Makronissos Archaeological Site — Attraction in Ayia Napa

The Tombs of Makronissos are situated west of Agia Napa and consist of 19 rock-cut tombs, a small sanctuary and an ancient quarry.

The sanctuary is a simple rectangular enclosure, made of large irregular blocks. The tombs were used during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, and although they were subject to severe looting over the years (from 1872), archaeologists believe that the deceased were placed in clay sarcophagus that were originally covered with three flat tiles.

The tomb’s rectangular entrance originally closed with one or two slabs, and Pyres were found on the surface, characteristic of Greek burial customs. Most of the chambers are almost identical with a rectangular trench in the middle and three benches at the side.

The graves were used during the Hellenistic and Roman period, as evidenced by the few citations found during the excavations, placing chronologically all findings in the Cypriot and Hellenistic period.

Most graves consist of a stairway leading down to a rectangular entrance. Proceeding there is a light rectangular opening in the middle and three benches on the sides of the chamber. The entrance of the tombs was built with a large slab or two smaller ones. The tombs of Makronissos seem to have been used for more than one burial, as several of them appear to have space for up to...

This temple is located in the center of Paralimni in the middle of the Byzantine church of Virgin Mary, also known as "Agia Anna" (13th century) and of the Cathedral of St. George, which was built in 1963-1966. An inscription on the north wall of the church gave the information that the present church was built in 1859, in place of an earlier Byzantine church which survived and integrated into sections with the recent one. Nineteen of the graves have been excavated to date (2018), a small sanctuary to the east of the tombs, and an ancient quarry section adjacent to the cemetery. The excavations took place after funding from the Municipality of Ayia Napa. The graves were used during the Hellenistic and Roman period, as evidenced by the few citations found during the excavations, placing chronologically all findings in the Cypriot and Hellenistic period. The dead were placed on clay sarcophagi originally covered with three flat tiles. Today one of the surviving clay sarcophagi along with some of the gifts are displayed at the Municipal Thalassa Museum...

Is such a shame that is not very well posted before you get there, as I stumble upon it while walking in the area. Once you reach it the archaeological site is open and free to explore. It has taken less that 30 minutes to read the history and walk the area. There are 19 tombs in total with a stairway leading you down but they are all empty, also there's a sanctuary and a quarry. The archaeology site it was part of a settlement in Hellenistic and Roman period before it was abandoned in the 7th century. The site is open from from 9.00 to 17.00 and close during...