Ayia Napa, or Agia Napa, is a resort town situated at the far eastern end of the south coast of Cyprus in the Famagusta District.  It lies near Cape Greco, and by the eastern part of Cyprus, just south of Famagusta. It actually forms part of a larger region called Kokkinochoria.  It also lies 8 kilometers from Protaras, another resort town that had remained low-key with tourists.

The name Ayia Napa had two origins; the “Ayia” is Greek for “holy”, while “Napa” is an archaic word for “wooded valley” as the area surrounding the town had been surrounded by thick forests.  According to legend, a hunter discovered an icon of the Virgin Mary in a cave.  In her honor, the hunter built a church and monastery around the cave.  The icon was eventually called the “virgin Mary of Napa” or “Ayia Napa”.

Through the years, this small fishing village had grown into a popular holiday resort, well-known for its pristine sandy beaches, licked by crystal clear blue waters, festivals, and various tourist attractions.  It has also grown in reputation as a party capital” famous for its lively bars and magnificent nightclubs, similar to Ibiza, Rimini, and Mykonos.  Its coastline of golden sandy beaches is the main attraction on this resort town, where in, every beach is awarded the prestigious EU blue flag for cleanliness and the comprehensive facilities offered in compliance with the standards set by the European Union.  These Ayia Napa beaches draw a large number of tourists each year, complimented by the various water sports that are offered.

The first and most popular of these beaches is Nissi beach, which is a sandy exotic beach that stretches for 500 kilometers.  It takes its name from a small islet located near the coast, and is frequented by clubbers and lively young people during the summer.  Another most frequented beach in Ayia Napa is Harbor Beach, which is also known as Limanaki or Pantahou beach.  This beach is largely considered as a family beach with crystal clear waters and no noisy clubs and parties to disturb the relaxing beach setting.  One of the new beaches in Ayia Napa that has grown much reputation is the Golden Bay, or referred to as Lanta / Landa beach by the locals.  Although this beach is much less crowded than the Nissi beach, it nonetheless offers various activities that can be enjoyed by the family and other visitors.

However, this cosmopolitan resort town is more than a string of sunny beaches, parties, and scores of bars and nightclubs for the young.  Ayia Napa is also a town full of history and tradition, where one can find various art and historical sites, as well as take part in traditional festivities that had been celebrated through the centuries.

Undoubtedly, the best known landmark in the town is the Ayia Napa Monastery.  This well-preserved medieval structure, built in the 16th century, is the focal point of the town.  Far from the noisy crowds and parties in the beaches and in the town, the monastery presents a reminder of the life in the town when it was still a little sleepy fishing village.

Found in the locality of Makronissos, west of Ayia Napa, is an ancient burial site called the Makronissos Tombs.  The site is located at a stepped road that leads down to a rectangular entrance that were once closed by one large or two smaller slabs.

Ayia Napa also has several museums, one of which is the Tornaritis - Pierides Museum of Marine Life.  Located at the lower level of the town hall, the museum exhibits a scientifically classified collection of past and present marine life found in the area.  It aims to showcase the marine fauna of Cyprus and the Mediterranean, and provides valuable resource in the study of the area’s natural history.

The Municipal Museum of the Sea in Ayia Napa, on the other hand, is devoted on the enhancement and preservation of the island’s marine heritage, which ranges from the prehistoric to the present.  It houses engravings, sculptures, ceramics, and paintings created by some of the most prominent 19th and 20 century Cypriot and Greek artists.

Part of the cultural attractions in Ayia Napa is the town’s festivals.  The most celebrated and comprehensive of these festivals is the Ayia Nap Festival, which is an annual event that reflects the historic, cultural, and agricultural traditions of Ayia Napa and the country as well.  These traditions are represented through theatrical performances, concerts, operas, and Cypriot and foreign folk dancing.  It is usually held on the Sepheris Square in the Ayia Napa Monastery.

Other festivals held in the town include the Carnival Festival, which is celebrated during the 20th to the 23rd of February wherein street carnivals are found in all towns; and Kataklysmos, which is a festival celebrated in all coastal resorts on the 24th of May.

Through the years, the beaches and the night clubs have not been the only strong attraction for visitors in Ayia  Napa.  It has  also developed into one of the most premiere resort towns in Cyprus to feature a much-sought  after property market.  Not long ago, this scene would have been quite different with the loud music scenes and the all-night parties that are quite expected from  a “party capital”.  However, with the Cypriot authorities clamping down on the loud music and the all-night party antics, Ayia Napa has developed a different attraction, bring along with it are different kinds of visitors into its shores.

Ayia Napa has grown in reputation as an up-market holiday destinations and a serious hotspot for property purchases.  Long gone are the noisy clubbers,  and are replaced with families with children eating ice cream and young couples strolling hand in hand.  Adding to the area’s appeal for the most discriminating property buyer are the plans to build three golf courses and two huge marinas capable of berthing large yachts, turning Ayia Napa into the “Monte Carlo of the Middle East”.

Whilst the town is growing in reputation as the next property hotspot for the holiday property market, the poor reputation of Ayia Napa affords considerably low house prices.  At present, a penthouse apartment of about 80 to 90 square meters, equipped located near the beach, and with on-site swimming pools and other amenities would cost 110,000 pounds sterling.  Meanwhile, a similar property on the other side of the island would cost 30% to 40% more, at approximately 145,000 pounds to 155,000 pounds.

In addition, property investors could expect a significant property rental market as the golf courses and the marinas, together with other holiday companies move and start their operation in Ayia Napa, the potential income for rental properties would be more significant.  These investors could also benefit from house price growth, which is likely to be higher than anywhere else in Cyprus, as the up-market tourist trade flourishes.