Right in the centre of town, surrounded by the bars and clubs of The Square, this 16th-century Venetian monastery is a surprisingly serene retreat. Built around a cave church and a large ancient sycamore tree, the monastery was constructed just before the Ottoman invasion of 1570 and has been well preserved ever since.
The courtyard is peaceful and photogenic, with a marble fountain and stone arches. Inside the cave chapel you can see the icon of the Virgin Mary that, according to legend, was discovered by a hunter in the forest that once covered this area -- giving the town its name (Ayia Napa means "Holy Forest"). Free to enter and open daily from early morning.