- What to visit in Ayia Napa from the temples
- Nature or history
- For children and parents
- Residence of Richard the Lionheart
From the first days of arrival, many guests of Cypriot cities and resorts are interested in the question of what to visit in Ayia Napa, Limassol or Nicosia. Each of the settlements has its own attractions, monuments of ancient and medieval history. In addition, the island is not that big, so many tourists have time to drive it up and down.
Ayia Napa is one of the small and very cozy resorts in Cyprus. Its name comes from the monastery, which appeared during the reign of the Venetians. The word "aia" has Greek roots and is translated as "holy", the second part of the word can be deciphered as "forest", "alley", this is due to the fact that earlier this area was almost completely covered with forests.
What to visit in Ayia Napa from the temples
It is clear that the most important religious building of the resort is the Ayia Napa Monastery. According to legend, in a local forest, in a cave, a hunter with dogs found an icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, which was considered miraculous. Pilgrims from all over Cyprus were drawn to the place of the find, so a monastery was founded here.
Today this iconic complex has a different mission - it acts as a museum of the city. The Cypriot Orthodox Church holds services in a new church located very close to the monastery. And this is the main answer to the question of what to visit in Ayia Napa on your own.
Nature or history
Most Ayia Napa resort guests strive to get as much experience and pleasure from their vacation as possible. They strive to find out what is worthy of a tourist's visit in the city, where to go on their own, and where to ask for the help of a guide.
One of the interesting places to see is Makronisos, a complex of rock tombs. It is easy to find it as it is located near the beach of the same name. Archaeological excavations in the territory of Makronisos are still ongoing, but access to the shrines is already open for tourists and history buffs. It is believed that the complex belongs to the Greco-Roman period, where you can see ancient tombs, a quarry where building materials were mined, and sanctuaries.
In search of romance, tourists get to Cape Greco, and it is here that they find the most heavenly corner of the resort. During the daytime, scuba divers diligently explore the coastal waters, trying to find the legendary sea monster, which, according to legends, lives here. But the most beautiful landscapes await tourists at sunset or sunrise.
For children and parents
Both children and their parents will enjoy a tour of the Museum of the Sea, the most interesting artifacts presented in museum expositions were found on ships that sank off the coast of Cyprus. There are items with a long history, materials telling about the history of shipbuilding in the pre-Christian period, the development of navigation.
But a trip to Luna Park may end sadly for some: the fact is that some of the attractions installed here are designed only for very brave people. But there are quite normal attractions and entertainment in this park, for example, the Ferris Wheel, which seems to be quite fearless. For young visitors there are familiar swings and merry-go-rounds, teenagers will be happy to try their hand at karting.
Residence of Richard the Lionheart
To see with your own eyes where the great military leader and the English king, a representative of the Plantagenet dynasty, sat, you need to go to Famagusta. The city is located near Ayia Napa, until 1974 it was the main center of tourism in Cyprus. This year was the most tragic in the history of Famagusta, as the Turks, who broke into the city, destroyed it to the ground.
Now it is like a ghost town, in which buildings and structures are still preserved, but people no longer live. You can see ancient cathedrals, baths built by the first inhabitants, buildings and structures. In the list of the main attractions - a fig tree, it is believed that it was planted in the year when the foundation of the cathedral, consecrated in honor of St. Nicholas, was laid, and this is 1298.
Famagusta's historic center is surrounded by well-preserved fortifications built by the Venetians. Inside the fortress you can see the architectural structures of the Renaissance, you can contemplate the fragments of old Venetian coats of arms, ancient weapons (cannons and cannonballs), the Cathedral of St. Nicholas and the Church of St. George. Interestingly, the cathedral was converted into a mosque during the Ottoman conquests; amazingly beautiful frescoes have been preserved inside the Greek church. They say that the famous castle, where Othello lived and famous events took place, is also located in Famagusta.
