Top 10 Cool Facts about Larnaka Medieval Castle (Fort)

Larnaca medieval castle photo by Dickelbers – Wikimedia commons

Top 10 Cool Facts about Larnaka Medieval Castle (Fort)

A castle is a strong or fortified place occupied by troops and usually surrounded by walls, ditches, and other defensive works. Ancient troops built castles and forts for protection from enemy forces. One such renowned castle is Larnaka Medieval Castle.

Larnaka Castle is a castle located on the southern coast of Cyprus. The castle is a building with a long and turbulent history. Currently, the castle’s courtyard is used to organize various types of artistic and cultural events as an open-air stage.

The Medieval Castle can be found at the end of the coastal road to Finikoudes. Visiting the fort will take you back in time. This beautiful fortress has an atmosphere from another era!

Here are the top 10 cool facts about the castle.

1. Larnaka Castle was built by Lusignan King Iacov I

The Medieval Castle of Larnaka dominates the beach of the city of Zenon. It is located at the southern end of the coastal avenue of Athens, in Finikoudes.

It dates back to the 14th century and was built by Lusignan King Iacov I for reasons of protection. According to historical sights, earlier, at the same site, there was a fortification fortress of the 11th century at the time of the Komnenoi.

2. The medieval castle was rebuilt in 1625 by the Ottomans

Larnaka Castle photo by Tanya Dedyukhina – Wikimedia commons

It is even mentioned that the Ottomans landed near the castle of the city and chose the port of Larnaka as the base of their fleet.

The medieval castle was rebuilt in 1625 by the Ottomans, having meanwhile devastated, and was equipped with cannons, while it resided in a small guard of janissaries.

Since the mid-18th century, however, Larnaka’s castle has been devastated and its main role was the casting of salute shots to the passing ships. Some parts of the medieval architecture of the phase were incorporated into the Ottoman building and are visible in the southern and eastern parts of the castle.

3. Larnaka Castle is home to a middle-aged museum 

The Fort and the minaret of Kebir (Buyuk) Mosque in Larnaca, Cyprus photo by A.Savin – Wikimedia commons

The Castle is home to a museum of the middle ages, which houses a collection of artefacts, including weaponry, pottery and household items found at the Kition archaeological site.

Currently, at the castle, there is a historical museum, and its courtyard is used to organize various types of artistic and cultural events as an open-air stage. The museum exhibition in the fort is divided into three parts.

In one room there is historic early Christian, Byzantine and later items. The second room is dedicated to Byzantine painting, and in the third, you can learn about medieval weapons and tools.

4. Larnaka castle once served as a prison

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

The construction of the castle in Larnaka probably began in the 12th century. Its function was to be to protect the port and bay. In later centuries this fortification was transformed into a prison, where gallows were also executed.

The medieval castle of Larnaka since the beginning of the British occupation was used as a police station and prison until the middle of the 20th century and the last execution took place here in 1948.

The western hall on the castle’s ground floor was used by the English for the execution of convicts by hanging. Since 1948 it has functioned as the Larnaka District Museum, until 1969, when the current provincial museum was inaugurated.

5. Larnaka castle was used for the defence of the town

It was used around 1625 by the Ottoman Turks for the defence of the town, mainly from Pirates. The Castle was constructed to protect the harbour of the town which, after the capture of Famagusta, was used as the island’s main port.

6. The museum exhibition in the fort is divided into three parts

Courtyard of the castle (fortress) in Larnaca (Cyprus) photo by Qasinka – Wikimedia commons

The museum exhibition in the fort is divided into three parts. On the top floor of the main building the entrance, which dates back to the Turkish domination, today is a museum consisting of three halls.

In Room I, antiquities are dating back to the Early Christian period. There is also photographic material on the early Christian, Byzantine and post-Byzantine monuments of Cyprus.

In Central Room II there is photographic material on Byzantine art in Cyprus. In Room, III are exhibited representative samples of Byzantine, Medieval and Islamic glazed ceramics, metal utensils, firearms, helmets and swords.

The exhibition is accompanied by rich photographic material on Byzantine and medieval fortifications as well as on the medieval architecture of the island. The eastern end of Room III has been formed with proper furnishings of the time.

7. Larnaka castle has a square tower on the east side

The mosque next to Larnaca kasteel Castle photo by Dickelbers – Wikimedia commons

A square tower with a roomy depression beneath it in the shape of an inner semicircular apse is also located in the southern half of the castle’s east side facing the sea.

There are grave markers from the 15th to the 18th centuries still standing. A string of halls with pointed arches is found on the Medieval Castle’s southern flank.

8. Larnaka Castle’s courtyard exhibit’s two medieval capitals

Two medieval capitals are on display in the castle’s courtyard, and one of them has Latino monks etched on it. The coat of arms of the prominent medieval family “de Nori” is shown in one of the halls of the southern wing.

It is shaped like a shield and has three crosses at the top.

9. The castle was abandoned in the 18th century 

The castle began to decrease in importance during the 18th century and was eventually abandoned. The castle was described as being in a semi-ruined state by a renowned explorer in the first half of the 18th century, Abbot Giovanni Mariti, although there was still a garrison guarding it.

Because of the castle’s Turkish design and inscriptions, he hypothesized that the Ottomans may have constructed it.

10. Larnaka castle’s courtyard was converted into an open-air theatre

Courtyard of the castle (fortress) in Larnaca (Cyprus) photo by Qasinka – Wikimedia commons

After the Cypriot independence, the castle itself was converted into a museum, while the castle courtyard was converted into an open-air theatre, accommodating 200 people.

The castle courtyard is now actively used as a small open-air theatre. It is not the most exciting fort in the world, but cannons are always worth looking at. The view from the ramparts is nice.

Visitors need not go out of their way to visit, but if they are walking the Promenade, they can go ahead and pop in for a bit.