The Castle of Larnaka - Prison, police station, museum

The castle where the last hanging took place in 1945.

 The Castle of Larnaka is located in Larnaka, Cyprus. According to the written sources of Florius Voustronius and Jauna, the castle is dated during the years of the reign of King James I (1382 – 1398) of Cyprus. The castle was constructed to protect the harbour of the town; The 14th century castle was larger than the present one, part of it being under the road. 

The north side of the castle consists of a two storey building, constructed during the Ottoman period, indicated by the architectural style and the Turkish writing at the entrance. On the ground floor there is a room that was used for the execution of prisioners by the British; the gallows in this room were used until 1945.

 You can also find a number of cannons, some from the Medieval period. 

 Also tombstones are displayed, mainly from gothic churches of Lefkosia (Nicosia), around 14 th century.

 Going up to the first floor, you can find the District Medieval Museum of Larnaka, consisting of four rooms.

 Room I, various architectural from Early Christian basilicas in Cyprus ( 4 th – 7 th century AD). 

Room II, antiquities of the early Christian period (4 th – 7 th century AD), including gypsum decorative pieces from basilicas, clay lamps, glass and clay vessels, stone bread stamps and marble inscriptions. 

Room III, photographic material of Cypriot Byzantine wall – painting (11 th – 16 th century AD)
 Room IV, Medieval glazed pottery(Sgrafitto ware 12 th – 18 th cent), metal cooking utensils, guns (18 th – 19 th cent), helmets and swords (15 th – 16 th cent), photographic material of medieval fortifications (11 th – 17 th) The back of the room IV was converted into an Ottoman ontas (18  th – 19 th cent). 

Below you can see the Divan room( Ottoman ontas).

The view from the top of the fort.

Hope you enjoyed this tour of the castle that was a prison and a police station until the middle of the 20th century. 

Have a great day!