Ayia Napa

Ayia Napa is located in the southeastern part of Cyprus in the Famagusta province. It is situated about 55 km from the International Airport of Larnaca and has been considered an independent municipality since 1986.

Some argue that the name of Ayia Napa is an anagram of the word “Virgin” (Panayia in Greek), which her inhabitants came up with because they wanted to hide from the Turks, although the version that finally prevailed was that it got its name from the homonymous monastery situated at its center. Also, her name, “Napa”, is an ancient homeric word for a “forested valley”, and the area took its name from the morphology of its territory in the past, which for short was eventually renamed Ayia Napa.

The story of Ayia Napa is identical to the history of its monastery and begins when it was first inhabited in the late 17th century by the Thessalonians, who tried to escape the plague epidemic that had broken out in their parts. Eventually, one of the survivors married a Cypriot and together they found shelter outside the Medieval Monastery of Ayia Napa, from where the development of the settlement finally began. After the invasion of 1974, and the occupation of the northern part of the island by the Turks, the tourist wave was gradually transferred to the area of ​​Ayia Napa which was somewhat reminiscent of the former tourist area of ​​the Famagusta province. It is now considered as the number one tourist resort in Cyprus, hosting more than 500,000 tourists per year, despite the fact that it was developed much later than other parts of the island.

The first references to Ayia Napa were made by Leontios Machairas in 1366 AD, and then in the 16th century it was again mentioned in Venetian documents and maps. For five millennia the area was not inhabited, since the limited area of ​​arable land and the difficulty of excavating water did not allow the development of settlements.

Most of the Roman sites found near Ayia Napa are believed to have been inhabited during the Hellenistic period. The Roman period, which came as a result of the imposition of Pax Romana (Roman Peace), essentially concerned the creation of farmhouses in the area. Its most important city, “Throni”, was established in the late Roman period, and was destroyed by the coming of Christianity. Nevertheless, the valley with its abundant trees and water remained for many years a favourite spot for the game hunters. Its most important settlement during the Early Christian era was located at Katalimata, where most of its population lived, but which was also abandoned after the 7th-century Arab invasions. Thus, the area around Ayia Napa consisted of pasturelands until the 14th century when the Lusignans built the monastery and reconstructed its aqueduct and it was converted into a community of farmers and fishermen in the late 20th century.

Today, most tourists in Ayia Napa will swim beside its refurbished harbor during the day, – a point of reference for the fishermen of the area and the local history, – relaxing casually around the statue of the mermaid with the lyre. At the same time, the visitor can cruise around the beaches of Ayia Napa or discover its beautiful golden sandy beaches on foot.

Almost all the beaches of Ayia Napa are easily accessible and fully organized, ideal for both young and old visitors, and most have also been awarded the Blue Flag. There you can undertake all sorts of water sports, while there are dozens of luxury hotels, many of which are built on the beach, several rooms to let, hostels, and restaurants for every wallet and taste. Undoubtedly, Ayia Napa also boasts one of the island's most beautiful cosmopolitan beaches and one of the top European destinations, Nissi Beach, which during summer looks like a lagoon. Beaches such as Mikri Makronissos and Agia Thekla Beach are equally exotic, but quieter and less crowded. If you walk along the beach of Megali Makronisos, at the end of the peninsula you will find the Necropolis of Makronissos.

Of course, it is not only the natural beauty of Ayia Napa that attracts so many people from all over the earth. The wild fun of the local nightlife are consistently among the top preferences of the youth (and not only) who visit Ayia Napa. In the evening, then, the city is transformed. Lights, clubs, most of which are situated next to the main square, with people galore. With the amusement park standing in the background, tourists traverse the main streets of the city, stopping for food, drink, shopping, or just taking pictures at the “I love Ayia Napa” sculpture, but also in a number of other parts of Ayia Napa that resemble American neighbourhoods, with restaurant-bars that were inspired by various themes. On the other hand, the visitors looking for calm vacations go to Protaras or Paralimni, and spend their holidays there in peace.

Ayia Napa may seduce visitors at night, but it also has plenty of attractions that will monopolize the interest of every traveler. Among them are the Ayia Napa Medieval Aqueduct, the Municipal Museum of Ayia Napa Thalassa, which is centrally located and accommodates, among other things, the naturally sized replica of the ancient ship found sunken off the coast of Kyrenia, the Ayia Napa Farm House, the Sculpture park and the Cactus park just outside the city, as well as many Christian chapels in its wider area. In addition, the celebrity square is located above the main square, and is a star-shaped pavement with the names of the celebrities who have visited this bustling resort in Cyprus.

The Medieval Monastery of Ayia Napa, however, is a unique and special attraction, surrounded by high walls built with stones. It is a landmark of the city and dates back to the 15th century, and here takes place every year the Medieval Festival of Ayia Napa. Actually, the centennial sycamore tree that grows at the southern gate of the monastery is said to have inspired the poet and Nobel Prize winner George Seferis to write about Ayia Napa, while many women who face fertility issues visit the small temple inside of the monastery to wear the glorious, miraculous zone of Saint Napa. On the other hand, just 10 minutes away, the cape Cavo Greco is an attraction of its own, literally built by the Cypriot sea itself. With mystical caves beneath which mythical monsters dwell and clear blue waters, it offers a stunning view of a wild and undistorted by the man landscape, while the most athletic can test their stamina by walking one of the many nature trails they will find in the area.

With a sense of eternal holidays and a merry carnival, Ayia Napa welcomes its thousands of visitors in the summer, with some of the most modern facilities for servicing disabled people, and falls into hibernation during the winter season, with the locals continuing to enjoy its beauties.