Medieval Festival
The Medieval Festival in Ayia Napa is an annual event that takes place in the town of Ayia Napa, Cyprus, in early October. It is one of the largest and most popular festivals in Cyprus, and attracts visitors from all over the world.
The festival is a celebration of medieval culture and history, and features a variety of events and activities, including:
- A medieval market with stalls selling traditional crafts, food, and drinks
- Medieval music and dance performances
- Street theatre and performances
- Exhibitions of medieval art and artifacts
- Children’s activities
The festival also features a number of special events, such as a parade of knights and horses, a medieval banquet, and a fireworks display.
The Medieval Festival is a great opportunity to learn about medieval culture and history, and to experience some of the sights and sounds of the Middle Ages.
It is also a fun and festive event for all ages.
HISTORY
The Medieval Festival was first celebrated in Agia Napa in 2006. It has since become an annual festival and is celebrated with a series of events and activities aiming to explore and learn more about the medieval ages. Its start was a bold step in the cultural life of Agia Napa and few people believed then that the Festival would become so successful. However, with the love, care and tireless efforts of the Cultural Department of the Municipality, under the guidance of Mrs. Maria Tofini Tsantila who has worked without sparing time and effort, today, after 17 years of success, the festival has gained international prestige, attracting thousands of visitors, and it contributes to the extension of the tourist season of Agia Napa.
The Agia Napa Medieval Festival has become internationally well-known and fulfills all the criteria for cooperation with other festivals of its kind. There has been collaboration with other medieval festivals such as the Medieval Festival of Rhodes, MaltaMendina and Venice Carnival. Its main events take place on Stage in Agia Napa’s Central Square.
The festival has a duration of 8 days which makes it one of the biggest in a continuous event in Cyprus and Europe. The activities of Agia Napa Medieval Festival are inspired by the Medieval period, representing the everyday life and events of these times, including: Street theatre, Theatrical play with the Medieval Monastery as a natural setting, Concerts and dance shows, performed by groups from European countries such as Greece, Russia, Italy, Ukraine, Romania, Slovakia, Germany, Netherlands, France, Spain, Belarus, Czech Republic, Poland and Cyprus.
The event called “The streets of Crusaders” includes schools and a number of teams which participate dressed in medieval costumes. There is a Medieval market with products for sale such as wine (in wooden barrels), medieval dishes, etc. There are exhibitions of collections of weapons, embroidery, weavers, Medieval workshops such as pottery making, basketry etc. which are set along the outer corridor of the monastery.
As every year, the Medieval Festival will once again be great, with the participation of hundreds of artists and thousands of visitors who will enjoy the wonderful shows and events. The people behind the event are the best guarantee that the festival will continue to be one of the most important ornaments for which the Municipality of Agia Napa can be proud of.