On the coast at the border of Sotira and Ayia Napa, Ayia Thekla is a small whitewashed chapel with blue accents around the door and windows, standing alone on the edge of a rocky rise above the beach. It is dedicated to Saint Thekla and holds a particular place in local affection.
The cave church below
Steps lead down from the chapel to the old church, which is set in a cave — the place where Orthodox worshippers used to hide during the Ottoman period. It is also believed that Piale Pasha landed near the shore at Ayia Thekla in 1571 and went on to assist General Mustafa in the siege of the city.
The beach and the sunsets
Immediately beneath the chapel lies Ayia Thekla beach, a stretch of golden sand and clear water that suits swimmers and snorkellers and stays quieter than the busier parts of Ayia Napa. As the day ends the chapel becomes one of the best places on the island to watch the sun go down, the light turning gold across the sea and the rock.
The setting has made it a sought-after wedding venue for locals and visitors — the chapel is small, intimate and entirely surrounded by sea views. Even without an occasion, it is a place that rewards sitting still for half an hour.
More sightseeing around Ayia Napa
Ayia Thekla Beach
Quiet and low-key, not empty — golden sand, rock formations and sunsets, a few minutes from Ayia Napa.
Kamara tou Koraka
A limestone sea arch in the Cape Greco forest park, cut by the sea over millennia and reached on foot from the coastal path.
Ayia Napa Harbour
Limanaki — kaikia and yachts on turquoise water, fish taverns along the quay, a wedding chapel in the middle.
Cape Greco
A national forest park of sea caves, cliff jumps and trails between Ayia Napa and Protaras.