Charting history with ancient maps of Larnaca and the East Med

An exhibition featuring maps depicting Larnaca and the Eastern Mediterranean, part of the collection housed in the Historical Archives of the Municipality of Larnaca, is currently on display at the former Ottoman Bank building in the coastal town.

Antigoni Perentou-Vavatsinioti, the curator of the Historical Archives of the Municipality of Larnaca, shared with CNA, "The exhibition showcases a portion of the extensive map collection preserved in the municipality's archives. We have a total of 110 maps, and the current display features 17 maps dating from 1550 to 1865."

She added, "We have chosen to exhibit only a small selection of maps to entice visitors to discover the rich holdings of the Historical Archives of the Municipality of Larnaca."

Most of the maps in this exhibition, according to Vavatsinioti, pertain to the Gulf of Larnaca and the broader Eastern Mediterranean region, including Greece, Turkey, and Egypt. She also noted the inclusion of nautical charts depicting the Larnaca Gulf.

She mentioned that this marks the second exhibition hosted at the former Ottoman Bank building, with plans for more in the future. "Our upcoming exhibition will focus on the Larnaca waterfront."

All exhibits are part of the Historical Archives of the Municipality of Larnaca, a collection that began taking shape in the early 1980s and has continued to grow over the years.

The exhibition will remain open until the end of September, and admission is free. Visitors are welcome from Monday to Friday, between 08:00 and 14:00.