Larnaca Disctrict

The Larnaca District can be found to the south of the island. It is an area currently benefitting from substantial investment and is leading to the area becoming a hotbed of activity. Larnaca already plays host to the island’s main international airport, which itself is undergoing a major expansion as it seeks to accommodate the expected 7.5 million passengers (end of 2009) through the introduction of a new terminal. Besides the airport, Larnaca also houses the second largest commercial port on the island, along with an impressive marina. The number of tourists staying in the region has steadily grown over recent years, with a increase in tourist numbers for the area increasing by 7% anually.

Larnaca District is one of the island’s major tourist destinations, whilst Larnaca Town is renowned for its picturesque sea-front and the blue flag award winning Phinikoudes beach, complete with palm trees. During the major festivals, much of the local activity is concentrated in and around the city promenade. One of the most celebrated festivals is that of Kataklysmos or the Festival of the Flood that is celebrated in the early summer months.

Larnaca, originally known as Kittium or Kition, is the oldest surviving city of Cyprus and is believed to have been founded by Noah's great-grandson Kittim. Unlike many of the other ancient cities of Cyprus, Larnaca still exists on its original site, dating back over 6000 years. It has a rich cultural heritage that can be traced back to the arrival of the Mycenaean’s in the 13th century BC when it was a thriving seaport and a major centre of the copper trade. Recent excavations have unearthed the Cyclopean walls along with a complex of Mycenaean temples. Other examples of cultural heritage include those from the Byzantine period, notably the marble bust of Zeno and the basilica of Saint Lazarus, dating from the 9th Century AD, whilst the underground chapel of Ayia Phaneromeni, is believed to have mystical healing powers and possibly dates back to the Phoenician times.

The cultural diversity of Larnaca District is evident in the wide variety of restaurants, tavernas, cafeterias and bars that have evolved over time. There is something for everyone, ranging from 'traditional Irish pubs' to international restaurant chains to fine local Cypriot dining, including dishes such as the town’s specialty food, 'meze'.

When such cultural diversity and natural beauty are allied to the increasing numbers of tourists being drawn in to experience the delights that Larnaca has to offer, with its year-round climate, diverse range of activities (sports and cultural), low taxation, a growing economy and its close proximity and development to all major infrastructure, it soon becomes apparent that the Larnaca District of Cyprus is becoming much more than an investment opportunity, but more of a guaranteed investor hotspot. This success and popularity will continue to soar as the area continues to attract a host of new developments and activities including a range of new sports academies and centres of excellence, new state-of-the-art golf courses, boutique-style villages and the development of the local marinas continue to benefit from the inward investment that will continue to make Cyprus one of the hottest destinations of the last decade.