Monastery of Ayia Napa

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.