This colourful Tamil temple is located in the French overseas territory of Reunion Island.
The temple was built by the island's Tamil community in the 19th century to provide a place of worship for the sugar cane workers and their families. Today it is one of the tourist alternatives in the town of Saint-Pierre as guided tours are offered to learn more about the building and the history of the Tamil community on the island.
The Panagia tis Angeloktistis is a Byzantine church, famous for its 6th-century apse mosaic. The present church was mainly built in the 11th century as a domed church with a cross plan, but the apse is the remains of an early Christian basilica from the 5th century. This early basilica was destroyed around 800 during the Arab invasion of Cyprus. Around 1400, a Gothic side chapel was added to the church during the reign of the House of Lusignan in Cyprus to serve the Latin rite for the services of the ruling upper class. Today, the chapel serves as a vestibule to the church. The church has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2015.
The Cathedral of Ayia Napa was built between the late 19th and early 20th century on the ruins of a smaller ancient Byzantine church. According to tradition, the church takes its name from an icon of the Virgin Mary, which was found in a wooded valley ("napa" in Latin), and is therefore dedicated to her.
Metamorfosis tou Sotiro (Transfiguration of the Saviour) is one of the painted churches of the Troodos Mountains. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001.
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