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#REDIRECT [[Larnaca]]
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{{Refimprove|date=November 2009}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage-->
<!-- Basic info ---------------->
|official_name = Larnaka
|other_name =
|native_name =Λάρνακα ([[Greek language|Greek]]) Larnaca or Iskele ([[Turkish language|Turkish]])
|nickname =
|settlement_type =Municipality <!--For Town or Village (Leave blank for the default City)-->
|motto =
<!-- images and maps ----------->
|image_skyline =Marina larnakas'.jpg
|imagesize = 300px
|image_caption = View of the Promenade from the Marina, Larnaka
|image_flag =
|flag_size =
|image_seal =
|seal_size =
|pushpin_map = Cyprus<!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
|pushpin_label_position =bottom
|pushpin_mapsize = 300
|pushpin_map_caption =Location in Cyprus
<!-- Location ------------------>
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = {{flag|Cyprus}}
|subdivision_type1 = [[Districts of Cyprus|District]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Larnaka District]]
|subdivision_type2 =
|subdivision_name2 =
|subdivision_type3 =
|subdivision_name3 =
<!-- Politics ----------------->
|government_footnotes =
|government_type =
|leader_title = [[Mayor of Larnaka|Mayor]]
|leader_name = [[Andreas Moyseos]]
|leader_title1 = Vice Mayor
|leader_name1 = Αlexis Michaelides
|established_title = <!-- Settled -->
|established_date =
<!-- Area --------------------->
|area_magnitude =
|unit_pref =Imperial <!--Enter: Imperial, if Imperial (metric) is desired-->
|area_footnotes =
|area_total_km2 = <!-- ALL fields dealing with a measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion-->
|area_land_km2 = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on automatic unit conversion-->
|area_metro_km2 =
<!-- Population ----------------------->
|population_as_of = 2001
|population_footnotes =
|population_note =
|population_total = 12,000
|population_urban =
|population_density_km2 =
<!-- General information --------------->
|timezone = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
|utc_offset = +2
|timezone_DST = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
|utc_offset_DST = +3
|latd=34|latm=55|lats=|latNS=N
|longd=33|longm=38|longs=|longEW=E
|coordinates_type = region:CY_type:city
|coordinates_display = display=inline,title
|elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> </ref> tags-->
|elevation_m =
|elevation_ft =
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
|postal_code_type = <!-- enter ZIP code, Postcode, Post code, Postal code... -->
|postal_code =
|area_code =
|blank_name =
|blank_info =
|blank1_name =
|blank1_info =
|website = [http://www.larnaka.com www.larnaka.com]
|footnotes =
}}

[[File:Larnaka EN.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Concise presentation of Larnaka]]

'''Larnaka''', ({{lang-el|Λάρνακα}}, ''Lárnaka''; {{lang-tr|Larnaka}} or ''İskele'') is a [[city]] on the southern coast of [[Cyprus]]. It has a population of 12,000 (2001) and is the island's second largest commercial port and an important tourist resort. The island's largest [[airport]], [[Larnaka International Airport]] is located on the outskirts of the city.

To the north of the city lies the island's oil refinery, which has been reduced to a storage facility after the refinery itself has been sold in 2008. To the south is the Larnaka International Airport. The city of Larnaka is well-known for its picturesque seafront which includes rows of [[palm trees]] (oi finikoudes, in the [[Cypriot Greek|Cypriot dialect]]). Larnaka Marina is one of the four official entry points, by sea, to Cyprus.

==History==
{{Main|History of Larnaka}}
{{Expand section|date=June 2008}}

Larnaka was founded by [[Phoenicians]] and was known as '''[[Kition]]''', or (in [[Latin]]) '''Citium'''. The biblical name '''[[Kittim]]''', though derived from Citium, was in fact used quite generally for Cyprus as a whole, and occasionally by the [[Jews]] for the [[ancient Greece|Greeks]] and [[ancient Rome|Romans]]. Larnaka is colloquially known as "Skala" (Greek: ''Σκάλα'') meaning "ladder" or "landing stage", referring to the town's status in history as an important port.

Like most Cypriote cities, Kition belonged to the Persian or [[Achaemenid Empire]]. In 450 BC, the [[Athens|Athenian]] general [[Cimon]], died at sea defending the city of Citium in a major battle with the Persians. On his deathbed, he urged his officers to conceal his death from both their allies and the Persians. The quote "Και Νεκρός Ενίκα" ("Even in death he was victorious") refers to Kimon. A statue of "Kimon the Athenian" stands proudly on the sea front promenade of modern Larnaka.

Like other cities of Cyprus, it has suffered repeatedly from [[earthquake]]s, and in medieval times when its harbour silted up (a sign that the island was deforested and overgrazed) the population moved to Larnaka, on the open seafront farther south. The harbour and citadel have now disappeared. Traces remain of the circuit wall, and of a sanctuary with copious terra-cotta offerings; the large cemetery has yielded constant loot from illicit excavations for more than a century.

[[File:municipality larnaka.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Municipality Square with Hotel Sun Hall in the background, Larnaka]]
Dig practically anywhere in the area from the tennis club past Chrysopolittissa church and you will find evidence of prior civilizations. Much of the yield near the surface is Roman and Venetian. Visit the museum by the Terra Santa Convent to see not only many exhibits but also the dig in their backyard along with Ali Baba's storage jars.

The fort on Larnaka seafront has recently been opened up for better viewing by the removal of the Megalos Pefkos (the Big Tree) and a few other illegal restaurants set up on the sea front by refugees after the 1974 invasion.

==Climate==
{{Infobox Weather
|metric_first=yes
|single_line=yes
|location=Larnaka
|Jan_Hi_°C = 16.8
|Feb_Hi_°C = 16.8
|Mar_Hi_°C = 19.1
|Apr_Hi_°C = 22.5
|May_Hi_°C = 26.5
|Jun_Hi_°C = 30.3
|Jul_Hi_°C = 32.4
|Aug_Hi_°C = 32.7
|Sep_Hi_°C = 30.9
|Oct_Hi_°C = 28.1
|Nov_Hi_°C = 22.6
|Dec_Hi_°C = 18.3
|Year_Hi_°C = 24.7
|Jan_Lo_°C = 7.5
|Feb_Lo_°C = 6.9
|Mar_Lo_°C = 8.7
|Apr_Lo_°C = 11.7
|May_Lo_°C = 16.0
|Jun_Lo_°C = 19.8
|Jul_Lo_°C = 22.2
|Aug_Lo_°C = 22.6
|Sep_Lo_°C = 19.9
|Oct_Lo_°C = 17.1
|Nov_Lo_°C = 12.5
|Dec_Lo_°C = 9.2
|Year_Lo_°C = 14.5
|Jan_MEAN_°C = 12.1
|Feb_MEAN_°C = 11.8
|Mar_MEAN_°C = 13.9
|Apr_MEAN_°C = 17.1
|May_MEAN_°C = 21.2
|Jun_MEAN_°C = 25.0
|Jul_MEAN_°C = 27.3
|Aug_MEAN_°C = 27.6
|Sep_MEAN_°C = 25.4
|Oct_MEAN_°C = 22.6
|Nov_MEAN_°C = 17.5
|Dec_MEAN_°C = 13.7
|Year_MEAN_°C = 19.6
|Jan_Precip_cm = 7.76
|Feb_Precip_cm = 4.09
|Mar_Precip_cm = 3.44
|Apr_Precip_cm = 1.77
|May_Precip_cm = 0.88
|Jun_Precip_cm = 0.27
|Jul_Precip_cm = 0.06
|Aug_Precip_cm = 0.04
|Sep_Precip_cm = 0.71
|Oct_Precip_cm = 1.38
|Nov_Precip_cm = 5.31
|Dec_Precip_cm = 9.45
|Year_Precip_cm = 35.15
|source = Meteorological Service (Cyprus)<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.moa.gov.cy/moa/MS/MS.nsf/DMLclimet_reports_en/DMLclimet_reports_en?OpenDocument&Start=1&Count=1000&Expand=1
|title=Meteorological Service - Climatological and Meteorological Reports
|dateformat=mdy
|accessdate=}}</ref>
|accessdate = }}

==Landmarks==
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2009}}
[[File:larnaka paralia.jpg|thumb|Seaside Avenue "Foinikoudes", Larnaka]]
[[File:finikoudes.jpg|thumb|Seaside Avenue "Foinikoudes", Larnaka]]
[[File:aqueduct larnaca.jpg|thumb|The Old Aqueduct outside the city of Larnaka]]
[[File:Larnaka eklisia.jpg|thumb|[[Church of Ayios Lazaros, Larnaka|''Agios Lazaros'' Church]], built over the tomb of [[Lazarus]].]]
[[File:Marina Larnaca.jpg|thumb|Marina Larnaka]]
[[File:Tekke.JPG|thumb|[[Hala Sultan Tekke]] with [[Larnaka Salt Lake]] in the foreground]]

The most important site of Larnaka are the ruins of Ancient Kitium. The earliest architectural remains date back to the [[13th century BC|13th century B.C]]. the area was rebuilt by [[Achaean]] Greeks. The remains of the Cyclopean Walls, made of giant blocks and the complex of the five temples, are particularly interesting.

Another place of interest is the Marble Bust of [[Zeno of Citium|Zeno]], which stands at the crossroads near the American Academy. Zeno was born in Kition (ancient Larnaka) in 334 BC. After studying philosophy in [[Athens]] he founded the famous [[Stoicism|Stoic]] school of philosophy.

Near Larnaka International Airport there is the [[Larnaka Salt Lake]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.larnaka.com/ |title=Larnaka Municipality |publisher=Larnaka.com |date= |accessdate=2009-05-05}}</ref>
. It fills with water during the winter and is visited by flocks of flamingoes who stay here from November till the end of March. It dries up in the summer. It used to yield a good quality of salt which was is scraped from its dried up surface.The salt from this lake is now considered unfit for human consumption.

About half-way between the monument of Zeno and Salt Lake on the right, there is the underground chapel of Ayia Phaneromeni. It is a rock cavern with two chambers. The structure suggests that it once was a pagan tomb, possibly dating back to Phoenician times. The place is credited with various magical properties: thus those who suffer from headaches or other diseases walk three times round it and leave a piece of clothing or a tuft of their hair on the grill in front of the south window. It is also much frequented by girls, whose lovers are overseas, who come here to pray for their safety.

[[Church of Ayios Lazaros, Larnaka|The Church of Lazarus]] (''Agios Lazaros'') is another magnificent Orthodox Church in Larnaka which was built in the town over the tomb of St. [[Lazarus]], the brother of [[Mary, sister of Lazarus|Mary]] and [[Martha]]. He died here and was buried in the church named after him. In 890 A.D. his tomb was found bearing the inscription "“Lazarus, bishop of Larnaka. Four days dead. Friend of Jesus.” The marble sarcophagus can be seen inside the church under the Holy of Holies.

The [[Hala Sultan Tekke]] is about 5&nbsp;km (3&nbsp;mi) west of Larnaka, on the banks of the Salt Lake. It is equivalent to the Christian "monastery". Within the precincts of this Tekke is the tomb of Umm Haram, who was the foster mother of Prophet [[Mohammed]]. According to Muslim historical accounts Umm Haram died on this spot in 647 A.D. while accompanying the [[Arab]] invaders. She was buried here and later the [[Cyprus under the Ottoman Empire|Ottomans]] built the present mosque in her honour.

Another site of interest is the Fort of Larnaka which was erected by the [[Ottoman Empire|Turks]] in 1625. This fort is now a museum and its inner courtyard is used as an open air garden - theatre during the summer months, by kind permission of the director of antiquities.

The Old Aqueduct known as "The Kamares", stands outside the town on the way to Limassol. It was built by the Ottoman Governor [[Koca Bekir Pasha]] in Roman style in 1745 to carry water from a source about 6 miles south of Larnaka into the town. The aqueduct is illuminated at night.

==Economy==

Larnaka's economy has been growing since 1975 ,after the loss of the Port of Famagusta, which handled 80 percent of the general cargo, and the closure of the Nicosia International Airport meant that Larnakas ports its (airport and seaport) had an increasing important role in the economy of the island)

A €650m upgrade of the Larnaka airport has been completed

Many travel and tour operators and other travel related companies including [[Eurocypria Airlines]] have their head offices in Larnaka
.<ref>"[http://www.eurocypria.com/main/default.aspx?tabid=89 Contact Us]." [[Eurocypria Airlines]]. Retrieved on 6 November 2009.</ref>

The service sector, including tourism, employs three quarters of larnaka's labor force.

==Culture==
===Arts===
Larnaka has a theatre and art gallery both run by the Municipality, and is home to the celebrated Pieridis Museum of Antiquities, founded by [[Demetrios Pieridis]]. It is also the location of two art schools, the Alexander College, which specialises mainly in design subjects, the [[Cyprus College of Art]], which concentrates of [[fine art]], and also Intercollege.

===Music===
Larnaka boasts a [[Larnaka Municipal Band|Municipal Band]] of over 60 musicians competent in all [[Musical instrument classification|families of musical instruments]]. Larnaka Municipal Band offers a large repertoire of music, ranging from marching-parade music to Latin, and from Greek favourites to rock and roll. Apart from playing for parades on national holidays, the band also makes regular appearances in various concerts and music festivals throughout Cyprus and abroad, representing both Larnaka and [[Cyprus]] internationally.

===Sports===
The city is the home to the [[football (soccer)|football]] teams [[AEK Larnaka FC]], and [[ALKI Larnaka FC]]. Both teams play in a stadium of a city called [[GSZ Stadium]] or Zenon Stadium. Since the occupation of the northern part of Cyprus by Turkey in 1974, the two teams of Famagusta, [[Anorthosis Famagusta|Anorthosis]] and [[Nea Salamina]], have their own stadiums in Larnaka. "[[Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium|Antonis Papadopoulos]]" is the Anorthosis' stadium and "[[Ammochostos Stadium|Ammochostos]]" (means Famagusta) is the stadium of Nea Salamina.

Larnaka hosted the [[European Under-19 Football Championship]] final, in 1998 and the [[European Under-17 Football Championship]] final in 1992.

===Festivals===
Much of the activity is centered around the city promenade during the major festivals. The most important of these is [[Cataclysm|''Kataklysmos'']] or the ''Festival of the Flood'', celebrated in early summer with a series of cultural events. The festival used to last for about a week, but in recent years, with the increased commercialism of peripheral stalls, rides and temporary [[loukmades]] restaurants (a sweet delicacy) it has extended to about three weeks, during which the seafront is closed to traffic in the evenings.

===Notable people===
{{unsourced|section|date=November 2009}}
*[[Zeno of Citium]], [[Stoicism|stoic]] philosopher
*[[Apollonios of Kition]], (physician, 1st c BC, nicknamed ‘the Cypriot Hippocrates’)
*[[St Lazarus]] (although not born in Larnaka, he was the first Bishop of the town during 45-63AD and he died there - for the second time)
*[[Ada Nicodemou]], actress
*[[George Charalambous]], actor
*[[Abu Bekr Pasha]], Governor of Larnaka and philanthropist
*[[Dimitris Lipertis]], 1866-1937 (national poet)
*[[Demetrios Pieridis]], 1811-1895 (created the Pieridi Museum)
*[[Anna Vissi]], a Greek-Cypriot singer
*[[Neoclis Kyriazis]], medical doctor and historian
*[[Mehmet Nazim Adil]], the leader of the [[Naqshbandi|Nakshbandi]] [[Sufism|Sufi]] order (or [[Tariqah|Tekke]]) was born in Larnaka
*[[Kyriacos A. Athanasiou]], a Cypriot-American academic, entrepreneur, and past-president of the Biomedical Engineering Society
*[[Stass Paraskos]], Artist
*[[Giorgos Theofanous]], Composer
*[[Garo Yepremian]], Former NFL [[placekicker]], played as a member of the [[1972 Miami Dolphins]], to date the only team in NFL history to finish with a perfect record.

==Municipal Council==

The mayor of Larnaka is Andreas Moiseos and the deputy mayor is [[Alexis Michaelides]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://michaelidesalexis.blogspot.com/ |title=Alexis Michaelides |publisher=Michaelidesalexis.blogspot.com |date=2009-03-21 |accessdate=2009-05-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.michaelidesalexis.com/ |title=NETinfo |publisher=Michaelidesalexis.com |date= |accessdate=2009-05-05}}</ref>.

The members of the council, according to political party are:

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! Akel
|-
| Zaouras Ioannis
|-
| Zaouras Ioannis
|-
| Melekkis Andreas
|-
| Grigoriou Grigoris
|-
| Antoniou Chrystalla
|-
| Nikolaou Floros
|-
| Xenofon Kyriakides
|-
| Koukouma Marios
|-
| Christofidou Leontiadou Emily
|-
| Georgiou Nikolas
|}

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! DISY
|-
| Louka Eleni
|-
| Anastasiou Stasis Nikos
|-
| Kasoulidou Annoula
|-
| Evangelou Afxentis
|-
| Manoli Theologos
|-
| Tsaggari Floros
|-
| Sofroniou Lakis
|-
| Plastira Ilias
|-
| Tsigaridou Eleni
|}

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! DIKO
|-
|[[Alexis Michaelides]]
|-
| Iasonides Iasonas
|-
| Vovides Takis
|-
| Trifonos Trifonas
|-
| Prokopiou Georgios
|}

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! EDEK
|-
| Kitipos Panayiotis
|-
Pitsillides Michalakis
|}

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! EVROKO
|-
|Elia Elias
|}

==Transport==
[[File:LCA_Airport_1.jpg|thumb|[[Larnaka International Airport]]]]
[[Larnaka International Airport]] in Larnaka is the main international airport in Cyprus.

==International relations==
===Twin towns — Sister cities===
Larnaka Municipality is [[town twinning|twinned]] with the following:
{| cellpadding="10"
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
|
* {{flagicon|Georgia}} [[Poti]] in [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] <small>''(since 1987)''</small>
* {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Haringey]] in [[London]], [[United Kingdom]] <small>''(since 1987)''</small>
* {{flagicon|Greece}} [[Glyfada]] in [[Greece]] <small>''(since 1988)''</small>
* {{flagicon|France}} [[Ajaccio]] in [[Corsica]], [[France]] <small>''(since 1989)''</small>
* {{flagicon|Slovakia}} [[Bratislava]] in [[Slovakia]] <small>''(since 1989)''</small><ref name="Bratislava">{{cite web|url=http://www.bratislava-city.sk/bratislava-twin-towns|title=''Bratislava City - Twin Towns''|publisher=<small>[[copyright|©]] 2003-2008 Bratislava-City.sk|accessdate=2008-10-26}}</small></ref>
* {{flagicon|Greece}} [[Larissa]] in [[Greece]] <small>''(since 1990)''</small>
* {{flagicon|Russia}} [[Novosibirsk]] in [[Russia]] <small>''(since 1993)''</small>
||
||
* {{flagicon|Hungary}} [[Szeged]] in [[Hungary]] <small>''(since 1993)''</small>
* {{flagicon|Albania}} [[Sarandë]] in [[Albania]] <small>''(since 1994)''</small>
* {{flagicon|Greece}} [[Piraeus]] in [[Greece]] <small>''(since 1995)''</small>
* {{flagicon|Greece}} [[Leros]] in [[Greece]] <small>''(since 2000)''</small>
* {{flagicon|Greece}} [[Ilioupolis]] in [[Greece]] <small>''(since 2000)''</small>
* {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Marrickville, New South Wales]] in [[Australia]] <small>''(since 2007)''</small>
|}

==See also==
*[[Larnaka International Airport]]
*[[Larnaka District]]
*[[Kittim]]

==Notes==
*[http://www.larnaka.com/History.html History of Larnaka by the official Municipality]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Larnaka}}

*[http://www.larnaka.com Municipality of Larnaka Official Web Site]
*[http://www.larnakaregion.com Larnaka Regional Tourism Body Official Web Site]
*[http://www.larnakaband.com Larnaka Municipal Wind Orchestra Official Web Site]
*{{wikitravel}}

{{Municipalities of Cyprus}}
{{Larnaka District}}
{{Ancient Cities of Cyprus}}
{{Phoenician cities and colonies navbox|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Ancient Greek cities]]
[[Category:Cities, towns and villages in Larnaka District]]
[[Category:Phoenician colonies]]
[[Category:Mediterranean port cities and towns in Cyprus]]

[[ar:لارنكا]]
[[bg:Ларнака]]
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[[el:Λάρνακα]]
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[[he:לרנקה]]
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[[ja:ラルナカ]]
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[[uk:Ларнака]]
[[war:Larnaka]]
[[zh:拉纳卡]]

Revision as of 14:35, 28 March 2010

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