Cyprus comes from the Latin word meaning kuprum copper. Cyprus' history can be traced back to the time of the early Stone Age, arourd 7000 BC. In Cyprus, huge copper deposits were discovered; these findings preceded the Bronze Age and brought untold riches. The mineral was so important for the country because it led to unprecedented exports the "golden age" years, 1400-1050 BC.

Around this time, the Greeks from the mainland came to settle in Cyprus and turned it into a Greek land. From these early times, the country has preserved its Greek heritage, language, traditions and way of life. The island's position was such that more than ten rulers ruled over in the next 27 centuries. In this way, its character over the years was enriched with features from different races, cultures and religions.

The word *"Agia" means "holy" in Greek. The name Napa is archaic and means "wooded valley", or dell. In ancient times the area surrounding the town was covered with thick forest, visited only by hunters from the neighboring villages, the location where the monastery and the village exist today.

According to local tradition, the now renowned original icon was accidentally discovered by a hunter in hot pursuit of his prey. The hunter, who was led by his dog, found an entrance to a cave.

When he stepped into it, he was very surprised because he saw an icon of Virgin Mary. That soon became known throughout the island. It seemed that during the persecution of Christians in 800-900 BC, few Christians carefully chosen this spot in order to hide the Virgin Mary's icon.

Upon discovery, the icon of Virgin Mary was called Virgin Mary of Napa, eventually shortened and now known as Ayia Napa. This site remained untouched until the 1500, when according to legend, a young noble lady from Venice, came to live in Famagusta.

Her father had forbidden her to marry the man she loved because he was "too simple". She left her home and fled to Ayia Napa. Soon she built a church. The present monastery was built around the cave, in honor of the Virgin Mary of Agia Napa.

* Agia mostly spelled Ayia is coreectly spelled both ways using theLatin alphabet. The Greek letter for "g" & "y" are the same "γ" in Greek.

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Nicosia is located midway between Kyrenia chain in the north and the Troodos Mountains to the south. Nicosia has about 186.000 inhabitants and has been since the 1100s the republic's capital. It is a modern metropolis bustling with shops restaurants and discotheques, but is also the seat of government, parliament and embassies. It attracts many tourists even though it is not at sea, which results that the city has so many interesting sights.

Nicosia is the only capital city in the world which is split in half by the so-called "Green Line", the United Nations Buffer Zone. Although the city has been destroyed more than once by conquerors, there are still enough leftovers to enjoy the past. History is most strikingly experienced at the Venetian city wall (nearly five kilometer long), which was constructed between 1567 and 1570, around the old town at the Eleftheria Square (free site). Inside the Great Wall run narrow alleys between the beautiful sandstone buildings. Here you can really find exciting places such as the Archbishop's Palace, completed in recent Byzantine style, situated right next to Gothic St.John Cathedral (1665) & Cathedral of Nicosia, two architectural jewels.

Inside the Cathedral you will find frescoes from the 1800s. In Nicosia you will find amongst interesting museums the Cyprus National Museum, Folk art museum, National Struggle Museum (witnessing the rebellion against the British administration in 1950's), Cyprus Ethnological Museum (House of Dragoman Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios), the handicraft center of Cyprus, Cyprus gem museum, Omeriye - Mosque and so much more.

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Limassol is Cyprus' second largest city with more than 143.000 inhabitants, situated on the coastline at the foot of the Troodos mountains and bears the nickname "Little Paris of Cyprus". Limassol is Cyprus' main port city in addition to being an industrial city and an entertainment center. Limassol has a rich nightlife with hotels, restaurants, bars, discos and nightclubs. The city is divided into two parts, one with hotel and leasure/activities and the other part with old buildings and shops. The surrounding areas are ideal for making wine, so why not visit the wineries where you can taste the Cypriot specialties such as COMMANDERIE which is a sweet red dessert wine. In early September the wine festival is taking place and lasts for ten full days. Then it is served to the party in the city park with food and wine to all those in tribute festival to Dionysus (god of wine) noble beverage.

If you are looking for special attractions in Limassol, you can go and look at the fortress where Richard the Lionheart married Princess Berengaria of Navarre, the modern museum and Limassol Limassol District Archaeological Museum and the cool oasis with plants and animals in the Zoological Museum.

The old Limassol was devastated by an earthquake and still made a new archeological finds such as remounts of a template of Aphrodite. Areas outside Limassol city also offer attractions such as the Kolossi castle from the 1400s (approx. 14 km west) built by HOSPITALLER from Jerusalem; the 3000 Years old city of Curium which lies outside the village of Episkopi (19 km west outside Limassol); the Curium, an ancient Greek city from the 1200s which was one of the greatest of ancient cities. Here are remnants of villas, mosaics, a Roman bath and a very beautiful theater still in use during the summer season. A little west from Curium, lies the Roman stadium with seating for 6000 spectators. Other attractions in this area are the Apollo Sanctuary and Agios Georgios Alamanous' monastery. Even there, they make archaeological excavations.

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On the outskirts you can see the Hala Sultan Tekke mosque. Umm Harram died year 649. According to legend he was a relative of the Prophet Mohammed. During the first Arab attacks on the island was erected Years 1816 and then a palace was built on this spot, where Umm Harram died and was buried. Tekke is one of the main goals of pilgrimage for Muslims after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem with Al Akshat mosque.

Another interesting site is Choirokoitia, 32 km from Larnaca on the road to Limassol. This site is a settlement from the early Stone Age dating from 6800 BC. The excavations have uncovered one of the world's oldest cultures from the earliest Stone Age. Objects found in Choirokoitia are exhibited in the Cyprus Archaeological Museum in Nicosia and in the Regional Museum in Larnaca.

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This small charming harbor town of Paphos, on the island's west coast, has been the capital of Cyprus in ancient times. The legacy from its remarkable history adds up to nothing less than an open museum, so much so that UNESCO simply added the whole town to its World cultural and natural treasures Heritage list.

The city of Paphos, which has an upper and a lower part. On the area stretching from the city's modern center to the harbor along the shoreline, there are numerous historical sites such as the "Tombs of the kings", mosaics and Paphos Castle. Its History, which stretches thousands of Years back in time, has always fascinated visitors from other parts of the island and from other countries.

There is also the mythical birthplace of Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love and beauty, where her temple was erected by the Myceneans in the 12th century BC. Why not visit her birthplace "Petra tou Romiou" (a Greek stone) which is located 25 km east of Paphos. According to legend, Aphrodite arose from the waves just at this location.

The legend also says that if you swim around this rock ten turns, so becomes, ten Years younger. It's important not to swim in the wrong direction when the reverse is true. Petra tou Romiou is associated with a legendary frontier guard of Byzantine times, Digenis Akrit, which with its spectacular forces were pillaging the Saracens at bay. It is said that at such a clash threw a large rock (petra) against his enemies.

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© K.Angeli / ayianapa.eu