Larnaca: the mosque on the salt lake

The Church of Saint Lazarus, built in the ninth century, holds according to tradition the second tomb of Lazarus of Bethany, who according to the biblical account lived here after the resurrection.

Just steps away, the Finikoudes waterfront, lined with palms, runs along the coast to the old harbor of the city, animated by cafes and stalls year-round.

Descending to the Salt Lake, just outside the center, hundreds of pink flamingos winter every year between November and March.

Right on the shores of the lake, the Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque, among the most sacred sites of Sunni Islam, stands in the place where according to tradition a relative of the Prophet Muhammad died.

The Salt Lake almost completely dries out in the summer months, leaving a white crust of salt that starkly contrasts with the appearance the basin takes on in winter when it fills with water and flamingos.

The Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque, despite being on an island with an Orthodox Christian majority, remains a pilgrimage destination for Muslims from throughout the Middle East.