Pyrga, Cyprus. The Royal Chapel of Ayia Aikaterini will remain closed to the public until August 14, the Department of Antiquities announced on Monday. The department cited operational reasons and apologised for any inconvenience.
Medieval monument
Also known as St Catherine’s, the chapel is one of Cyprus’ best-preserved medieval monuments and attracts visitors interested in the island’s history.
It was built in 1421 by Lusignan King Janus and is the only surviving royal chapel from the Frankish period in Cyprus. The small vaulted church was once part of a larger complex, of which only traces of surrounding buildings remain.
Historic features
The chapel’s wall paintings include depictions of King Janus and his second wife, Charlotte de Bourbon, kneeling before the Crucifixion. Another figure is believed to be Hugh Lusignan, the king’s brother and Latin bishop of Nicosia.
The monument also contains medieval coats of arms and graffiti carved by pilgrims and travellers during the 15th and 16th centuries.