Cyprus: city of Larnaca - Part 5

Choirokitia is an archaeological site that has been listed by UNESCO since 1998. It is a site you can visit and is only 32km from Larnaca or 48km south of Nicosia. It is a well preserved settlement from the Neolithic Age. Artefacts from all phases of the Neolithic age can be found in the settlement. It gives a good insight into the living conditions in the region during prehistoric times. Five typical cylindrical shaped dwellings have been reconstructed near the settlement using the same construction methods and materials that would have been used in Neolithic times. They are fitted with replicas of the many objects found inside the originals. The vegetation planted around the dwellings is of plant species and native trees that have been growing in Cyprus since Neolithic times.

The chapel of Agios Georgios Arperas is situated 2km from Tersefanou village, where the medieval village of Arpera once stood. The church was built by the Dragoman Christofakis Kostantinou in 1745 and has a fresco depicting himself and his family as founders. The church also contains many icons that have been signed by the painter Ioannikios.

Lefkara is a pretty village just 40km from Larnaca and known for its lace making. The famous “Lefkaritika” legend tells that Leonardo da Vinci came here and bought an altar cloth of the traditional lace, which he then donated to the Cathedral of Milan. The village still has its traditional architecture with pretty stone houses. In the village you can visit the museum of traditional Embroidery & Silversmithing, the church of the Holy Cross and the chapel of Archangel Michael.

The museum of traditional Embroidery and Silversmithing is housed in the restored Patsalos residence. The exhibits include many examples of traditional Lefkara lace. The church of the Holy cross is situated in Pano Lefkara. It has a beautiful 18th century iconostasis and a unique silver 13th century crosses. The church the Archangel Michael in Kato Lefkara is a single aisled domed church with wall paintings dating from the 12th -15th centuries.

Kato Drys village is 38km west of Larnaca. This village is the birthplace of Agios Neophytos who was born in 1134. Two places of interest are the church of Agios Charalambos, built in 1897 and the 16th century church of Panagia which has recently been restored.

Many buildings display rural architecture, with suspended balconies along with doors and windows carved in relief. The rural museum is housed in a restored building which has remarkable woodwork and is a prime example of local 19th century architecture.

To be continued in part 6