Panagia of Kofinou

The country chapel of Panagia tis Kofinou is one of the most noteworthy and well-preserved middle Byzantine monuments of Cyprus, which was officially declared an ancient monument in 1935. Built in the early 11th century upon the ruins of a destroyed 7th-century basilica, the church stands out for its distinctive architectural design that combines the single-aisled domed style with elements influenced by Asia Minor. Inside it hides a great cultural treasure, as it preserves three different layers of historic wall paintings that date from the 12th to the 16th century. Today, after full conservation and showcasing through European programmes, this stone church stands in the semi-mountainous countryside of Larnaca as a serene place of worship and historical memory.