Author: Christos

Located within the boundaries of Cape Gkreko and Protaras, the Agia Napa Aqueduct was originally a Roman structure, with Frankish alterations. Its main purpose was to deliver water to the local monastery and the surrounding region, and it is one of the few preserved aqueducts on the island.

Its construction is complicated and required much expertise, along with a comprehensive system of regular maintenance to repair accidental breaches, clear the lines of debris, and to remove the build-up of naturally occurring chemicals.

In years past, the aqueduct carried water from a  source of the water to be found somewhere on the hills between Agia Napa and Protaras. Up to the year 1974 the original visible route of the channel was marked by a barrel_shaped structure at the locality of Mana tou Nerou, Known traditionally as the House of the Greeks.to the large stone reservoirs of the village. Substantial conservation work was carried out on the structure from 2006 – 2008.

In September 2006 the project was incorporated in the European initiative INTERREG IIIA Greece Cyprus. The project is co-financed with 50% by the European Union Fund for Regional Development and 50% by national sources.

The Tombs of Makronissos are situated west of Agia Napa and consist of 19 rock-cut tombs, a small sanctuary and an ancient quarry.

The sanctuary is a simple rectangular enclosure, made of large irregular blocks. The tombs were used during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, and although they were subject to severe looting over the years (from 1872), archaeologists believe that the deceased were placed in clay sarcophagus that were originally covered with three flat tiles.

The tomb’s rectangular entrance originally closed with one or two slabs, and Pyres were found on the surface, characteristic of Greek burial customs. Most of the chambers are almost identical with a rectangular trench in the middle and three benches at the side.

The charming Medieval Monastery of Agia Napa stands in the middle of the village and was built in the form of a Medieval Castle around 1500 AD.

The monastery is partially built underground and cut into the rock, surrounded by a high wall. It is dedicated to ‘Our Lady of the Forests’, with the name coming from the Ancient Greek word for wooded valley (‘Napa’) as a result of the area’s past topography.

The monastery was restored in 1950 and in 1978 became an Ecumenical Conference Centre, serving churches in Cyprus and the Middle East. After the re-establishment of the Holy Metropolis Constantia Ammochostos (Famagusta) in 2007, the monastery came under the administration of the Metropolis.

A new church – also dedicated to the Virgin Mary – was built in 1994, south west of the monastery.

The ancient sycamore tree in front of the south gate is believed to be over 600 years old.

Agia Napa Monastery – Audio Guide