Protaras stands on the grounds of the old city-state of Leukolla. The modern resort is now favoured for its beaches and diving sites, but it also preserves its historic legacy with ardour and devotion. On an outcrop above the town, the Church of Profitis Ilias stands like a sentinel protecting the spiritual heart of Protaras. The Hellenistic tombs at the headland of the Fig Tree Bay are other ancient sites in Protaras. The Agioi Saranta cave church is a must-see in a rugged setting worth a day trip. You will also appreciate the wonderful treasure of Ayia Napa: a medieval monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
A short drive from Protaras, Ayia Napa Medieval Monastery is a religious, architectural, and historical landmark, attracting hundreds of tourists as it counts among the most important monuments of its kind in Cyprus.
Ayia Napa Medieval Monastery no longer operates as a nunnery but hosts now a museum with a large collection of archaeological finds from the area, as well as icons and other religious artefacts, most of them from the private collection of Archbishop Makarios.