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GENERAL
INFORMATION |
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Famagusta
district or, Ammochostos in Greek, is located on the
Eastern coast of Cyprus, and it is a region rich in
history. The town of Famagusta or Ammohostos is also
known as the “ghost town” since its 1974
occupation by Turkish forces. Once the most popular
resort in Cyprus known as the jewel of Eastern Mediterranean
now lies deserted. The free (non-occupied) area of Famagusta
boasts to have the best beaches of Cyprus.
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The
golden sandy beaches of the free (non-occupied) Ammochostos
district gently embrace the eastern corner of the island.
The popular holiday resorts of Agia Napa and Paralimni
have been called a veritable paradise for anyone who
loves the sea and watersports.
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charming scenery includes the tiny fishing harbour of
Agia Napa, the mediaeval monastery at the heart of the
village and the windmills and churches of Paralimni
& Protaras. This region is the main potato producing
area on the island, and is known as 'Kokkinochoria',
which means 'red soil villages'. The villages of this
area are equally known for their folk poets, who are
regarded as the best on the island. |
When
you visit the region you should not miss the fishing
shelter of Potamos Liopetriou and Cape Greko, for its
beautiful sunsets. Cavo Gkreko, is a National Forest
Park and occupies an area of 390 ha. The Cape Greko’s
natural trail is an experience not to be missed.
The villages that lie inland, Deryneia, Sotira, Liopetri,
Frenaros and Potamos Liopetriou, are also interesting
for their handicrafts, churches and traditional celebrations,
and well worth a visit.
Paralimni
& Protaras- Since the Turkish occupation
of Ammochostos in 1974, this small town has become the
temporary administrative centre of the district. Before
the rise of tourism, the rich agricultural land surrounding
Paralimni was the source of Paralimni's wealth, and
is still of great importance.
The countryside surrounding Paralimni has rich red soil
and is famous for its picturesque windmills - used to
draw water from underground aquifers to irrigate the
surrounding land.Sadly, many of these are now derelict
having been replaced by electric or diesel-powered pumps.
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Ayia
Napa - Originally a fishing village, it is
now a major tourist resort. The charming mediaeval monastery
dedicated to 'Our Lady of the Forests' stands in the
middle of the village, surrounded by a hugh wall. It's
16th century church is partly underground, and carved
into the rock. The hostel west of the church belongs
to the World Council of Churches. The ancient sycamore
tree in front of the south gate is believed to be over
600 years old.
Ayia Napa is Greek for Saint Napa,the
patron saint of the town, whose Venetian-era monastery
is in the center of the town. Ayia Napa is
a resort on at the far eastern end of the south coast
of the island of Cyprus. |
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| Located
about 8 kilometers (5 miles) from Protaras, a town that
in recent years has changed from being a family holiday
destination to being a party capital, synonymous
with
that of Ibiza,
attracting tourists from all over Europe because of
the climate, beaches and the specific club culture that
has been built up here. |
Ayia
Napa was mentioned for the first time by Leontios Mahaeras
(a Cypriot choreographer) in 1366 A.D. and a second
time in 1373 in his account of the shipwreck of five
Venetian ships, which the Venetians had stolen during
the looting of Cyprus. The
next mention of Ayia Napa is encountered in Venetian
documents and maps from the 16th century.
The area around the monastery of Ayia Napa was not inhabited
until 1790 when (according to local tradition) a group
of people from Thessaloniki arrived there, who left
their homeland fleeing an outbreak of cholera (the plaque).
Finally, only two of them survived the deadly disease,
a man by the name of Nicholaos Kemitzis and his son.
Later the son married a Cypriot girl from a small village
called Panayia which was found on the hills north of
the monastery where the water of Ayia Napa comes from.
The young couple did not settle in Panayia because of
a bitter conflict between the inhabitants of Panayia
and Turkish authorities of Famagusta concerning the
supply of water. Instead, they sought to establish a
safer home outside the monastery thus beginning the
village which was to also be named "Ayia Napa"
after the shrine. |
For more information on Famagusta, visit the official
site for Famagusta, Cyprus - www.famagusta.org.cy |
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