Kiti, home of the church built by angels

To me, Kiti is the best stop near Larnaca airport. Many people drive straight past on their way to the motorway and miss one of the most storied Byzantine churches in Cyprus and a quiet stretch of coast with a lighthouse.

Where it is

Kiti lies south-west of Larnaca, roughly 9 km from the centre of town and 4 km from the runway in a straight line. With 5,136 people at the 2021 census, it’s a sizeable village rather than a hamlet. Its coast, out towards the cape that bears its name, is about 4 km from the centre.

Panagia Angeloktisti

The main reason to come is the church of Panagia Angeloktisti, «built by angels». In the tourist board’s account, the building you walk into is 11th-century and rises on the remains of an early Christian basilica. The basilica’s apse survives, with a 6th-century mosaic of the Virgin and Child between the archangels Michael and Gabriel, which the board compares with those of Ravenna. It opens daily and is free. Since 2015 it has been one of Cyprus’s candidates for World Heritage status. You can see the mosaic in the photo gallery.

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The Venetian tower

Between Kiti and Pervolia, just 20 m from the shore, stands one of the four Venetian watchtowers that survive in the district. The board dates it to 1563 and explains that the only way in was through an opening on the second floor, using a ladder thrown down from inside. Above the entrance is a marble slab with three coats of arms, and in the middle one St Mark’s lion holds a sword instead of the book, which is unique on the island.

Cape Kiti and Faros beach

South of Pervolia, at Cape Kiti, lies Faros beach, about 500 m long beside the lighthouse. The board describes fine sand, calm shallow water, a protected seagrass area, lifeguards in season and beach bars. The cape’s cliffs also draw migrant birds such as quail, wryneck and calandra lark. The photos show the lighthouse on its rise and the white rocks at the water’s edge. More beaches are in Larnaca beaches.

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Festivals

Kiti has two dates in the board’s festival listings, the Artichoke Festival in spring and a cultural summer programme in August. Exact days are announced each year closer to the event, so I’d check them before planning around either.

On the way back to town

Driving back towards the city you pass the mosque of Hala Sultan Tekke and the shore of the Larnaca Salt Lake, so I’d fold both into the same outing, and the same afternoon fits a stroll along the cape before you head in. For the rest of the district, see Larnaca district.

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If you are staying the night, see the best hotel deals in Larnaca for your dates: the well-placed rooms go fast.