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Destinations

Sotira

Sotira

Sotira in Famagusta Region, is a municipal quarter of the Municipality of Agia Napa and is only a 5-10 minutes drive away from Ayia Napa touristic area. Sotira is ideal for visitors who seek to enjoy the calmness of Cyprus hospitality and tradition. It is one of the agricultural ‘red soil villages’ (Kokkinochoria), and is well known, among others, for producing watermelons, pomegranates, along with ‘kolokasi’ (taro root – colocasia esculanta) – which is a Protected Designation of Origin product and is celebrated annually with a Kolokasi Festival in September. Sotira is also well known for the byzantine routes consisting of many byzantine churches that are historical gems for the whole region. Ayia Thekla Beach and Sirena Beach that are also in Sotira, are ideal for romantic, dreamy beach weddings. Sotira has a population of around 6,000 people, and has taken its name from Jesus Christ the Savior(Sotiras in Greek means savior).

Ayia Thekla Beach

Ayia Thekla is a small beach named after the old small church which is nearby. Situated a few km from Ayia Napa, it is covered with fine golden sand. Ayia Thekla and Sirena Beach just a few meters nearby, are ideal for couples that want to seal their love and have their dream wedding in a romantic sandy beach. Imagine the sand between your toes, the wind blowing gently from the sea and sharing your big day with family and friends. Ayia Thekla even has its own reception venue adjacent – Nissaki Ayias Theklas Restaurant.

Ayia Thekla Chapel

Located by the sea, lies the chapel of Ayia Thekla. Ruins of the early Christian Basilica with mosaics were identified in the area, but they were extremely damaged throughout the years. Ayia Thekla served as a convent in 1937. Many of the icons were painted in St. Varnavas Monastery, which is now in the occupied areas. On the west side of the chapel lies the catacomb of Ayia Thecla (Roman), where a small underground church is curved. This is probably an ancient tomb converted into a church in the middle Byzantine period or during the Frankish as over the entrance bears an incised cross.

Ayios Mamas Chapel

The chapel of Ayios Mamas dating to the early 16th century. This is a small single-domed church, Franco type. The church was decorated with wall paintings dated to the end of the 16th century. Unfortunately, most have been destroyed. On the northwest side are the coats of arms of the founder, the lower upright lion and a fish. According to a local myth-story, many years ago, two Turks went to the church and one of them began scratching and taking off the eyes of the Saits on the paintings, using a knife. Story has it that, when they came out of the temple, the two Turks became blind, by a branch of pomegranate which suddenly came to their eyes.

Ayios Georgios Chortakion Church

The church of Ayios Georgios Chortakion is of cruciform with a dome built in the early 12th century. Originally the church was decorated with frescoes, of which very few survive in poor condition. On the south wall of the narthex you can see charcoal painted boats on the wall. In the older years, a settlement was in place in that Chortakion area and it seems that this church was a parish church of it, but its residents moved to the center of today’s village.

Ayios Theodoros Church

The ruins of Ayios Theodoros Chortakion church are located approximately two kilometers west of Sotira and approximately 200 meters northwest of the church of Panagia Chordakiotissa. The main church is in ruins and its walls are preserved at a low height. The narthex of the church is preserved almost intact because it was built at a later stage compared to when the church was built, as is often the case in churches of the middle Byzantine period in Cyprus.

Panagia
Chordakiotissa Church

From the old monastery of Panagia Chordakiotissa, today only survives the church, which is situated next to Sotira’s cemetery. The church is single-aisled with a dome and was decorated with frescoes which unfortunately were destroyed. Few traces have survived throughout the years, since the church was built in the late 12th century.

Ecclesiastical Museum

The chapel of Ayios Georgios in the centre of Sotira is a stone-built, single-aisle, vaulted church, built on the site of an earlier temple. According to information from father Georgios Ioannou, when residents in 1899 gathered in the temple ruins then to commit Liturgy built a tent with sheets to shade or cover roughly the area. Strong rain caused them problems and they decided to build a new temple. Nowadays, the church operates as an ecclesiastical museum, setting out important ecclesiastical treasures as sacred images, old forms Gospels, liturgical books, crosses, liturgical vessels and others.

Sirena Beach

Sirena Beach is another beach near Ayia Thekla, ideal for wedding ceremonies for romantic couples that want to have a memorable wedding experience. This beach wedding venue offers a ‘feet in the sand’ experience for those couples who desire it. It’s an extremely affordable option and ideal for wedding groups, families and friends looking for a laid back and relaxed wedding abroad. Sotira also hosts Poseidon Beach that has all facilities for sunbathing and enoying nature next to the beach.

Transfiguration of Jesus Christ (Savior) – New Church

The new church of the Transfiguration is built next to the old church, the Byzantine style and was built to solve the problem faced by residents for comfortable churchgoing. Work on the construction of the church began in 1935 and ended despite financial difficulties in early 1939. The inauguration of the temple took place by Archbishop Makarios in 1955. In the church are two major religious feasts. The Feast of the Transfiguration on August 6 and Sunday Palm Sunday before Easter Sunday.

Octo Microbrewery

It is a small, local microbrewery in Sotira Famagusta run by people that simply love beer! It is one of the most modern and technologically advanced Microbreweries in Europe with the edge of technology equipment, full quality control of their product and always try to surprise beer lovers with new innovative beers and taste. Octo Microbrewery, focuses on innovation and creativity, aiming to create groundbreaking flavors for the market. Based on this vision, it has collaborated with archaeologists to create the first beer inspired by an ancient Cypriot brewery that is 3,800 years old, reviving an ancient recipe. Visit https://octo.beer/

Kolokasi Harvest

Sotira is home for ‘kolokasi’ (taro root – colocasia esculanta). The oldest reference to Kolokasi is found in 1191, as a dish served at the wedding dinner of the King of England Richard the Lionheart with Verengaria at Limassol castle. Kolokasi has been cultivated in Sotira since the beginning of the 20th century. The vegetable adapted well to the area and local conditions, hence, Sotira currently produces more than 85% of Cyprus’ kolokasi. Since 2016 “Kolokasi Sotiras” has been registered as “Protected Designation of Origin” and “Protected Geographical Indication”. Kolokasi features prominently in the local cultural life as illustrated at the traditional Kolokasi Festival held in September. One of the festival’s highlights is interaction with growers who share all their knowledge and stories related to Kolokasi.