Things to do :: Interesting Sites :: Ayia Napa

Ayia Napa is a resort at the far eastern end of the south coast of the island of Cyprus, famous for its sandy beaches. In recent years, apart from being a family holiday destination, it has become a 'party capital' similar to Ibiza, Rimini and Mykonos. Ayia Napa lies near Cape Greco at the eastern part of Cyprus, just south of Famagusta and forms part of a larger area known as Kokkinochoria (a name derived from the red colour of its soil). It is a town of Famagusta District, in the remaining southern part of the district not occupied by Turkish forces in 1974. Ayia Napa is about 8 kilometres (5 miles) away from Protaras.

 

 

Area Highlight:
Agia Napa Monastery is undoubtedly the optical and cultural centre o the town. It stands at a location where, according to local tradition, a hunter in the 11th

 

century discovered a miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary, probably hidden there during the iconoclastic period. Much after in the 16th century the monastery was built around the cave-shrine. It is said that a young woman from a wealthy Venetian family of Ammochostos came to the monastery to escape family pressure to marry a nobleman. She renovated and expanded the monastery and she is said to have planted the huge sycamore tree outside the south gate of the monastery, which is beleived to be over 600 years old.

 

 

 

Museums:
"Thalassa" Municipal Museum of the sea
14 Leoforos Kryou Nerou, Agia Napa, c/o Pieridis Foundation, Tel: 23 81 63 66
The "Thalassa" Sea Museum in the centre of Agia Napa, housed in a modern multi-purpose building with noteworthy architecture, aims to promote awareness of the marine heritage of Cyprus from preistoric times to the present. Pride of place among the exhibits is a life-size functioning replica of a 4th century Greek trading ship which sank off the coast of Kyrenia.

 

 

 

Churches:
Deryneia village: Agia Marina church
A 15th century church
Deryneia village: Virgin Mary church
A churh dedicated to the Virgin Mary with excellent 17th century icons
Frenaros village: Agios Andronikos Church
A 12th century church
Paralimni: Virgin Mary Church
A twin-aisled vaulted church dedicated to the Virgin Mary (Panagia), decorated with unusual 18th century porcelain plates. The church parts of which date back to the 13th century, houses a small ecclesiastic museum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Picnic Sites:

Agioi Anargyroi National Forest park Cape Greco
8 km from Agia Napa to Protaras on the right side of the road

 

Traditional villages:
Potamos Leopetriou, a fishing shelter of old
16 km west of Agia Napa. This picturesque fishing shelter near Liopetri village on the coast in the Ammochostos area is close to the remains of a Venetian watchtowe. The village itself is known for maintaining the traditional craft of basket weaving.

 

 

 

Amusement and Theme Parks:

 

Magic Dancing Waters
An entertaining show lasting 70 minutes, in which 2000 computerized nozzles spray jets of water with fire and smoke, lasers amd lights to xlassical and contemporary music.
Open daily 21:00 hrs May-October

tel: 22 83 33 77

 

Agia Napa " Water World" Waterpark

 

Located on Agia Thekla road at the entrance to Agia Napa. Catering facilities available.
Open daily 10.00 - 18.00 hrs Apr-Oct
Tel: 23 83 38 88

 

 

Cultural Centers:
Cultural Centre of occupied Ammochostos
35 Evagorou, Deryneia,
tel: 23 74 08 60