Area: | 9,251 sq km |
Capital: | Nicosia |
Language: | Greek, Turkish |
Currency: | Euro |
Turkish Lira | |
Population: | 784,301 |
Coastline: | 648 sq km |
Home > General Info > Cities > Protaras
A narrow coastal plain lining about 5 km northwest of Cape Greco to the east of Paralimni has been given the name "Protaras". It is a well-known tourist centre covered with many beautiful beaches.
Protaras as we can see it today is quite possibly the site of ancient Lefkolla, the small cove with fine-grained sand and the little island which was originally called "Fig Tree Bay" by the British. Visitors from abroad know little about the ancient town of Lefkolla that had formerly a role of a city-port. Mentioned by Strabo, the place is where Cesnola discovered artifacts of Greco-roman origins. This very site is one of the ancient sites on the island. A dozens of tiny islands groom the coast of Protaras , known locally as "Nissia". Recent excavations at Nissia showed 28 houses and a wall. Also pottery, stone implements as well as deer horns have been revealed. The settlement is dated to be Neolithic.
On a solitary top outcrop one can spot an isolated chapel of Profitis Ilias that is set in carved reddish limestone. The exterior of the church that we can see today was refurbished in 1984, on the foundations of the old church which had been lying in ruins. Small, elegant and with no extra ornaments, the church carries the Byzantine architecture, with plates built into the walls. The church houses a tiny iconostasis depicting the life of Christ. From the limestone outcrop one can experience a wonderful view.
The coast lined with jagged and grafted cliffs and the bays, little isles and isolated pieces of rocks, sea caves and arches eroded by the waves, these are all natural peculiarities of Protaras. A nice picture of landscape refills a few scattered irrigated plots of fruit trees and vegetables. Thousands of windmills that still make a slight move under the gust of wind and plenty of ponds with frogs croaking at night complete a lovely atmosphere of the area.