The Kamares aqueduct is one of the main historical attractions of Larnaca. It looks like a typical Roman aqueduct, but was built much later, during the Turkish rule, by order of Abu Bekir Pasha, in 1746.
Larnaca was called Skala during the Ottoman rule. It was a large city in the south-east of Cyprus, but the nearest river Tremitos, where inhabitant could get drinking water, was 15 kilometers away. This created serious problems for the residents, which were only solved in the 18th century. Construction was made at the expense of the Pasha`s personal funds, so it was called the “Bekir Pasha pipeline”.
Several kilometers of water supply from the river was laid underground, and then water was supplied through aqueducts. The Kamares aqueduct functioned properly until 1938. By this time, Larnaca was already a large city and a modern water supply system was laid in it.
A small section of the arched structures of the Kamares Aqueduct has been preserved to this day. It is located near the northern shore of Salt lake. Its length is 200 meters (32 arched arches). A small Kamares Park has been created on the shore of the Salt lake, with walking paths along the aqueduct.
