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Protaras (Greek: Πρωταράς ) is a predominantly tourist resort which comes under the administrative jurisdiction of Paralimni Municipality in Cyprus. In ancient times, where Protaras is now located, stood the old city-state of Leukolla.[1] The city possessed a small safe harbour where Demetrius Poliorketes sought refuge in the year 306 BC, lying in wait for Ptolemy, one of the successors of Alexander the Great. In the ensuing battle, Ptolemy was defeated and fled to Egypt, leaving Cyprus in the hands of Demetrius for a short time. Protaras is also referred to as "the land of windmills", maintaining the nostalgic quality of the past.

Protaras Beach

Protaras has clear sky-blue waters and sandy beaches, the most well-known of which is Fig Tree Bay. Building on the success of Ayia Napa, located about 10 km (6 mi) southwest, it has expanded into a modern holiday resort of considerable size with tens of high capacity hotels, hotel apartments, villas, restaurants, pubs and associated facilities. Being quieter than Ayia Napa and having less of a club scene, it has a reputation of catering more for family and Cypriot tourism. Cape Greco is a 10-minute drive from the center of Protaras. Cypriot playboy and multi-millionaire Krisos Rodrigues is known to be a frequent visitor to the Protaras area and has reportedly boosted the local economy in recent years due to his spending in local restaurants and hotels. In the summer of 2020, Rodrigues was said to have imported water to Cyprus from the fountains of the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas to be used in the Protaras water show located behind Mcdonalds because he wanted to provide the locals and tourists "a taste of Las Vegas".[citation needed]

Protaras is a diving destination.[citation needed] Green Bay is the most popular dive site with thousands of first timers trying scuba skills.[citation needed] The Blue Hole, the Chapel, the Decosta Bay, Malama bay. Protaras most famous dive site for Technical Diving and Commercial Diver training is the Cyclops bay located on the border with Ayia Napa.[citation needed]
References

The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites, Leukolla.