THE DISTRICT
The Ayia Napa district, with its sunshine and superb golden sandy beaches, has become a magnet for sun-seeking holidaymakers from all over the world. Although you may not notice it if you do not stray far from your hotel, this part of the island has traditionally been the market garden of Cyprus, with the much-exported potato its prominent crop.
   The so-called "red villages" of the Ayia Napa district ("Kokkinohoria in Greek") take their name from the color of the fertile soil which produces early crops of vegetables, including some of the best potatoes in the world, which are principally exported to Britain. Two generations ago, when the sun baked mud brick was the universal building block, the villages visibly lived up to their name, in strong contrast to the pale houses around Larnaca and the surviving mud-grey villages of the Mesaoria plain. Now of course, all new buildings have reinforced concrete frames and only the mediaeval churches and old, unspoiled tavernas in the village centre are architectural interest.
AVGOROU
Worth visiting for the numerous churches. The main one, dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, is an uninteresting, vast modern building. It contains, however, two double-sided 17^th century icons: one of St George on the reverse, and the other featuring St John the Baptist on both sides. There is also an icon of Christ dated 1629. The ancient chapel of St George (Ayios Georgios) has a raised narthex with steps down to the body of the church of Saint George Terrachotis (Saint George of the Carob trees), a prominent, fine mediaeval building. Unfortunately only a fragment of the original frescoes survives today.
 CAPE GRECO
Like most of the island’s headlands, the limestone plateau that marks the southeastern corner of Cyprus was once sacred to the inhabitants’ favorite goddess, Aphrodite. The sanctuary site lies at the centre and affords a serene view over the low, pale limestone headland that extends out to sea. At the far end stands a small lighthouse and relay masts serving Radio Monte Carlo. The "Sea Caves" area where the sea has eroded parts of the limestone cliff face to create arches and caves is great for swimming and especially romantic sunset. Arguably the most beautiful spot on the cape, with its own attractive beaches and coves, dramatic rocky inlets and blue waters, it's definitely worth a visit. Be careful if you decide to follow others and dive from the top of the cliff. Also, make sure you don’t take a wrong turning and up at the local rubbish tip.  

                   

DHERYNIA
Dherynia attracts visitors to the "Famagusta viewpoints" from where you can gaze into the empty, villas and high rise blocks of Famagusta . The best viewpoint is probably Annita's which is closest to the demarcation line.
   A number of churches lie in and near the village. The charmingly situated and wonderfully preserved 15^th century chapel of Saint Marina; that of the Virgin Mary (Panayia) is an ancient building which preserves two 17^th century icons of Christ and the Virgin; and just north east of the village centre is the church of Ayios Georgios (St George), a small mediaeval church with a dome.

 LIOPETRI
Liopetri was once a poor community of itinerant traders who were known for claiming to be Muslims or Orthodox Christians, depending on whether the Turkish recruiting officer or the Greek taxman was In town. Their cynicism apparently derived from their compulsory conversion from Catholicism after the 1571 conquest by the Turks. The 15^th century church of Ayios Andronikos, known to have originally been a Catholic chapel, has remnants of murals in the apse, and an octagonal dome. The domed churchy of the Virgin Mary (Panayia) is a mediaeval building with a verandah and a belfry. Potamos Liopetriou ( Liopetri River) is a picturesque fishing refuge which has the remains of a Venetian watch-tower nearby. Its biggest claim to fame is that French poet Arthur Rimbaud worked in the area in the 1880s. There is a quaint little inlet where fishermen mend their nets by day, before setting sail in the evening. The fishermen themselves eat in two harbor side tavernas, whose fish is guaranteed to be fresh off the boats.
PARALIMNI
Paralimni is the largest community in the district and is named after a seasonal lake that forms between it and Sotira ("para ti limni" means "by the lake" ).
   It is a large village of 3,500 inhabitants, and still retains an ancient but unenviable reputation for catching blackcaps-small, migratory fig-eating birds, which are snared, pickled and largely exported as delicacy. The island's EU accession looks certain to put an end to the practice. Paralimni today combines the advantages of a traditional village with the amenities of a contemporary town. It has a number of unspoiled tavernas known for their delicious local cuisine. Modern shops and offices stand next to traditional coffee shops and old stores. In the streets you’ll see old men and women in traditional dress as well as young Cypriots sporting the latest fashion.
    The church of Panayia, originally a small domed church to which a south aisle was added later, contains a number of late 18^th century paintings and porcelain plates.
 FRENAROS
The village of Frenaros takes its name from the French Catholic monks "Freres Mineures" and was first built around 1500 B.C. It now has a population of around 3,500. It’s worth taking a look at the Archangel Michael church, a charming mediaeval two-domed building with its belfry, which survived restoration in 1883. It’s an odd building in which no two of its many angled roof lines and projections match, while the pair of domes decline into a bumpy porch. East of the village is the small well-preserved and unrestored church of Ayios Andronikos, just beyond which stands Ayia Marina, a barrel-vaulted 15^th century building containing wall paintings of two periods.   
SOTIRA
Sotira is a charming little village and definitely worth a visit. There is a nest of three churches in the centre of the village: the whitewashed Church of the Transfiguration was originally much larger, and fragments of its old columns and capitals can be seen in the square outside. An old chapel just outside the church has been turned into a small museum to house various portable treasures and icons, including a 15^th century Christ Pantocrator and Virgin with Christ Child. These were taken into safety from three isolated mediaeval churches that can be seen by the walled cemetery, on the road to Liopetri.