Paralimni
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Paralimni Παραλίμνι Paralimni |
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| Basic data | |||
| State : |
 Cyprus
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| District : | Famagusta | ||
| Geographic coordinates : | 35 ° 2 ′ N , 33 ° 59 ′ E | ||
| Residents : | 15,000 (2011) | ||
| Mayor : | Theodoros Pyrillis | ||
Paralimni (gr. Παραλίμνι ) is a municipality in the southeast of the Mediterranean island of Cyprus . Politically, it belongs to the Famagusta district of the Republic of Cyprus , the administrative center of which it has been de facto since the partition of Cyprus in 1974 .
Population and geography
Paralimni grew rapidly due to the conflict, as many Cypriot Greeks displaced from what is now the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus settled here, and today has around 11,000 inhabitants, which corresponds to over a quarter of the population of the remaining part of the district. The residents live mainly from tourism in neighboring Agia Napa , while agriculture also plays a bigger role.
The actual place Paralimni is about three kilometers inland and three kilometers south of the dividing line on the east bank of the mostly dry Paralimni Lake , from which the name ("Paralimni" = "lakeshore") is derived. The municipality ( Paralimni Municipality ), however, extends to the coast and into the UN buffer zone. The seaside resorts of Protaras , Pernera and Kapparis are administratively part of the municipality, with Protaras being much better known internationally than the municipality itself due to its tourism. Adjacent neighboring municipalities and villages are Dherynia , Sotira and Agia Napa.
History, culture and sights
The Neolithic archaeological site of Nissia can be found on the coast . In ancient times, the town of Lefkolla was located in what is now the municipality , of which no remains have been preserved.
In the past, Paralimni was best known for its windmills . In the place is the largest village square ( Platia ) of Cyprus. There are three churches: the largest is the new Agios Georgios Church , which was built in the early 1990s and is characterized by extensive painting in the interior. The second church is also dedicated to St. George and dates from the 19th century; the Gothic Panagia - cross-domed church was built in the 13th century, but was later altered by additions. Outside the actual village there are other churches, such as the Profitis Ilias chapel in Protaras, the Agia Varvara church near Kapparis and the Agia Trias church near Pernera.
Sports
Paralimni is home to the first-class football club Enosis Neon Paralimni , which plays its games in the "Tasos Marcou" stadium. The country's most famous football player, Michalis Konstantinou , was born in Paralimni and started his career here.
