Larnaka and its surrounding region offer a rich variety of cultural attractions, including interesting museums that chart the island’s history, religion and traditions. Soon to join this list will be a palaeontology museum, which is an old museum in a new guise!
The museum had previously existed some years ago in one of the old Colonial buildings along Europe Square, but will now re-open in a beautiful, traditional building in the town centre, parallel to the promenade of Foinikoudes, and opposite another museum (The Pierides Museum).
As the Mayor of Larnaka – Mr Andreas Louroutziatis explains – the new premises will attract museum lovers with two interesting themes in one building: “The building of the old Ottoman Bank has been rented from the Ministry of Interior to the Municipality of Larnaka to house the Palaeontology Museum on the ground floor, and the historic museum of the Fivos Stavrides Foundation on the upper floor.”
Due in early 2014, the new museum will incorporate some elements of the old one, but will be designed to be more modern, cutting-edge and visual with interactive exhibits. Previously, the original museum had included a unique collection of fossil life covering 500 million years, and bones from pygmy elephants and hippopotamus.
The new, upgraded version of the museum will be informative and interesting for visitors who want to learn more about the island’s history, but will also appeal to a younger audience with its new, interactive angle.