As the ancient capital of the island, Larnaca is steeped in the history and traditions of Cyprus. Known then as ‘Kition’, archaeological excavations show that Larnaca dates back to around 2000 BC.
Today, Larnaca is the third largest city in Cyprus and home to Larnaca International Airport, the main point of entry for business and leisure visitors arriving in Cyprus from the rest of Europe and the Middle East. Located on the coast close to Mackenzy Beach just five kilometres (or a ten minute drive) from the city centre, Larnaca airport is the principal gateway for onward road journeys across the island. The city centre is just a few minutes drive from the intersections of excellent motorway links into the wider Larnaca District - plus Paphos, Limassol, Paralimni, Agia Napa, Protaras, Nicosia and the scenic uphill routes towards the Troodos Mountains. Time distances to the rest of Cyprus are relatively short. You can be in Paphos or Troodos in less than ninety minutes.
The new state-of-the-art airport terminal and improved passenger handling facilities are scheduled to open in November 2009, reflecting Larnaca's growing importance as an international transportation hub in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Business and leisure travellers can connect easily to the rest of Europe, Russia, North Africa and the Middle East with direct flights to major commercial and financial centres - including London, Rome, Frankfurt, Brussels, Athens, Paris, Berlin, Moscow, Cairo, Vienna, Zurich, Bahrain and Dubai.
Less than ten kilometres from the airport is the planned development of a new PGA championship standard golf course at Tersefanou Village. This will complement the established golf courses in the west of the island at Aphrodite Hills and Tsada in the Paphos region.
By 2012 Larnaca Marina, which adjoins the Blue Flag Phinikoudes Beach on the city centre seafront, will be extended to provide berths for up to 2000 yachts. This palm-tree lined promenade is a favourite meeting place for young and old alike, with a wide choice of restaurants, bars and cafes.
The existing port - the second busiest after Limassol - will be upgraded to form a new passenger and cruising centre and form the focal point of an imaginative redevelopment to include a fifteen floor eco-friendly complex accommodating major businesses, banks, insurance companies, restaurants - with conference and exhibition halls, a Spa and fitness centre plus elevated, panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea.
The city of Larnaca generates the commercial and administrative heartbeat of the wider region. Characterised by the intermingling mesh of its ancient road network, there are a variety of charming specialist shops and boutiques trading alongside more recent edge-of-town superstore developments by international retailers such as Carrefour and Debenhams.
Residents and visitors alike can enjoy a vibrant, rich and diverse mix of culture and recreation - everything from museums, art galleries, ancient churches, waterfront concerts & exhibitions, a multi-screen cinema showing the latest Hollywood blockbusters plus an abundance of coffee houses, cafes and restaurants that cater for all tastes - from local Cypriot ‘mezes’ to cordon bleu international cuisine.
If Larnaca city generates the heartbeat, the villages and stunning landscape of the surrounding District provide the pulse and testimony to life as it is lived in this part of Cyprus. A typical example is the village of Lefkara, some forty kilometres from Larnaca and eight kilometres off the Larnaca-Limassol highway. Resting on a gentle limestone slope this is a village full of tradition and beautiful local architecture that is world-renowned for its hand-made lace embroideries.
However you decide upon the location of real estate for investment or permanent living, the Larnaca region is likely to appeal to those who instinctively take a long term view of the opportunities presented to them. This is about discernment and judgement based on informed opinion. Investment in commercial and leisure infrastructure in this region are laying the foundations for a future where Larnaca is widely regarded as a location known for a quality of life defined in its own terms.
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