Larnaca area - Places of interest
AGIOS ANTONIOS CHURCH
Kellia village
This is one of the most important Byzantine churches of Cyprus, possibly of the 9th century. It is a three-aisled vaulted basilica which has undergone many reconstructions and repairs. It preserves significant wall paintings surviving from the 9th, 11th, 13th centuries.
KOSTAS ARGYROY MUSEUM
Mazotos village
The museum displays the work of local sculptor Kostas Argyrou. Visits can
be arranged by phone No. (24) 43 22 77.
AGIOS EFFIMIANOS CHURCH
Near Stavrovouni Monastery in Kornos area.
The Byzantine church ot Agios Effimianos is in Lysi village, presently under Turkish military occupation. After the invasion in 1974 its 14th century frescoes were dismounted, fragmented in 38 pieces and smuggled abroad. They were finally found in Munich where the Government of Cyprus together with the Menil Foundation in USA bought the frescoes with the agreement that these will be exhibited in Houston (USA) for a period of 15 years before their return home. The people of Lysi have built a new church on the model of the original, where replicas of the frescoes are displayed in the basement.
CHOIROKOITIA
About 32km from Larnaca and 48km south of Nicosia off the Nicosia - Limassol highway.
The ancient site of Choirokoitia, is included since 1998 in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage official list. It is the site of a Neolithic settlement found in a better state of preservation than most others from this period, not only in Cyprus but in the whole of the Eastern Mediterranean. It represents through its consecutive phases of building the whole history of the Neolithic period in Cyprus and divulges precious information as to the spread of the Neolithic culture throughout the region. The General Development Plan of Choirokoitia has as its objective to maintain the authenticity of the place, to protect the natural and man-made environment and to give out information through the creation of a Visitors' Centre.
Five dwellings in close proximity have been reconstructed following the Neolithic model, using the same methods and traditional materials and have been furnished with copies of objects actually found inside the houses during excavations, in order to give a better impression of the layout of the village as it was in antiquity. In addition the plant life around these huts represents plants that were cultivated or indigenous trees that grow in Cyprus since the Neolithic times.
KALAVASOS - TENTA
40 km from Larnaca, 2,5 km off the Nicosia - Limassol highway.
Tenta, one of the most important Neolithic settlements in Cyprus of 7000 BC., lies near
the village of Kalavasos
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