Finikoudes looks like a postcard: a long row of palm trees, a cafe, a beach right in the center of town, and families strolling in the evening. And at the end of the promenade, right by the water, stands a squat stone fort. As recently as 1948, one of its rooms still housed a gallows.
🏰 A Fortress with a Convoluted Biography
Larnaca Medieval Castle protected the harbor, but who built it remains a matter of debate. Chronicler Florius Boustronius dates the fortress to the time of the Lusignan King James I, in the late 14th century. 18th-century sources cite a Turkish construction from 1625. They agree on one thing: the fort acquired its current appearance under the Ottomans. After them, the British converted it into a prison, and prisoners were executed in the western room on the ground floor.
Today, Ottoman cannons stand in the courtyard, and open-air concerts are held there in the summer. Climb the walls: on one side, the beach and palm trees, on the other, the marina and port, all in the light scent of salt and coffee from the nearby cafes.
🎟 Tickets and Hours
· Admission €2.50, pensioners €1.25.
· From September 16th to April 15th: weekdays 8:00-17:00, weekends 9:30-17:00. From April 16th to September 15th, closes at 19:30. Closed on public holidays.
· The Medieval Museum on the second floor is currently closed for renovations; there is no reopening date. Don't count on it.
· If you plan to visit several Department of Antiquities monuments in a day or week, compare the prices with the 1-, 3-, or 7-day passes: €8.50, €17, and €25.
⛪ A few minutes' walk away: the Church of Saint Lazarus
According to Orthodox tradition, the resurrected Lazarus fled from Judea to Cyprus and became the first bishop of Kition, ancient Larnaca. In 890, a tomb bearing the inscription "Lazarus, friend of Christ" was discovered here, and the Church of Saint Lazarus was built over it by order of Emperor Leo VI. This stone basilica from the late 9th century stands in the old town, right next to the fort.
🦩 Pink bonus on the way to the airport
The Larnaca Salt Lake lies right off the highway to the airport. In winter, it fills with water, and between 2,000 and 12,000 flamingos feed there. In summer, the water recedes, leaving a salt crust. On the shore is the Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque, one of the most important Islamic shrines in Cyprus.
🚌 How to get there
Bus 425 runs from the airport to Finikoudes, plus routes 407, 429, 430, and 432 from the same stop. Cash tickets are €2.70, or €4.70 after 9:00 PM. It's cheaper with a Motion card: €2 during the day.
💡 Lifehacks
· Arrive at the fort at opening time or at the last hour: in summer, the rocks are hot during the day, and the walls are almost completely shaded.
· Combine everything on foot: the fort, the Church of St. Lazarus, and the embankment are all just a few minutes away from each other.
· Arriving in the evening? Cash tickets cost almost twice as much after 9:00 PM, making it a good idea to buy a Motion card right away.
· Look for flamingos in winter, when the lake is full. In summer, the water evaporates, and there are almost no birds.
Would you pass by the fort or climb the walls for the view of the palm trees?
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