History of Ayia Napa
According to the locals, Ayia Napa was founded around the 11th century. At that time, it was a heavily wooded area with many natural springs, and its abundant wildlife made it a favourite hunting ground among villagers who were living in the surrounding regions. According to local legend, there was a hunter, a king of his own domain, who used to visit the forest of Ayia Napa with his hunting party. He came across a cave whilst in hot pursuit of his prey and on entering found an icon of Saint Panaya (Mary mother of Christ). On making this discovery, he built a small church on top of the caves.
Archaeological findings show that the shrine was transformed into a church sometime around the 14th century, and it was later expanded into a building with 2 separate sections. During the time of the Venetian Occupation around the beginning of the 16th century, a wealthy woman from the distinguished Famagusta family sought refuge in the monastery. She renovated the monastery and added a number of new buildings, a fountain, and a sycamore tree. The monastery became her place of residence until her death, and her sarcophagus was later found in the courtyard. The Ayia Napa monastery gained importance throughout the duration of the Venetian Occupation, and it was mentioned in many manuscripts from that era. The monasteries rooms were used for educational and recreational activities. The church in the monastery served as the parish church of the village for many years. After a new church was built in 1990, it became the venue for baptisms and weekday services.
When Cyprus was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, the monastery continued to prosper, and it had a number of monastic embassies in the region. The surrounding areas remained uninhabited until 1790, when a young Thessaloniki man and his wife decided to build a home just outside the monastery. Soon, more people started to set up homes in the area, and Ayia Napa became a village. 20 years ago Ayia Napa was a very poor and small fishing village with a population of 200. People were struggling to make ends meet and the only income came from the fishing port. After the invasion in 1974 from Turkey, Famagusta lost all the revenue from the tourist industry and Ayia Napa was born. Over the years, Ayia Napia was transformed from a sleeping village to a modern tourist resort, and it is presently known as one of the most popular travel destinations in Cyprus
In recent years, apart from being a family holiday destination, it has become a 'party capital' similar to Ibiza, Rimini and Mykonos. The city has developed into a popular pick for the holidays due to its beautiful clear blue beaches with golden sands and many tourist attractions. Ayia Napa has become one of the world’s most popular destinations and visited by people from all over the world. It is also become very well known for its outstanding nightclubs and bars, catering people of any age. They offer an abundance of things to do whether you are young or old. When it comes to culture, many places still maintain the Cyprus tradition.
