Perched on top of a solitary mountain in the Larnaca district, Stavrovouni is one of the island’s most recognisable religious sites. Established in the 4th century — by tradition, by Saint Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine the Great — it is among the oldest monasteries in the world.
The cross that gave it its name
Tradition holds that Saint Helena visited Cyprus during her search for the Holy Cross, and left at this site a piece of the True Cross on which Jesus was crucified. The name itself comes from the Greek: stavros, cross, and vouno, mountain. The relic has made Stavrovouni a place of pilgrimage for Orthodox Christians from around the world.
The building, and the rule
The architecture is austere and built to the rock, so that the monastery sits in the landscape rather than on it, with wide views over the surrounding country. The main church, dedicated to the Holy Cross, blends Byzantine and Gothic elements — the mark of the island’s layered history. Restoration over the centuries has not cost it its atmosphere.
The journey to the top, on foot or by car, is much of the experience. At the summit the monastery appears to sit between the ground and the sky, and the quiet is the thing most visitors remember.
More sightseeing around Larnaca
Choirokoitia Neolithic Settlement
One of the best-preserved Neolithic settlements in the eastern Mediterranean, UNESCO-listed since 1998, with five round houses rebuilt on site.
Hala Sultan Tekke
A mosque and shrine among palms on the west shore of the salt lake, built over the tomb of Umm Haram — one of the most significant Islamic sites in the Mediterranean.
Larnaca Salt Lake
Four connected lakes covering 2.2 km² beside the airport road — dry and white in summer, and full of flamingos from November.
Saint Lazarus Church
The city’s landmark church, a short walk behind the Foinikoudes seafront.