Ayia Napa – Ayia Napa – Santa Napa, Cyprus

H Ayia Napa is a seaside resort in the Free Province of Famagusta, in Southern Cyprus. The name Napa means "«Forest» and Ayia Napa means "«Saint of the Forest»", as in the Greek language a wooded area is called "Napa".

According to local tradition, inside a cave, in the place where the Monastery of Ayia Napa, an image of the Virgin Mary was found called "«Our Lady of Napa». Ayia Napa, before the Turkish invasion of Cyprus (1974), was a small fishing village, next to the island's most famous tourist destination, the Famagusta.

The town of Ayia Napa was created after 1974 when Famagusta was blocked by the Turks with barbed wire. An alternative solution had to be found immediately, very close to the former cosmopolitan resort, to satisfy the crowds of tourists arriving in the area. The small seaside village acquired modern tourist facilities, hotels, restaurants, bars and souvenir shops.

THE BEACH OF AYIA NAPA WITH THE HOTELS IN VATHOS

THE LIGHTHOUSE IN THE SMALL HARBOR

THE BRIDGE THAT CONNECTS THE CENTRAL SQUARE WITH THE HARBOR NEXT TO ESPERIA RESTAURANT

ESPERIA RESTAURANT – AYIA NAPA PORT

Here you can walk or sit on the benches placed by the Municipality and enjoy the sea view. At this point you will not find any organized beach but only sharp rocks, which are quite slippery, so do not attempt to swim.

If you continue your walk, past the ESPERIA restaurant and the Black Pearl boat, just behind the port, you will reach a large parking area.

LANDSCAPED PROMENADE AREA BEHIND THE HARBOR OF AYIA NAPA

PROMENADE AREA BEHIND THE HARBOR OF AYIA NAPA

The small beach "«Fortune Teller's Lukkos» is located a little further down from the parking lot. It is pebble and stone, organized, with umbrellas, sunbeds, lifeguards, beach bar, but it is exposed to the south wind.

Ayia Napa, from April to November, is filled with tourists who come for vacation mainly from Russia, England and Germany.

AYIA NAPA – BEACHES

KONNOS BAY

Awarded with Blue Flag, the beaches of Ayia Napa are as follows:

Konnos Bay,  Limnara, «Sand of Kampouris», Sweet Water, Everywhere, «Fortune Teller's Lukkos»,  Katsarka, Pernera,  Vathia Gonia, Island,  Nthis Bay,  Landa, Makronissos and Saint Thekla.

AYIA NAPA – MARINE ACTIVITIES – BOAT TOURS

From the small port of Ayia Napa, boats depart daily for sea excursions or Party Cruise.

All excursions include sightseeing, swimming, sunbathing, diving or fishing. They start from the harbor and continue towards the Cape Greek and its beaches Protaras, of Perneras in Connos Bay, with intermediate stops for swimming or diving in the sea caves. Finally they end up in the area Paralimni, very close to Occupied Famagusta –Famagusta.

You should know that no boat can reach inside the occupied city, so when they tell you that you will go to Famagusta, they mean at a safe distance where you can see the ghost town from afar.

• THE BLACK PEARL – PIRATE BOAT

A boat ride Black Pearl – Pirate Boat  includes:

Daily 4-hour cruise with music, dancing, treasure hunt, swimming, sunbathing and food.

Prices (adults): €35 (children 2 – 12 years old): €20 (children under 2 years old): free.
Information, tel.: +357 99574148, departures, daily, from the port of Ayia Napa, hours 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

• SANTA NAPA BOAT

Famagusta Chill & Relax Day Cruise, on the coast of Ayia Napa, from the port of Ayia Napa.

A boat ride Santa Napa Boat includes:

Daily 4-hour tour of the areas of Ayia Napa, Sea Caves, Portaras, Famagusta, with swimming, sunbathing and food.

Prices (adults): €20, (children 2 – 12 years old): €12, (children under 2 years old): free.
Information about Santa Napa Boat at the same place where the Black Pearl – Pirate Ship, tel.: +357 99574148, departures, daily, from the port of Ayia Napa, hours 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

• CPT MARCO CRUISE

Day cruise along the southeastern coast of Cyprus, swimming in the bays and beaches of Ayia Napa, sunbathing on the deck, diving in the caves.

The cruise includes a tour of the Ayia Napa caves (Palace Cave), diving at the site Palatia Cliff, at the Pirate’s Cave and Witch Cave, swimming in  Lover’s Bridge, at the Cape Greco and at the Blue Lagoon, at the Connos Bay and at the  Fig Tree Bay. In the end you will reach Paralimni to see the ghost town from afar Famagusta.

Information about Captain Marko Cruises – Ayia Napa, Cyprus, in the parking lot behind the port (tel.: +357 99 637536, departures daily, from the port of Ayia Napa, hours 10:45 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., https://captainmarkocruises.com).

• APHODITE II BOAT- SUMMER LINE CRUISES

Cruise from the port of Ayia Napa to Protaras, with intermediate stops at the sea caves, at Konnos Bay and in Paralimni, to see the Famagusta (film screening on board the ship with the history of the Turkish invasion).

The Lazy Day Cruise departs from Ayia Napa port at 10:45 a.m. and returns at 3:30 p.m.

For more information, there is an outdoor bench (an old boat) in the parking lot, behind the harbor, where a beautiful dog with the characteristic sunglasses is lying. (Tel.: +357 23722596, mobile: +357 99 621096, http://www.summerlinecruises.com. )

Prices (adults): €25, (children): €15 with lunch being optional.

• FANTASY BOAT PARTY

Cruise to the beaches of Ayia Napa, music, dancing, sunbathing and food.

Departure from Ayia Napa port at 12 noon and return at 4:30 -5:00 pm (prices, approximately €55).

For more information, visit the outdoor boat bench in the parking lot. There you will find brochures for almost all water activities and cruises on the beaches of Ayia Napa (tel..: +357 99 408132, www.fantasyboatparty.com).

• GET MY BOAT - CRAZY SOFA AYIA NAPA

You will go rafting while lying on inflatable sea sofas.

Capacity 4 people, rental for 1 hour, prices 10 €, drink optional

Information, Nissi Avenue, Ayia Napa, Landa Beach, www.getmyboat.com

• CAPTAIN HAMIDO BOAT

Sports Fishing –Tuna Fishing

Includes fishing and then grilling the fish and food. Information, tel.: +357 99 57 41 48 and +357 96 47 88 87, departures from the port of Ayia Napa, (prices for Fisherman: €45 and for second person: €25)

• WATER WORLD AYIA NAPA CYPRUS – WATERPARK

It is considered No. 1 Water park of Europe, awarded as the best water theme park, inspired by Greek mythology. Swimming pools, water slides, an artificial river to cross by boat, with names like Drop to Atlantis, Fall of Icarus, Aeolos Whirlpool, Aphrodites Bath, River Odyssey etc.

The park also has other areas such as: Marathon Treats, Athena's Gelateria, Burger Fast Food, Poseidon's Creperie, Fish Chips, Go Karts, Midas Gift Shop, wc, changing rooms, internet etc. (18 Agias Theklas Street, Ayia Napa, 3 km W. from the town of Ayia Napa, tel.: +357 2372 4444,  www.waterworldwaterpark.com)

AYIA NAPA – SIGHTSEEING

THE CENTRAL SQUARE OF AYIA NAPA

«"MERMORGA", WORK BY LINDMYLA MYSKO, FROM UKRAINE, ON THE COAST

• SCULPTURE PARK

The Sculpture Park, has been created in an outdoor space, covering an area of 20,000 sq.m., at the location "«Strotziylovounaro», near the Paleontological Cave of Hippopotamus, at the intersection of Avenues Cape Greco and Cold Water. Every spring the Municipality of Ayia Napa organizes the International Symposium Sculpture.

• PALEONOLOGICAL HIPPO CAVE

A cave located next to the Sculpture Park with findings dating back 65,000 years. It is closed to the public but its findings Paleontological Cave, you can see them at Elementary Museum THALASSA, in Ayia Napa.

• MUNICIPAL MUSEUM THALASSA

You will see collections from excavations in the surrounding area, findings from the Paleontological era and the ship "«Kyrenia II», a faithful replica of the ancient shipwreck of the Classical Period that is today located in the Castle of Occupied Kyrenia (14 Kryou Nerou Avenue, Ayia Napa, tel.. : +357 23 816366)

• AYIA NAPA MONASTERY

The icon of "Virgin Mary of Napa" was found in a cave on the site of the present-day Monastery of Agia Napa, probably hidden since the time of Iconoclasm (7^th -8^th century). During the Komnenian era (1081-1191) the cave was transformed into a church. During the Frankish period (1191) the residence of the lord of the area, the northern tower and the warehouses were built next to the church.

During the Venetian rule (1489) the complex became a Monastery. The northern tower was expanded and acquired Renaissance elements such as the fountain with the lion's head at the entrance. During the conquest of the island by the Ottomans (1571) the Monastery came under the control of the Orthodox Church. The fountain located in the center of the monastery complex dates from the Ottoman period.

On the 17th^th century the Monastery owned a huge estate while in the 18^th century. it began to gradually decline, the monks left and then it became deserted. Some families settled around the Monastery, cultivating its abandoned lands, the first houses were built and the new settlement began to take shape, next to the Monastery.

From 1940 to 1978, the Monastery of Agia Napa was restored and since 1978 the buildings of the monastery complex have been used as conference rooms by the Holy Metropolis of Constantia-Famagusta, to which it belongs. Inside you will see some frescoes, a well whose water is used as holy water and a copy of the icon of the "Virgin Mary of Napa".

Outside the Monastery complex there is an old fig tree that is many centuries old, perhaps from 1500, during the Venetian period.

The large church located opposite the Monastery is the city's Orthodox Metropolitan Church, also dedicated to the "Virgin Mary of Napa".

The square of Ayia Napa, where the Monastery is located, bears his name. George Seferi (1900-1971), as shown by the bronze inscription placed by the Municipality, in honor of the diplomat and Nobel Prize-winning poet (Nobel Prize in Literature, 1963).

G. Seferis visited Cyprus three times, in 1953, 1954 and 1970, a year before he died. As a diplomat, he worked for the unification of Cyprus with Greece. The poet's last visit to the island, in 1970, lasted only one day. During a cruise, the ship stopped in Famagusta and the poet had the opportunity to visit the Monastery of Ayia Napa.

He wrote the poem "About Cyprus"«Salamis of Cyprus» (1953) and the collection «Cyprus did not establish me.» (1955), to which belong the poems «Helen»" and "«The Cats of Saint Nicholas».

On the Ayia Napa Square or G. Seferis Square, right next to the Monastery, one of the first houses built outside the monastery complex and which formed the foundation of the settlement survives. Today it is a souvenir shop, but the owner will proudly show you its interior.

FAMAGUSTA – FAMAGUSTA – AMMOCHOSTOS

Famagusta, before the Turkish invasion (1974), was the most cosmopolitan resort on the island, full of hotels, restaurants, cafes and shops, along the long beach. Foreign tourists called it "Golden Beach", because of its magnificent coastline. Also, Famagusta before 1974 was the largest and most important port of Cyprus and the entire Eastern Mediterranean. After 1974, the main port of the island was moved to Limassol. Today it is a "ghost town", uninhabited, deserted and under Turkish occupation.

OCCUPIED FAMAGUSTA, AS SEEN FROM A DISTANCE

To see Famagusta you have to go to the city Deryneia, in the Paralimni area of Famagusta District, where there is the Cultural Center of Occupied Famagusta – The Cultural Center of Occupied Famagusta.

Deryneia is only 3 km from Famagusta, so binoculars have been placed on the roof of the Cultural Center where you can see the occupied city from afar. In a room inside the Cultural Center, a documentary about the Turkish invasion of Famagusta is being shown.

ACCOMMODATION IN AYIA NAPA

Ayia Napa has many hotels mainly around the Avenue Archbishop Makarios III’ but also the Avenues Nissiou and Cold Water. On Kryou Nerou Avenue, there are large hotel units, which have developed parallel to the coast. You can choose the accommodation you will stay in according to your budget. In Cyprus, it is common for locals to rent furnished houses, even for a one-day stay.

CYPRUS FLAVORS

In Cyprus, the following are worth trying:

Cyprus potatoes, the most famous  Golden Pthtαtoes, from the Vrysoules region, an exportable product of the island, fresh fish, sheftalies (minced pork in lamb chops), halloumi (cheese, P.D.O. product), Cypriot pies (filled with sheftalia or chicken, potatoes, onion etc.), lountza and ham (ham, boiled or smoked pork), Paphos sausages (from pork, PGI product), taro from the Sotira region (bulb, P.D.O. product), "«ofton thief» (lamb or goat in the oven), «innocent» (pork), sausages Paphos, «puppies» (stuffed with vine leaves and rice), traditional bread «arcane», from the village of Omodos.

Try spoon sweets like the famous walnut, sweet rose of Agros or "rose sugar" (PGI product), sweet almond, Turkish delight, with rose or bergamot flavor, honey from carob, pastel, nuts, such as hazelnuts and Paphos pistachios.

From drinks, Cypriot wine, white or red, local beers, e.g. the brand KEO, frozen "«Zivania» (ποτό από τσίπουρο, με αλκοόλ 45^th), «Κουμανδαρία», (τοπικό γλυκό κρασί από τις πλαγιές του όρους Τρόοδος).

Μπορείτε να φάτε στο «Vassos taverna» και στο «ESPERIA», που βρίσκονται δίπλα στο λιμανάκι, στα εστιατόρια γύρω από την κεντρική πλατεία και στη Λεωφόρο Αρχιεπισκόπου Μακαρίου Γ’, η οποία είναι γεμάτη από καφέ και εστιατόρια.

ΑΓΙΑ ΝΑΠΑ – ΠΡΟΣΒΑΣΗ ΣΤΗΝ ΠΟΛΗ

Η απόσταση από την πόλη της Λάρνακας μέχρι το κέντρο της Αγίας Νάπας είναι περίπου 62 km, ανάλογα πάντα με τη διαδρομή που θα ακολουθήσετε.

• Αν έρχεστε από τη Λάρνακα θα φτάσετε στην πόλη της Αγίας Νάπας μέσω της Λεωφόρου Nissiou or Island (Nissi), στο σημείο που διασταυρώνει με την Archbishop Makarios III’, in the Πλατεία Αγίας Νάπας, ξεκινάει η πόλη της Αγίας Νάπας.
• Αν από τη Λάρνακα ακολουθήσετε τον Αυτοκινητόδρομο Α3 θα βγείτε στη Λεωφόρο Ρεθύμνου και στη συνέχεια, μετά τη στρογγυλή πλατεία με τις βάρκες, θα ακολουθήσετε την Λεωφόρο Archbishop Makarios III’.
• By Nicosia θα ακολουθήσετε το δρόμο προς Λάρνακα, μέσω του Αυτοκινητόδρομου Α2. Πριν μπείτε στο κέντρο της πόλη, στον Κόμβο Ριζοελιάς,   υπάρχει διασταύρωση που σας βάζει στον Αυτοκινητόδρομο Α3 προς Αγία Νάπα. Η απόσταση  της Λευκωσίας από το κέντρο της Αγίας Νάπας είναι περίπου 87 km.
• Αν θέλετε να συνεχίσετε την Archbishop Makarios III’, μετά την Ayia Napa Square or Square Γ. Σεφέρη, στο σήμα «AYIA NAPA», σε 1 km θα φτάσετε στο λιμανάκι της Αγίας Νάπας (μετά το Napa Hotel).
• Αν ακολουθήσετε την Λεωφόρου Cold Water θα βρίσκεστε παράλληλα με την ακτή, κοντά στις μεγάλες ξενοδοχειακές μονάδες.

Από το Αεροδρόμιο της Λάρνακας ή της Πάφου μπορείτε να φτάσετε στην Αγία Νάπα με νοικιασμένο αυτοκίνητο ή σκούτερ. Αν δε θέλετε να οδηγήσετε, υπάρχουν οι εξής διαφορετικοί τρόποι :

• Private TAXI Travel Express, από τα Διεθνή Αεροδρόμια Λάρνακας και Πάφου, (κατά τους καλοκαιρινούς μήνες, πληροφορίες, τηλ. : +35 77 77 74 74, www.travelexpress.com.cy)
• Intercity TAXI Travel Express, περιήγηση από και προς τις μεγάλες πόλεις της Κύπρου, όπως Λευκωσία τηλ. : +357 22 73 0888, Λεμεσός τηλ. : +357 25 87 7666, Λάρνακα τηλ. : +357 24 66 1010, Πάφος τηλ. : +357 26 92 3800, Αγία Νάπα ή Παραλίμνι , τηλ. : +357 23 82 6061 (πληροφορίες, www.travelexpress.com.cy).
  • Ενοικίαση γιότ από τη Μαρίνα Λάρνακας, [email protected]
  • Eman Buses, πούλμαν και λεωφορεία της εταιρείας «EMAN TRAVEL & TOURS», με γραφεία στη Λάρνακα, την Αγία Νάπα και τον Πρωταρά (Λεωφόρος Αρχιεπισκόπου Μακαρίου Γ’ 32 Α, τηλ. : +357 23721321  και +357 23721336,  fax: +357 23722190 και  +357 23722977,  www.emantravel.com.
  • Intercity Buses, υπεραστικά λεωφορεία Κύπρου, από και προς Λευκωσία – Αγία Νάπα και Παραλίμνι (τηλ. : +357 8000 77 89, www.intercity-buses.com, τιμές 5 €, ημερήσιο 9 €).

  Στην Αγία Νάπα το λεωφορείο τερματίζει στην Λεωφόρο Αρχιεπισκόπου Μακαρίου Γ’, κοντά στο λιμάνι (πληροφορίες, «Cyprus By Bus», για δρομολόγια λεωφορείων στην Κύπρο).

• Τοπικά λεωφορεία από τις πόλεις Λεμεσό, Λάρνακα και Πάφο. Για να φτάσετε στη Λευκωσία θα πάρετε τα εξής λεωφορεία :«ΟSEL– ΟΣΕΛ» Λευκωσία, τοπικά λεωφορεία (Λεωφόρος Λυκαβηττού, Έγκωμη 93, Λευκωσία, τηλ. : +357 22468088, www.osel.com.cy)«EMEL –ΕΜΕΛ» Λεμεσός, τοπικά λεωφορεία (τηλ. :  +357 77 77 8121, limassolbuses.com, τιμές 1,50 €, ημερήσιο 5 €)

  «ΖΗΝΩΝΑΣ», δημόσια λεωφορεία Λάρνακας (Λεωφόρος Αγίας Φανερωμένης 120, IMPERIAL TOWER, τηλ. : +357  8000 7744, +357 24 66 5531, +357 24 66 5541, www.zinonasbuses.com)

  «OSYPA LTD – Ο.ΣΥ.ΠΑ.»,  Οργανισμός Συγκοινωνιακών Πάφου, Βιομηχανική Περιοχή Μεσόγης, (πληροφορίες, οδός Μιχαλάκη Σαββίδη 10,  περιοχή  Μεσόγη, Πάφος, τηλ. :  +357 26 93 4252, fax : +357 26 94 5385, Free Phone : 8000 5588, [email protected], www.pafosbuses.com).

  ACCESS TO CYPRUS

• Larnaca International Airport "Glaucos Clerides"«, απέχει από το κέντρο της πόλης της Λάρνακας 7 km (τηλ. : +357 77 77 8833).
• Διεθνής Αερολιμένας Πάφου, βρίσκεται κοντά στο χωριό Τίμη και απέχει από το κέντρο της Πάφου 14 km. Εξυπηρετεί κυρίως πτήσεις charters από χώρες της Ευρώπης.
• From the Greece μπορείτε να φτάσετε στην Κύπρο με απευθείας πτήση και άφιξη στο Διεθνή Αερολιμένα Λάρνακας (διάρκεια πτήσης 1 ώρα).

USEFUL INFORMATION

• Το νόμισμα της Κύπρου είναι το ΕΥΡΩ.
• Η Κύπρος έχει την ίδια ώρα με την Ελλάδα.
• Το κλίμα είναι ήπιο και ο χειμώνας κρατάει μόνο δυο μήνες, Ιανουάριο – Φεβρουάριο, με χιονοπτώσεις στο όρος Τρόοδος.
• Η θερμοκρασία την άνοιξη κυμαίνεται από 30-35^th C ενώ το καλοκαίρι μπορεί να ξεπεράσει τους 45^th C (υπό σκιά).
• Στη Κύπρο δε βρέχει συχνά γι’ αυτό υπάρχουν φράγματα συλλογής του νερού. Τους καλοκαιρινούς μήνες υπάρχουν, μερικές φορές, περικοπές νερού. Το νερό της βρύσης δεν είναι πόσιμο.
• Η τάση του ρεύματος είναι 240 V και θα χρειαστείτε  οπωσδήποτε adaptor (μετατροπέα τάσης), για να μπορέσετε να χρησιμοποιήσετε κάποια πρίζα (π.χ. φόρτιση κινητού τηλεφώνου). Στα περισσότερα ξενοδοχεία το εξάρτημα αυτό παρέχεται στους πελάτες δωρεάν. Αν πρέπει να αγοράσετε, θα το βρείτε στα καταστήματα με σουβενίρ, στα super markets κλπ, στην τιμή των 2-3 €.
• Η οδήγηση γίνεται όπως ακριβώς και η οδήγηση στη Μ. Βρετανία, δηλαδή ο οδηγός κάθεται στη δεξιά πλευρά του αυτοκινήτου. Οι Κύπριοι είναι προσεκτικοί οδηγοί και ευγενικοί με τους τουρίστες. Προσοχή στα νοικιασμένα αυτοκίνητα (αυτά με τις κόκκινες πινακίδες) που κινούνται στους δρόμους. Το ανώτατο όριο ταχύτητας στο νησί είναι 100 km.
• Οι «Γάτες της Κύπρου», το ιερό ζώο του νησιού, οι οποίες χωρίζονται σε δυο καθαρόαιμες φυλές. Τις «Αφροδίτες» or «Γίγαντες της Αφροδίτης», μεγάλες σε μέγεθος, λευκές με μακριές τρίχες, σύμφωνα με σκελετούς που βρέθηκαν σε τάφο Νεολιθικής εποχής και οι «Γάτες της Αγίας Ελένης» or «Γάτες του Αγίου Νικόλα». Η παράδοση του νησιού λέει ότι η Αγία Ελένη όταν έφτασε στην Κύπρο ερχόμενη από τους Αγίους Τόπους (4^th αι.) βρήκε το νησί, λόγω της ανομβρίας, γεμάτο δηλητηριώδη φίδια. Τότε, ο γιος της Κωνσταντίνος, έστειλε διοικητή στο νησί τον Καλόκαιρο, μ’ ένα καράβι γεμάτο γάτες για να εξολοθρέψουν τα φίδια. Λέγεται ότι ο ίδιος έκτισε τη Μονή του Αγίου Νικολάου, στο Ακρωτήρι Γάτα, στη Λεμεσό, προκειμένου οι μοναχοί να ταΐζουν τις γάτες.