Lefkara
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Lefkara

Lefkara

Cypriot hill village known for Lefkaritika lace, silverwork, and whitewashed lanes between Larnaca and Limassol.

Pano (Upper) and Kato (Lower) Lefkara are picturesque hill villages between Larnaca and Limassol, best known for their traditional lacemaking. The village lanes are narrow and whitewashed, and Lefkaritika lace and silverwork hang outside virtually every shop. The craftsmanship is genuinely fine — and the prices reflect that.

According to local tradition, Leonardo da Vinci visited in 1481 and purchased a lace cloth for the main altar of Milan Cathedral. The Lefkaritika style is thought to have ancient roots, possibly imported from Assyria; the Venetians later brought it home to establish their own lace industry on the island of Burano. A local lace school opened in 1889 and helped revive the craft's international reputation. Lefkara lacemaking was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2009. The Museum of Lefkara Lace and Silver in an old stone mansion provides the best background on the craft. A short drive southeast, the Neolithic site of Khirokitia — a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating from 7000 BCE — makes an excellent add-on for a day trip.

Guide

Getting There

Lefkara sits in the foothills of the Troodos mountains roughly midway between Larnaca and Limassol, about 45 kilometres from each. By car, take the A1 motorway and exit at Kofinou; the road up to Pano Lefkara from there is well-signed and takes about 15 minutes. The drive from Nicosia takes around an hour.

There is no regular public bus service directly to Lefkara, though shared taxis (service taxis) from Larnaca can sometimes be arranged. Most visitors come as part of a day trip by car or on an organised tour from Limassol or Larnaca. Combined with a stop at the Khirokitia archaeological site (on the same road), Lefkara makes a full and worthwhile day out.

Guide

Things to Do

Lefkara is a village that rewards slow exploration. The narrow cobblestone lanes of Pano Lefkara wind between whitewashed stone houses, with lacework and silverwork hanging outside every workshop and shop. Most visitors come for the lace, but the churches, the views, and the simply unhurried quality of the place are worth the trip in themselves.