Ayia Napa, is a tourist resort at the far eastern end of the southern coast of Cyprus.
The name Ayia Napa is derived from a Venetian-era monastery of the same name, located in the center of the town, next to the square that today is the clubbing centre. The word "Ayia" 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.
According to local legend, the area around the monastery was accidentally discovered by a hunter in pursuit of his prey. Upon discovery, the icon of the Virgin Mary in the area was called Virgin Mary of Napa, eventually shortened to Ayia Napa. The monastery, built in 1100, was built around a cave, in honour of the Virgin Mary of Ayia Napa. According to local tradition, nobody lived within close vicinity of Ayia Napa until 1790. The first inhabitant was Nikolaos Kemitzis from Thessaloniki, who arrived from Greece around 1790 and settled in the village of Panayia, located on the northeastern part of Ayia Napa. Kemitzis had a fight with the Ottoman authorities who ruled Cyprus at the time, and decided to move near the monastery of Ayia Napa.
The reason Ayia Napa is a great destination for both lifestyles is the beaches. It's full of beautiful beaches such as Landa, Nissi, Pernera, or Limnara. These beaches are perfect to relax and work on your game before preparing for the nightlife.
Ayia Napa Monastery - The cultural site most worth visiting in the town, the present building dates to around 1500. Cape Greco - Cape on the way to Protaras, worth visiting, especially if you love photography as it offers picturesque sceneries.
At night time in Ayia Napa there are beach parties, bar crawls, foam parties and paint parties or visit the fun fair, the haunted house or just enjoy a tasty meal in a local restaurant before strolling around the shops on bustling Nissi Avenue.