Tuzla Mosque, Larnaca

Tuzla Mosque, Larnaca

Tuzla Mosque is situated in the old part of Larnaka (Larnaca) town, behind the ruins of ancient Kition (GPS identification: X: 34.922414, Y: 33.623001). It is one of the oldest mosques in the town, dating back to the Byzantine period. The mosque was originally a Byzantine Orthodox Church, as is confirmed by the wall paintings in the building. In the 12th or 13th century it became the Catholic Church of the Holy Cross, before being eventually turned into a mosque after the Ottoman occupation in 1571. In fact, the minaret is built on the foundations of the original bell tower.

The vast majority of the stone blocks comprising the monument are calcarenites belonging to the Nicosia Geological Formation. Their main properties are summarized below:

• Apparent Density (EN 1936): 1600-1620 kg/m³
• Open Porosity (EN 1936): 35-38%
• Compressive Strength (based on in-situ Schmidt hammer measurements): 4-8 MPa    

Lime-based, lime-gypsum and gypsum-lime mortars, along with pure gypsum mortars/plasters have also been identified on the monument, following X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) bulk analysis of 12 samples collected in-situ.

The aforementioned tests for the characterization of the monument's stone and mortars/plasters were carried out in 2023, in the framework of a combined laboratory and in situ investigation that was conducted to determine the physico-mechanical and mineralogical characteristics of the building materials of Tuzla Mosque. Sampling and testing was assigned to the Building Materials and LEDRA Laboratories of the University of Cyprus by Platonas Stylianou & Associates Civil and Structural Engineering L.C.C., on behalf of the United Nations Development Programme – Programme Management Office, which is funded by the European Union and the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH) .

University of Cyprus - Ledra and Building Materials Labs & The Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ΕΤΕΚ)

University of Cyprus - Ledra and Building Materials Labs & The Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ΕΤΕΚ)

University of Cyprus - Ledra and Building Materials Labs

University of Cyprus - Ledra and Building Materials Labs

Photos taken by Ioannis Ioannou, University of Cyprus - Ledra and Building Materials Labs