Along the Larnaca, the beach is a medieval fort. This fort is estimated to date back to the time of the reign of King James I. It’s likely that this fort was constructed to serve as a method of protection for the town’s harbor. Aside from this, there is little known today about the full extent of the plan for this fort. Since construction, the fort has been in a state of conservation and has been used in a variety of ways spanning from the 14th century to the present. On the North side, there’s a two-story building that was built during the Ottoman period. This is evident given both the architectural style and the Turkish inscription located above the door. It also differs significantly from the East and Soth wings which are dated to earlier periods. The Western chamber on the east group floor was used by the British administration to execute prisoners. The gallows constructed there were used up until 1948. The use of the fort today has once again been altered, and is now a museum. This museum is host to a collection of antiquities ranging from the 4th to 18th centuries. This fort is an example of a unique type of preservation. A lot of architecture, especially dating to ancient periods, degrades over the years because it remains empty. When buildings have no use, they’re less likely to be taken care of. A lot of European castles, for example, sit empty and unreserved despite their historical significance. The Larnaca Medieval Fort, however, has remained in constant use since its construction. This constant use has forced this fort into preservation. 

-Olivia R.