Cyprus - City of Larnaca - Part 2

The bust of Athenian general Kimon, who led 200 triremes in 450 BC to liberate Cyprus from Persian rule can be seen on the palm lined seaside promenade called “phoinikoudes”. He perished during the siege of Kition. The marble bust of Zenon at the city centre honours the philosopher, who was born in ancient Kition, today city of Larnaca and who founded the famous Stoic School of Thought in Athens in the 4th century BC. The marble bust stands at the crossroads near the American Academy school.

Five old British colonial-style warehouses, part of the old Larnaca Customs houses have been renovated and now make up the city’s Municipal Cultural centre. The Centre houses the Municipal Gallery and the Municipal Historical Archives- Museum of Larnaca.

The Municipal Historical Archives- Museum of Larnaca is housed in the restored residence and offices of the first colonial Port Master of Larnaca, built in 1881. It is situated next to the warehouses. The museum of Larnaca is on the ground floor with exhibits on the history of the town of Larnaca. A large collection of coins from the city kingdom of Kition on the late 6th century and photographs of the city from 1850 onwards, are among the most interesting exhibits. The Municipal Historical Archives which consist of rare books, documents and articles are situated on the second floor and are accessible only by special permission and to researchers.

The Pierides Museum is the oldest private museum in Cyprus. It is housed in the ancestral Pierides family home, a colonial style building built in 1815. The museum’s comprehensive collection was assembled by the Pierides family and includes some of the most representative items of the island’s civilization. It charts its economic, social and cultural development over thousands of years. The objects on display date from 4000BC to the 15th century AD are an important testimony to a centuries old civilization that flourished in Cyprus. Prized items in the collection are the red polished ware from the Early Bronze Age. Roman glassware and medieval ceramic dishes.

Originally built during the Middle Ages, the Fort took its present form during Ottoman rule. After the end of the Ottoman rule in Cyprus, the British converted it into a prison during the first years of their rule. Today the Fort houses the District Medieval Museum, whose collection covers 15 centuries of history, from early Christian period to the 19th century. The open-air courtyard is used in the summer for functions by the Larnaca municipality.