| Paralimni bears little resemblance to the sleepy rural backwater of the early 1970s. Paralimni's change began in 1974 when the town of Famagusta's Greek-Cypriot population fled south during the invasion of the Turks. Paralimni expanded overnight and soon became the regional administrative capital. The centre of Paralimni with its superb Church, is popular and the town has retained a friendly charm that warrants a couple of hours of anybody's time.
Paralimni's inland location means that it can get unbearably hot during the summer months. In the not-too-distant past the surrounding area was irrigated by an intricate system of windmill-driven waterways, which today sit motionless and derelict. Matters aren't helped by the fact that each morning Paralimni empties itself of people as the local population commutes to work in the nearby tourists resorts. For such a sizeable town, Paralimni has an eerily ghostly feel and daytime visitors won't find much of interest beyond the attractive town square and a handful of handicraft shops. However, in the evening things liven up and Paralimni represents a refreshing alternative for anyone who is tired of the relentless beats that accompany every aspect of life in nearby Ayia Napa
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