The water has always been the most important element in the development of the city, opening Cyprus to both the east and the west. Its rich cultural heritage reflected through its uninterrupted cultural continuity from Neolithic times until today gives the chance to the visitor to see and learn much of interest. 

3rd Millennium B.C.: The foundation legend associates it with the grandson of Noah, Kittim, who founded Kition the ancient city of Larnaka, and named it after himself. 

13th c. B.C.: During the expansion of the Mycenaean Greeks to Cyprus, Kition became a Greek City Kingdom of the late Bronze Age and a trading centre of copper. Two sanctuaries were built indicating the worship of a fertility goddess. 

9th - 5th c. B.C.: Phoenicians expanded from Syria, Kition became a Phoenician colony. The Phoenicians introduced the cult of Goddess Astarte. 

8th - 6th c. B.C.: Finds at Kition reflect the Assyrian and Egyptian influences have been found. 

6th - 4th c. B.C.: During the Persian Domination Kition played an important role in relations with Athens on commercial transactions and on the efforts for the liberation of the island from the Persians. 

5th c. B.C.: Kimon, the Greek General, attempted to liberate Kition from the Persians, one of the many Greek attempts at liberating the island. 

4th c. B.C.: Cyprus was liberated from the Persians when Alexander the Great defeated them in Syria in 332 B.C. Zenon the Philosopher, founder of the School of Stoic Philosophy, and Apollonios the physician were born in Kition. 

1st c. A.D.: Saint (Agios Lazaros) , the friend of Christ, came to Larnaka after his resurrection and became its first Bishop as well as the patron Saint of Kition. 

13th - 16th c. A.D.: Medieval Kition, then called Larnaka or Salines, became an important port during the last phase of the Lusignan Period and in the Venetian Period. 

16th - 19th c. A.D.: During the Ottoman period Larnaka continued commercial activity between the Levant and the West and attracted many European merchants, consuls and educated people. 

1900 - 1930: Larnaka and Scala grow into one city - Larnaka. Until the beginning of the century Larnaka was the biggest port on the island. 

1974 - : The Turkish invasion and the uprooting of 200, 000 Greek Cypriots from their homes in the north of Cyprus increased Larnakas population overnight. Larnaka grew and developed as a Tourist center, becoming one of the most important tourist destinations with luxurious hotels, and thus contributing its share to the economy of the island.