Agios Georgios Makris Church, Larnaca

Situated on a low hill overlooking the Salt Lake area, the small stone chapel of Agios Georgios Makris offers a peaceful retreat from the bustle of Larnaca. Dating back to the 13th century, it embodies the elegance of late Byzantine architecture, with its compact layout, modest dome, and carefully dressed sandstone walls. Once part of the medieval village of Agrinou, the chapel’s location grants sweeping views of Larnaca’s Salt Lake, its seasonal waters reflecting sky and sun in turns.

Though the chapel was unfortunately destroyed in the 1426 Mameluk raid that also saw the capture of Lusignan King Janus, it was soon rebuilt, continuing to anchor local spiritual life. Over subsequent centuries, it served as a modest monastic refuge, expanded during the 18th and 19th centuries. However, all ancillary structures were removed in the 20th century, restoring the chapel to something resembling its original form. Today, its solitary elegance is accentuated by the surviving 13th‑century fresco of Saint George on the northern wall-an evocative glimpse into its medieval devotional art.

For the visiting traveller, Agios Georgios Makris rewards a brief detour with serene charm. Entrance is free, and it remains open during church hours, though it closes on national holidays. A quiet bench nearby invites pause, while the hilltop vantage offers a framed view of the Salt Lake, particularly photogenic at sunrise or sunset.

This chapel is ideally paired with a walk through Faneromeni and a stop at Larnaca’s coastal promenade. Its intimate scale and atmospheric presence speak to Cyprus’s layered history, where Christian worship, medieval conflict, Ottoman and modern eras all merge into a single, humble monument.