Paralimni is a small town near Famagusta in the eastern part of the island. Unlike most Cypriot cities, it was not built on the coast, but at some distance, which protected it from raids by pirates and other enemies from the sea.

Paralimni became the administrative center of Famagusta as a result of the 1974 Turkish invasion, when Famagusta fell under occupation, and several tens of thousands of people moved to Paralimni from the Turkic-occupied North of the island.

The toponym “Paralimni” means “by the lake”. In the Middle Ages, when the city was built, there was a shallow lake, which was filled with water in winter and dried up in summer.
By the early 20th century, the lake virtually ceased to exist due to the redistribution of land for agricultural purposes.

In the architecture of the town there is almost nothing left of medieval buildings.

Several interesting historical buildings have been preserved in the center of the town – near the church and the adjacent streets.

In general, the residential streets of Paralimni are built up with the same type of houses, but the monotonous landscape looks more interesting due to the lush vegetation, trees and orchards, especially in the period when everything blooms.

New houses built by young Paralimni residents, as well as foreigners who buy real estate here, look stylish and modern.

On the central square of Paralimni is the Church of St. Demetrios.

There is also a small shopping center, modern cafes and restaurants on the square.

Fresh breeze constantly blows in this part of the island, and the heat here is not as exhausting as in the center and other areas.
Wind energy is actively used here – in this area you can see picturesque windmills, which are mainly used for pumping water from underground wells.

This water is used for irrigation of agricultural land.

Paralimni is located in the center of the “red earth” region of Cyprus, famous for its incredibly tasty potatoes. The crops are harvested here three times a year, and the tubers weigh 600-800 grams each. Pairs of such tubers are enough to feed the whole family.
Cypriot “red” potatoes are so valued in Greece that someone enterprising decided to buy red soil in Paralimni and grind Greek potatoes with it, passing it off as Cypriot potatoes.

In addition to potatoes, this area is famous for its unsurpassed strawberries, and the village of Derinia, located near Paralimni, is a real strawberry paradise, where every spring an annual strawberry festival is held.
But that’s what we’ll talk about next time.

Paralimni, unlike its famous neighbors Aya Napa and Protaras, is not an untouched tourist destination, but if your priority is peace and quiet near the sea surrounded by beautiful nature, as well as delicious fresh farm produce and space for walking, cycling and running, choose Paralimni safely.

The only sounds that disturb the silence of these places are the singing of birds in the morning, the chirping of the cicadas in the midday heat and the rustling of the grass in the pre sunset hour.

Where to stay:
Mythical Sands Resort
OCEANIA
Alion Beach Hotel

The best restaurants and taverns:
Sale e Pepe
Glasshouse Lounge Restaurant
Doma Restaurant

Bars:
Mojito Bar & Grill
Kokos Bar
Spectrum Pub