Traveller's101

Welcome To Ayia Napa

Located at the far eastern end of Cyprus’ southern coast, Ayia Napa – or Agia Napa in the transliterated English – is a popular resort town that is well known for its long sandy beaches and entertaining night life. 

It has become the Cypriot version of a party town and many bands and DJs from the United Kingdom can be found entertaining the patrons in the towns clubs and bars. Ayia Napa is also very much a family resort and there are portions of the beaches that are reserved strictly for families, away from the rambunctious youth that inhabit the area. The town got its name from the Venetian built monastery located in the centre of the town.  The word Ayia means ‘holy’ in Greek and Napa means ‘wooded valley’ in its archaic form.  At one point in time, this coastal town was surrounded by thick forestland, giving the town part of its name.  The ‘holy’ part comes from local legend. 

The legend states that an icon of the Virgin Mary was found glowing in a cave by a hunter who was chasing his prey through the area.  In 1500, the monastery was built over the cave to honour the Virgin May of Napa, which eventually became known as Ayia Napa. No one lived in the area until 1790 when the actual village was settled by men and their families who came from Salonica, Greece.

If you were to look on a map of Cyprus, you would find Ayia Napa near Cape Greco, south of Famagusta and part of the region that is known as Kokkinochoria for the red colour of the soil. Because it is in the southern part of the Famagusta district, it was not occupied by Turkish forces during the takeover of 1974.  Close to Ayia Napa is the town of Protaras, another area that is under development but remaining attractive for family and Cypriot locals who wish to vacation there. 

Ayia Napa night club 

Photos by: www.thecyprusguide.net

 

Because of the beautiful coastline, vacationers are drawn to Ayia Napa for the water sports and relaxing beaches located there.  Water skiing, canoeing, scuba diving, windsurfing, and speed boating are just a few of the activities tourists can enjoy when they come to this part of Cyprus.  All of the beaches are supervised by the Cyprus Tourism Organization in an effort to keep them safe and clean for everyone to enjoy.  Thanks to their efforts, the beaches at Ayia Napa have been awarded the EU blue flag for their high standards.  Harbour Beach is the aforementioned beach designed for families who do not wish to be bothered by the younger clubbing crowd. 
Cape Greco is a ten to fifteen minute drive from Ayia Napa and it is considered one of the most beautiful spots in all of Cyprus.  It even has its own sea monster.  The Ayia Napa Sea Monster is said to look like a cross between a porpoise and a dragon.  Many people have spotted it off the coast and have taken pictures of it.  Scientists believe that whatever the Sea Monster of Ayia Napa is, it is some descendant from prehistoric times that has managed to survive in the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea. 

Ayia Napa Beach

Photo by: www.bbc.co.uk

The beaches, clubs and restaurants are not the only interesting attraction in Ayia Napa.  The town is home to a variety of museums, such as the Tornaritis-Pierides Museum of Marine Life.  One of two museums in the town dedicated to the sea faring life of the Cypriots, this one was founded in 1922 and is located on the lower level of the town hall.  This museum is dedicated to the marine life found in and around Cyprus and the Mediterranean Sea.  The exhibits are designed to stress the importance of preserving the marine environment around the island. 

Every September the Ayia Napa Festival is held in the town.  It was first held in 1985 and it is one of the local events that are looked forward to every year.  It is held in the Sepheris Square in the Ayia Napa Monastery and the festival is reflective of the town’s history, culture, and agriculture traditions, and of the nation of Cyprus itself.  Theatrical performances, concerts, operas, ethnic and foreign folk dancing are all featured during this annual event. 

Ayia Napa nightlife

Photo by: www.christopherholt.com

It is very interesting to note that on many of the websites about Ayia Napa the reader will notice that there are announcements about the town’s ‘No Drug’ policy.  Because it is considered a ‘party town’, they have had problems with illegal drugs.  The city’s government is cracking down on this problem, and warning people not to bother coming around if all they are interested in is purchasing or selling drugs.  Some of the warnings that were found admonish anyone who is looking for drugs to not even ask people about them – club employees, other tourists, locals, etc. – because you never know when someone else may be working with the local police to crack down.