Larnaca, is the third largest city on the southern coast of
Cyprus after
Nicosia and
Limassol. It has a population of 72,000 (2010) and is the island's second largest commercial port and an important tourist resort. The island's largest airport,
Larnaca International Airport is located on the outskirts of the city. To the north of the city lies the island's former oil refinery, which was reduced to a storage facility after the refinery itself was sold in 2008. To the south is the Larnaca International Airport. The city of Larnaka is well known for its picturesque seafront which includes rows of palm trees (or finikoudes, in the Cypriot dialect). Larnaca
Marina is one of the four official entry points, by sea, to Cyprus. Larnaca was founded by Greeks (Mycenaean-Achaeans) in the 14th century B.C. 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 Greeks and Romans. Larnaca is colloquially known as "Skala" (Greek: ) 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 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 " " ("Even in death he was victorious") refers to Kimon. A statue of "Kimon the Athenian" stands proudly on the sea front promenade of modern Larnaca.
