Napa Party Ride
Distance: 40 km
Elevation: 438 m
Seeking out some natural highlights in the party capital, including a remote church built in a cave.
This off-season ride takes in some beauty spots of both Aiya Napa and Protaras. At 40km and with a little over 400m elevation it is a pleasant, accessible ride. Note, while this can be done on a road bike, it is definitely not recommended.
Starting at the popular Landa beach, on a bright morning, I head past the Nissi beach resort and towards the party town, Aiya Napa. Taking a left, I head slightly uphill and behind the main strip through a quiet residential area crossing a roundabout before reaching a park with great views across the town, guarded by a giant Santa.
As planned, I take the right turn onto the ‘road’ marked and shown as a road on various maps. It looks like it won’t be a road for long, but I smile and enjoy the peace along with the views. Far to quickly, while the smile is still available, the road turns to track. ‘No problems, this isn’t unusual for short sections,’ I tell myself. I silently apologise to the bike and remind myself I have spare tubes. The track carries on, easy going and quiet, but definitely a gravelly, farm track, definitely not for a road bike. I pass a military camp, still on the track and begin to head down on what now resembles a walking track, somewhat hairy at times on my slick road tyres. This would be great on most bikes, just not the one I’m on today. Suddenly, the track opens out and a flight of steps lead up to ‘Aigoi Saranta’, the church built into the cave. It’s a unique, remote spot and I spend a few minutes tip-toeing in unstable cleats up to the door. Set into a cave, a wall has been built across the front to keep the weather out. It is a muted place of worship. Inside is little space, no decoration or adjustments, simply a few seats, an altar and some icons. There seem to be no record of when it was built or any other detailed information. Only that the name implies it is dedicated to the forty martyrs of Sebaste. It’s a serene spot to sit and see if I can work out how much longer I will be off-roading. The answer is… I don’t really know.
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From here the track is more compact, slowly civilisation seems to creep back into the ride. Before long, I am on sweet, smooth tarmac, coasting along with that weird feeling in my legs now that they aren’t being rattled around. The next viewpoint I head up to is an epic fail. It’s a short loop up and around an estate full of holiday rentals, eerily quiet at this time of year. It seems the viewpoint is actually via the Profitis Ilias church which is at the top of many steps. The bike reminds me it’s built for the road, I agree, so it’s onwards into Protaras.
Taking the left to go through the tourist high street towards the beach equals more cobbles, again rattling the bike. The main street is pretty deserted. Themed pubs and eateries, souvenir shops and attractions closed up, blinds keeping the sun damage to a minimum. Maintenance contractors are carrying out various tasks around and about but there’s no obstacles to avoid. Vitally, there are at least two coffee shops open. Most of the streets to the left lead to the beach and I take one of them to enjoy a moment by the sea. I re-join the main road before taking a left to head towards Konnos and Cape Greco. The road to Greco gives me the first noticeable birdsong of the day and wonderful views of the landscape.
Heading into the national park area I take obligatory photos of Crow’s Arch, the stunning, natural bridge, the sea providing it’s backdrop. Then, the pretty Ayioi Anagiroi church, it’s blue roof almost matching that of the sea. Following this I head down towards the peninsula until I’m stopped by a gate. In recent years there were radio masts here, there’s no sign of these now, however this is clearly the end of this road. The views of the bay are some of the best you will see here and the sea is a blue that is hard to describe, so I won’t butcher it by trying. Needless to say, it is spectacular.
Heading towards Napa I stick on roads by the sea. To the left is the love bridge area. While there is a bridge here, now weighed down with padlocks, the real beauty is in the rock formations and sea caves. It’s well worth spending time appreciating these, as well as the turquoise waters. I’m spoilt for choice, to my right is Aiya Napa’s sculpture and cactus park where an hour or more can easily disappear walking the area.
At this point I realise I am now against the clock. I zip down into the centre of Napa and desperately navigate the one-way system to try and reach the site of the Aiya Napa Aqueduct, a site which has origins in the Roman period although what is seen today is a restored conversion according to online sources. However, in my rush (and the one-way system) I miss a turning and end up back where I started. I decide there are more important things in life so head for the harbour area, and more cobbles (apologies to the bike and tyres again).
Along the main strip back towards Nissi I make the most of the tailwind. This tailwind is possibly the difference between me going to a school event for my children in lycra or going dressed as a normal human. On behalf of my children, I thank the tailwind. Thankfully, I make good time. Afterword; a new rear tyre was required.
