BÜYÜK MOSQUE

This so-called "grand" mosque (Μπουγιούκ Τζαμί/Bouyouk Tzami, Büyük Cami) is actually rather modest in size. But it forms an elegant ensemble with its 18 m-high minaret, five-arched porch, neighboring fort and surrounding palm trees. It marks the entrance to Skala, the old Turkish quarter that stretches south from the waterfront. Also known as the Kebir ("big" in Arabic) mosque, it is open for worship and is mostly frequented by non-Cypriot worshippers (Syrians, Lebanese...). This is the former Catholic church of Saint Catherine (^13th century), which was converted to a Muslim place of worship around 1571, at the start of the Ottoman era. A fountain for ritual ablutions was added around 1750, thanks to the Kamares aqueduct built by Bekir Pacha. But the main transformation took place in the years 1835-1836: the building was redesigned in a rectangular plan with two levels. At the same time, the mosque was given its present porch, as well as half-supporting arches over Büyük Street (west side). On the^1st floor, accessible by an external staircase, the prayer room retains Gothic elements of the former church. It is divided by two walls into three naves, each with five small arches. The wooden women's gallery is located above the entrance. The first floor houses marble tombstones from various Ottoman cemeteries in Larnaka, as well as a cart that was used for burials.