keeping vows as strict as those of the Mount Athos brotherhood in Greece. There is an impressive ceremony and celebrations on 14th September, the day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The Monastery of Agia Varvara (Saint Barbara) at the foot of Stavrovouni hill, is easily accessible. The monks here have a high reputation for icon painting. Women are not allowed to visit Stavrovouni Monastery. Men may visit the monastery, dressed properly.                         The use of cameras or video-cameras is prohibited.

CHIROKITIA The ancient site of Choirokoitia, is included since 1998 in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage official list. It is the site of a Neolithic settlement found in a better state of preservation than most others from this period, not only in Cyprus but in the whole of the Eastern Mediterranean. It represents through its consecutive phases of building the whole history of the Neolithic period in Cyprus and divulges precious information as to the spread of the Neolithic culture throughout the region.The General Development Plan of Choirokoitia has as its objective to maintain the authenticity of the place, to protect the natural and man-made environment and to give out information through the creation of Visitor's Centre. Five dwellings in close proximity have been reconstructed following the Neolithic model, using the same methods and traditional materials and have been furnished with copies of objects actually found inside the houses during excavations, in order to give a better impression of the layout of the village as it was in antiquity. In addition the plant life around these huts represents plants that were cultivated or indigenous trees that grow in Cyprus since the Neolithic times.                      

PIERIDES FOUNDATION The oldest privately owned museum in Cyprus, set up by Dimitrios Pierides (1811-1895). It houses ancient, mediaeval, Byzantine and more recent objects belonging to the Pierides family.                      
A display case of modern Greek and Cypriot sculptures can be seen in the courtyard.