In the heart of the old town of Ayia Napa, not far from the center of the youth partying, is the ancient monastery of Our Lady of Ayia Napa. Now there are no monks here, you can visit it as a museum. The Ayia Napa Monastery was founded in the 15th century and the town of Ayia Napa was named after it.
During the period of Byzantine rule, the site of Ayia Napa was occupied by forests. According to legend, in the 11th century, a hunter lost his dog in the forest, but then he heard it barking in one of the caves. When he climbed into the cave, he was blinded by the light of the Icon of the Holy Virgin Mary. Perhaps it was hidden in this cave during the period of iconoclasm in the 6th-7th century, when icons were destroyed in Byzantium.
This cave has become one of the places of worship of believers in Cyprus. A small temple was built over the cave. The icon was named Our Lady of Panagia Nana (Our Lady of the Holy Forest). Over time, it became known simply as Ayia Napa, and the area around it was also called Ayia Napa.
In the 15th century, during the Venetian rule, the Monastery of Ayia Napa was founded here, which has survived to this day with minor alterations. After the conquest of Cyprus by the Turks in 1571, they handed over the Monastery of Ayia Napa to the Orthodox community. In 1758, the monks left the monastery, and for two centuries it was in an abandoned state.
In 1950, the Ayia Napa Monastery was renovated. It was restored as a museum. Despite this place is very revered, it is no longer possible to restore the monastery, as in the immediate vicinity is Louka Louka Street, which is the center of the Ayia Napa youth partying. All night long, loud music sounds from dozens of nightclubs here.
Near the Ayia Napa Monastery, there is a small square where a fig tree grows, which is more than 600 years old. It is one of the oldest trees in Cyprus. In the same square, the Panagia Church, the largest church in Ayia Napa, was built in 1990.
