ETAP says in a press release that it has recently created three new innovative applications, further increasing the digitisation of the district’s landmarks.

“These projects aim to improve the tourist experience, modernise the provision of tourist information and highlight the rich cultural and religious heritage of the region,” it adds.

The first application “concerns a virtual tour that focuses on the religious route of St. Helen and the Holy Cross. The project was implemented by ETAP Larnaca and the Metropolis of Trimythous, in collaboration with the Metropolis of Kition, and includes historical landmarks associated with the arrival of St. Helen in Cyprus in 327 AD.”

It is added that “among these are the ancient port of Vasilikos, the area of Tenta in Kalavasos village, the village of Tochni with its religious monuments, the monastery of Stavrovouni and the church in Lefkara village, where a piece of the Holy Cross is kept. The public can access this virtual route by visiting the website https://virtuallarnakaregion.com/Agia-Eleni/”.

According to the press release, the second digital tool is the 360° virtual tour of the nine picturesque honey producing villages of rural Larnaca (Vavatsinia, Agioi Vavatsinias, Ora, Odou, Melini, Lagia, Kato Lefkara, Vavla and Kato Drys).

The application, it is added, “presents points of interest related to beekeeping and honey production, such as the Bee and Embroidery Museum in Kato Drys, the experiential apiaries and thematic beekeeping trails. The public can follow the route, which highlights the identity of the Honey Villages, from the website https://virtuallarnakaregion.com/honeyvillages/”.

The third project, “which is to be presented soon, is the 3D virtual restoration of the church of Agios Athanasios Pentaschinitis in the village of Agios Theodoros. The application, developed in collaboration with the Metropolis of Trimythous, accurately captures the original form of the church, as it was in the 8th century and provides important historical and religious information”.

It is noted that “Larnaca Tourism Board, in collaboration and with the support of the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, continues to invest in initiatives that combine culture, experiences and technology in order to further showcase Larnaca as a multidimensional tourist destination”.

It is added that “in recent years, all the museums of the Larnaca Region, ancient monuments, the Larnaca Cultural Walk, the statues through the Larnaca Storytelling Statues programme and the diving sites have been digitised. The public can access the digital tools of Larnaca Tourism Board from the website https://larnakaregion.com/virtual-interactive”.