AYIA NAPA AND PROTARAS
These resorts are quite different in scenery, vegetation and atmosphere. Based at the eastern tip of the island, blessed with miles of superb golden beaches, low hills and rich red soil, which produces many of the Cyprus export crops, particularly the famous Cyprus potatoes. Valley of the Windmills are a distinctive feature to this part of the island.
Ayia Napa has been transformed from a tiny fishing village into a major seaside resort. Its fabulous golden sandy beaches and colourful shops, taverns, discos, bars and superb hotels have made this sleepy village into a bustling resort.
The resort is built around the Monastery of Ayia Napa ( Our Lady of the Forest), which is a medieval decorated monastery built around 1530, originally a nunnery. It remains of the islands most attractive Venetian buildings. Seek out a moment of tranquillity in its Gothic cloister and interior courtyard with a charming octagonal marble fountain. Carved out of rock, the church lies partially underground and from the small chapel steps descent to an ancient Sycamore, said to be 600years old.
The attractive white washed small town of Paralimni, slightly inland, has a number of open air taverns known for their delicious local cuisine. The nearby Protaras beach area boasts excellent seaside hotels and restaurants and a wide variation of taverns, bars and discos. The silver sandy beaches are interspersed with rocky coves and small sandy inlets, making this a favourite spot for everyone for swimming or water sports.
At the island South eastern tip, Cape Greco presents spectacular rocky coves for hardy bathers seeking to escape the crowds.
Due to the fact the terrain is comparatively flat, you will not find it too strenuous to cycle or hike to the numerous little churches there are to visit and maybe a trip to the village of Liopetri, where the art of basket making is practiced. A trip to the border town of Dherinia where UN troops man a guard –post, and homesick Greek Cypriot refugees come for a roof top view across to Famagusta.