Ayia Napa

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Ayia Napa
Αγία Νάπα (Greek) Aya Napa (Turkish)

Seal
Ayia Napa is located in Cyprus
Ayia Napa
Location in Cyprus
Coordinates: 34°59′N 34°00′E / 34.98°N 34.00°E / 34.98; 34.00Coordinates:
Click the blue globe to open an interactive map.
34°59′N 34°00′E / 34.98°N 34.00°E / 34.98; 34.00
Country Cyprus
DistrictFamagusta District
Government
• MayorAntonis Tsokkos
Population (2001)[1]
• Total2,693
Time zoneEET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)EEST (UTC+3)
Websitehttp://www.agianapa.org.cy/
Ayia Napa (Greek: Αγία Νάπα, pronounced [aˈʝa ˈnapa]; Turkish: Aya Napa) is a resort at the far eastern end of the southern coast of Cyprus, famous for its sandy beaches. In recent years, apart from being a family holiday destination, it has become a "party capital" with Ibiza, Rimini, and Mykonos. As of late, it has become particularly popular with the familiar UK-originated music such as dubstep, drum and bass, grime, house, and garage artists.

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[edit] Etymology

The name Ayia Napa is derived from a Venetian-era monastery of the same name, located in the centre of the town, next to the square that today is the clubbing centre. The word "Ayia" (Agia) means "holy" in Greek. "Napa" is archaic and means "wooded valley" or dell. In ancient times the area surrounding the town was covered with thick forest.

[edit] History

According to local legend, the now renowned original icon was accidentally discovered by a hunter in pursuit of his prey. Upon discovery, the icon of the Virgin Mary was called Virgin Mary of Napa, eventually shortened and now known as Ayia Napa. The present monastery, built in 1500, was built around the cave, in honour of the Virgin Mary of Ayia Napa. According to local tradition, until 1790 no one lived within close vicinity of Ayia Napa. The first inhabitants who actually appeared and settled were twenty men from Salonica, Greece.

[edit] Geography

Geographically, 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 (5.0 mi) from Protaras, a town that has recently seen similar development, but still manages to remain low-key and remains more favourable for families and Cypriot locals.

[edit] Tourism

This article is written like a travel guide rather than an encyclopedic description of the subject. Please help improve it by rewriting it in an encyclopedic style. If a travel guide is intended, use of Wikivoyage is strongly suggested. (August 2011)
Bar in Ayia Napa by night
Ayia Napa shopping street during the evening
Beach in Ayia Napa
Ayia Napa attracts a large number of tourists and features a number of bathing beaches, on which water sports such as water-skiing, windsurfing, canoeing, scuba diving and speed boating are popular. The Cyprus Tourism Organization supervises the beaches and is responsible for protecting the interests of all tourists. The most popular of these beaches is Nissi beach, which is visited mainly by younger people in the summer and gets quite crowded; it offers great water sports facilities. Another is the Harbour beach (also known as Limanaki (CTID) or Pantahou beach), which is one of Cyprus' longest, and the longest in Ayia Napa. Harbour beach caters more for families. The New Golden Bay (or Lanta / Landa beach as it is known to the locals) is less crowded, but there are still a number of activities available. Several hotels and apartments are situated on Nissi Road, including Nissi Beach Hotel, Kaos Hotel Apartments among others. All beaches in Ayia Napa have been awarded the EU blue flag for their level of cleanliness and facilities. Cyprus, with 53 Blue Flag beaches, has three records:
  • the most Blue Flags per capita in the world
  • the most dense concentration of Blue Flag Beaches
  • the most Blue Flag beaches and per coastline length in the world.
Beach parties are another popular form of entertainment in Ayia Napa.
The Square, central to the town, is filled with high end restaurants, night clubs and shops, such as The Castle Club, Club Sin, and Nikita's Steak House. Ayia Napa has changed its image somewhat over the years, from a fishing village to a Mediterranean paradise and has now found its place as a multicultural town, catering to all tastes.
Cape Greco is a ten-minute drive from the centre of Ayia Napa and is considered one of the most beautiful places on the island offering sightseeing, cliff jumping and a variety of other activities.

[edit] Sea monster

Ayia Thekla beach
In Cape Greco many locals claim that an Ayia Napa sea monster exists there, reported to resemble a cross between a porpoise and a dragon, of which there have been only a dozen or so reported sightings and photographs. Some suggest that it is a direct descendant of a creature of prehistoric times.

[edit] Shopping

Cyprus is known for its handicrafts and boutiques. While in Ayia Napa, the shops are interspersed with outlets selling designer sunglasses and watches. On Cape Greco various activities such as swimming, fishing, cycling and riding take place.

[edit] Monastery

Front of Ayia Napa Monastery
Ayia Napa Monastery is the best known landmark of the Ayia Napa area. It has a charm that represents a time when Ayia Napa was a sleepy fishing village. It seems that in ancient times, the location where the monastery and the village exists today, was covered by thick forest, visited only by hunters from the neighbouring villages.

[edit] Museums and ruins

Thalassa Museum.
The town contains a number of museums. The Tornaritis - Pierides Museum of Marine Life was founded in June 1992 in Ayia Napa and is located at the lower level of the Town hall. It exhibits past and present marine life, scientifically classified. Its main purpose is to show the marine fauna of Cyprus and the Mediterranean, helping the study and research of this part of Natural History, but also to stress the importance and necessity of preserving the marine environment.
Thalassa, the Municipal Museum of the Sea in Ayia Napa, is dedicated to the enhancement, promotion and preservation of the marine heritage of Cyprus, from prehistoric times to the present. Located at the centre of Agia Napa, the Museum displays marine artifacts and serves as a centre for educational programmes and community cultural events. The Museum houses sculptures, engravings, ceramics and paintings of seascapes made by some of the greatest 19th and 20th century Greek and Cypriot artists.
The Makronissos Tombs are found west of Ayia Napa village. They are an ancient burial site, located at a stepped road, which leads down to a rectangular entrance. The entrances were originally closed with one large or two smaller calcarenke slabs.

[edit] Festival

The Ayia Napa Festival was first held in September 1985 and has been established as an annual event since, usually over the last weekend of September. It takes place in Sepheris Square in Ayia Napa Monastery. The festivities reflect the historic, cultural and agricultural traditions of Ayia Napa and Cyprus as a whole. The programme includes theatrical performances, operas, concerts and Cypriot and foreign folk dancing.

[edit] Ayia Napa Youth Festival

Ayia Napa amusement park
The Ayia Napa Youth Festival was established in 2010[2] when the Ayia Napa youth council decided to organise a festival similar to the large music festivals of Europe, combining activities and music. The festival is based on several principles such as free entrance, the headliners to be chosen by the public,a charity goal, a social responsibility message attached to it; all styles of music are welcome. At the first festival which took place at the harbour square of Ayia Napa more than 10,000 people visited the festival during the three-day period with bands such as the Greek reggae act Locomondo, the pop-rock band MPLE and the hip hop band Stavento featuring Ivi Adamou. Also 25 bands performed, most of them in the music styles of rock and metal. In 2011 the Ayia Napa Youth Festival became international and included the band Stratovarius, Sabaton, Rotting Christ, Nightstalker, and 20 bands from all over Europe and Cyprus.

[edit] Waterworld Themed Waterpark

The Ayia Napa Waterworld Themed Waterpark is the biggest waterpark in Europe.[3] Waterworld Themed Waterpark in Ayia Napa has received international recognition for marketing and innovation from a spectrum of the Waterpark associations around the world winning over 25 awards to date. In the Greece-themed waterpark there are upgraded attractions, extensive relaxation areas for parents and playground areas the kids. It also has several catering outlets and a gift shop. Waterworld is open 7 days per week.

[edit] World record

Following the proposal of Yiannis Karousos[4] the President of the Ayia Napa Tourism Committee, on September 16, 2007, the world's longest chain of syrtaki dancers (a traditional Greek dance) danced to Zorba the Greek in a successful attempt to enter the Guinness Book of World Records. The chain had a total of 268 members of eight groups dancing in step to Zorbas. Ayia Napa Mayor Antonis Tsokkos said the aim of the event was to send the message that the village was interested in Greek culture and to promote the tourist resort abroad. Head of the cultural services of the Municipality Maria Tofini said that, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the dancers had to perform in synchronised step for the attempt to qualify. The event drew the attention of tourists and locals, many of whom danced to Zorbas on the beach and in the sea.[5]

[edit] Sister cities

[edit] Gallery

  • Port of Agia Napa.jpg
  • View of Agia Napa beach located in vicinity of Nelia Beach Hotel.jpg
  • Road next to a typical hotel during the evening
  • Main Street Agia Napa
  • Ayia Napa amusement park from the road
  • Ayia Napa amusement park
  • Fountain in Ayia Napa
  • A church at the south shore of Konnos Bay
  • The catacomb of Agia Thekla[6]


[edit] Makronissos Tombs, a cemetery of Hellenistic and Roman period

  • Makronissos Tombs in Ayia Napa 16.JPG
  • Makronissos Tombs in Ayia Napa 15.JPG
  • Makronissos Tombs in Ayia Napa 03.JPG
  • Makronissos Tombs in Ayia Napa 22.JPG

[edit] Agia Napa Monastery

  • Agia Napa Monastery - 3.JPG
  • Agia Napa Monastery - 12.JPG
  • Agia Napa Monastery - 17.JPG
  • Agia Napa Monastery - 21.JPG

[edit] The modern St. Mary's Church of Ayia Napa

  • St. Mary's Church of Ayia Napa and the surrounding area with old trees - 1.JPG
  • St. Mary's Church of Ayia Napa and the surrounding area with old trees - 2.JPG
  • St. Mary's Church of Ayia Napa and the surrounding area with old trees - 6.JPG
  • St. Mary's Church of Ayia Napa and the surrounding area with old trees - 3.JPG

[edit] Thalassa Museum

  • Agia napa thalassa museum 2.JPG
  • Papyrella
  • Kyrenia II
  • Treasures of THALASSA Museum Ayia Napa 35.JPG
  • Treasures of THALASSA Museum Ayia Napa 30.JPG
  • Treasures of THALASSA Museum Ayia Napa 11.JPG
  • Treasures of THALASSA Museum Ayia Napa 12.JPG
  • Collection of Tornaritis-Pierides Marine Life Foundation, exhibited at the Thalassa Museum 25.JPG
  • Collection of Tornaritis-Pierides Marine Life Foundation, exhibited at the Thalassa Museum 01.JPG

[edit] The bar and entertainment district

[edit] References

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2010)
  1. ^ Statistical Service of the Republic of Cyprus (MS Excel), 2001 Population Census
  2. ^ http://www.ayianapites.com
  3. ^ http://www.waterworldwaterpark.com/
  4. ^ http://www.yianniskarousos.com
  5. ^ Ayia hopes for Guinness record
  6. ^ [1]
Proposals of Yiannis Karousos - Guinness Records for Ayia Napa

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Agia Napa Monastery
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Agia Napa
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