Ineia-Akamas website: a digital gateway to nature, culture and heritage in Cyprus

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The Ineia–Akamas website is a newly developed digital platform that brings together the natural, cultural and geographical identity of one of the most remarkable regions of Cyprus. Covering the villages of the Laona plateau and the wider Akamas peninsula, the platform offers an integrated view of landscape, history, geology and local heritage.

Developed with the contribution of the geographers, cartographers and editors of SELAS, the project combines cartographic expertise, geographic documentation and digital mapping to create an accessible and educational experience for visitors, researchers and the local community.

A Digital platform for a unique region

The Ineia-Akamas area is a landscape of exceptional value, where traditional villages, protected nature and complex geology coexist within a relatively small geographical space.

The website serves as a central hub that presents:

  • The villages of the Laona plateau
  • The natural environment of the Akamas peninsula
  • Geological formations and landforms
  • Cultural heritage and traditions
  • Educational and historical material

By bringing all this information together in one digital environment, the platform enhances understanding of the region as a whole, rather than as separate points of interest.

The vision behind the project

The creation of the Ineia–Akamas website is based on a clear vision: to document and promote the region in a way that connects nature, culture and education.

The area is not only a popular destination for visitors, but also an important landscape for environmental awareness, scientific study and cultural preservation.

The platform aims to:

  • Support sustainable tourism
  • Promote environmental education
  • Preserve cultural memory
  • Strengthen local identity
  • Improve access to geographic knowledge

What the website covers

The Ineia–Akamas platform includes detailed information about:

Ineia village

The traditional settlement of Ineia with its own architectural character and cultural identity.

Akamas Peninsula

One of Cyprus’ most important natural areas, known for its biodiversity, coastal landscapes and protected ecosystems.

Geological landscape

The region features a wide variety of rock formations, including limestone, sandstone, marl and the distinctive formations of the Mamonia complex.

Cultural heritage

Traditional practices, agricultural life, local customs and historical continuity across generations.

Educational content

Material designed to support understanding of the relationship between humans and the natural environment.

SELAS Contribution

SELAS contributed to the development of the Ineia–Akamas project through:

  • Geographical documentation of the region
  • Historical and cultural research support
  • Cartographic production and mapping
  • GIS-based spatial representation
  • Development of the official Ineia village website

In addition, SELAS provided services for the creation of the Ineia–Lara Turtle Museum and Educational Centre, supporting the broader effort to preserve and promote the cultural and natural heritage of the area.

Through this work, SELAS helped transform complex spatial and historical data into accessible visual and digital formats that enhance public understanding of the region.

A Tool for Education and Sustainable Development

Beyond tourism, the Ineia-Akamas website functions as an educational resource.

It supports:

  • Schools and academic institutions
  • Researchers and geographers
  • Environmental organisations
  • Local authorities
  • Visitors interested in cultural exploration

By combining maps, descriptions and structured information, the platform encourages a deeper appreciation of the landscape and its long-term preservation.

Why This Project Matters

The Ineia-Akamas region is facing increasing pressures from development, environmental change and tourism activity. Digital documentation plays an important role in ensuring that its identity and value are preserved for future generations.

This project contributes to:

  • Digital preservation of cultural landscapes
  • Awareness of environmental sensitivity
  • Promotion of responsible tourism
  • Strengthening of regional identity

The official Ineia-Akamas website is now available online:

👉 https://ineia-akamas.com.cy/en/home-en/

Visitors can explore the villages, landscapes and cultural information of the region through an interactive and informative digital experience.

About SELAS

SELAS is a Cyprus-based company specializing in cartography, GIS, geospatial analysis and geographic documentation. Through projects involving digital upgrades of communities, SELAS continues to contribute to the documentation, interpretation and digital representation of Cyprus’ natural and cultural heritage.

The Ineia–Akamas website represents more than a digital archive. It is a living platform that connects geography, culture and education in one unified space.

By combining scientific mapping with cultural storytelling, the project highlights the importance of understanding place not only as a location, but as a living system shaped by nature and people over time.

Digital Upgrade of Communities

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The Project “Digital Upgrade of Communities aimed at showcasing cultural heritage, increasing visitor numbers, and offering authentic experiences,” announced by the Deputy Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the Municipality of Akamas, has been completed. The project constitutes a comprehensive example of digital transformation in the fields of tourism and cultural management.

SELAS undertook the design and implementation of:

  • Interactive digital multimedia applications (multilingual).
  • Digital educational applications based on scientific data in biodiversity and paleontology.
  • Touch-based applications with content grounded in scientific research on ecology and the environment. For the first time, the biodiversity of the area is presented in a digital application through on-site documentation and geospatial visualization of all flora and fauna species.
  • Mapping of thematic routes (hiking & cycling routes) and creation of digital maps.
  • A web platform for the digital promotion of Laona and Akamas, featuring interactive maps and content based on primary research.

This project combines technology, geospatial analysis, and geographical and ecological documentation, linking innovation, geography, ecology, and culture, and contributing to smart and sustainable tourism.

Polis-Latsi Sea and Culture Museum

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The Polis-Latsi Sea and Culture Museum officially opened its doors to the public on 2 September 2025, creating a new cultural space in the Polis Chrysochous area.

Dedicated to the maritime history and culture of Cyprus, with a particular focus on the Akamas region, the Museum explores the island’s relationship with the sea through a contemporary and immersive museum experience.

Technology plays an important role in the visitor experience. Virtual and Augmented Reality, interactive displays, digital applications and multimedia projections are integrated with the exhibition content, offering visitors different ways to discover and engage with the maritime history and cultural heritage of Cyprus.

New Polis-Latsi Sea and Culture Museum

The project was developed and implemented by the Eratosthenes Centre of Excellence. SELAS’ team of geographers and cartographers was proud to contribute to the project, supporting the development of content for the digital technology that enhance the contemporary museum experience.

The team contributed to the design of interactive maps for the Museum’s digital displays, presenting the geography, locations and distinctive characteristics of the surrounding area.

New Polis-Latsi Sea and Culture Museum

The team also contributed to the design and production of printed wall maps displayed in the “Mediterranean” Hall, integrating cartographic information into the exhibition environment.

Historical Map of Mediterranean

In addition, SELAS undertook the research and writing of a regional guide, featuring geographical, historical and cultural information that helps visitors gain a deeper understanding of Polis Chrysochous, Chrysochous Bay and the Akamas region.

The publication forms part of the walking guide “Exploring Polis Chrysochous – A journey through the villages of Chrysochou Bay and Akamas”.

Travel Guide Polis Chrysochou in english

Digital Educational Applications

Our cooperation for the educational applications and multimedia projections enabled to transform knowledge and information into a more accessible and interactive learning experience connecting historical and cultural information with contemporary audiovisual storytelling.

From Research to Visitor Experience

Creating a contemporary museum experience goes beyond simply collecting information. It requires research, documentation, selection and organisation of content, so that knowledge can be transformed into an accessible and engaging experience for different audiences.

At the Polis-Latsi Sea & Culture Museum, the history and geography of the region meet digital technology, creating multiple opportunities for exploration and learning.

Polis Chrysochous: A Place of History and Culture

The Museum is located in an area with a particularly rich history and natural heritage.

Polis Chrysochous, ancient Marion, Chrysochous Bay, Latsi and Akamas form a landscape where the history of Cyprus is closely connected with the sea, trade, navigation, nature and the lives of its people.

Discovering this region therefore offers a broader journey through the history and culture of Cyprus.

Read More

Exploring Polis Chrysochous

A journey through the villages of Chrysochous Bay and the Akamas, exploring the region’s history, nature and cultural heritage.

Exploring Pafos

A broader journey through the history, geography and cultural heritage of the Paphos district.

A Cultural Heritage Project

The Polis–Latsi Museum is a new cultural space where history meets technology and knowledge is transformed into an engaging and immersive visitor experience.

The project contributes to the contemporary presentation and interpretation of the maritime history and cultural heritage of Cyprus.

Learn more about the Polis–Latchi Sea and Culture Museum and visit the Museum’s official website.

Walking and Cycling Routes In the Community of Pano Arodes

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The Community of Pano Arodes, southeast of the Akamas Forest and in the middle of the Laona plateau, enjoys an enviable natural wealth, a rich geodiversity, unique landforms and a remarkable History and Cultural heritage.

For a better exploration of the village, we proceeded, in collaboration with the Community, with the design of three walking and cycling routes with suggested points of interest, inviting the visitor to learn about the unique natural and cultural wealth of the area.

Εκδόθηκαν τέλος έντυποι χάρτες των Διαδρομών για χρήση από τους επισκέπτες.

Mapping the “Aphrodite” Thematic Route

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SELAS undertook the project of the mapping the “Aphrodite” Thematic Route and the design of the maps for the Information Center in the Community of Ineia, in Pafos.

​The thematic linear route “Aphrodite” has as starting point the Information Center in Ineia village and ends at “Alykou” geomorphological landform with a panoramic view towards Lara Bay and Lara beaches.  

It is a very pleasant route which passes among unique geomorphological landforms, Byzantine chapels, stone fountains and a rich flora and fauna. Hikers experience simultaneously the magnificent elevation of the plateau of Laona, at an altitude of about 550 meters and the beneficial effect of the sea.

The “Aphrodite” Thematic Route received a European Honorary Distinction being selected among 297 projects for the European Public Spaces Award.

​​The project was implemented by the Pafos District Administration, within the framework of the Cyprus’ Recovery and Resilience Plan, funded by the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility.

Mapping the Archaeological Findings in the City of Larnaka

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Following a long research and study of the archaeological findings discovered during the rescue excavations in the city of Larnaka, SELAS undertook, on behalf of the Larnaka Sewerage Board and with collaboration with Archaeologists of the Department of Antiquities, private archaeologists, experts from Larnaκa Sewerage Board and surveyor engineers, the mapping of the area of the archaeological findings. 

SELAS undertook the design of digital and printed maps which depict, for the first time the wealth of archaeological findings of the area and include ancient carved tombs, burial complexes and ancient architectural remains.

The above findings were unearthed and recorded in the field during the rescue excavations in the city of Larnaka, in view of the excavations carried out for the creation of the drainage system.

Provision of Services for the creation of the Turtle Museum and Education Center in the Community of Ineia

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Scientific Research, Documentation, Digital Applications and Environmental Education

The pioneering Ineia-Lara Turtle Exhibition and Education Centre, located in the community of Ineia in the Pafos District of Cyprus, is an important initiative dedicated to showcasing Cyprus’s natural heritage and raising public awareness of the conservation of sea turtles and their ecosystems.

The Centre was established as part of the project entitled “Supply of Equipment and Provision of Design and Fit-Out Services for the Turtle Exhibition and Education Centre in the Community of Ineia” (Tender No. E.D.PAF.K.S. 17/2021). The project was funded by national resources and implemented by the Ineia Turtle Museum Implementation Consortium – Architectonika and Partners.

The SELAS team played an active and substantial role in the development and implementation of the project, contributing its scientific expertise, producing specialized content and developing educational, digital and cartographic applications. Through the collaboration of its specialist teams, SELAS helped shape the integrated visitor experience offered by the Centre, combining information, exploration and learning.

SELAS’s Contribution

Scientific Research and Documentation

SELAS undertook scientific research, gathering and documenting the necessary material to establish a solid foundation for the development of reliable, scientifically grounded and educationally engaging exhibition content.

Exhibition content and Publications

SELAS Publications was responsible for writing texts for the exhibits and documentaries, as well as producing informational and publishing materials. The team also designed and published a printed guide and an e-book about Ineia and the Lara beaches, highlighting the area’s natural value and its importance as a nesting habitat for the Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) and the Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas).

Guide of Ineia

Interactive and Digital applications

SELAS designed and developed interactive applications for the Centre’s touchscreen displays, using digital technology to create a modern and engaging visitor experience. These applications present scientific information in an accessible and appealing way, helping visitors understand sea turtle biology, the threats these species face and the importance of protecting their habitats.

Innia-Lara Turtle Museum

Informational signage and educational resources

The SELAS team also undertook the design and installation of informational signs, while developing specialised educational programmes and digital applications for primary and secondary school students.

These educational resources promote experiential learning, improve understanding of biodiversity and foster environmental awareness among younger generations.

Mapshop home v2 2026

Cartography and Geospatial applications

SELAS Mapping Services carried out detailed mapping of Ineia and its local points of interest, designed a detailed three-dimensional map of the Akamas region, and created global and local thematic maps illustrating sea turtle distribution and movement routes.

These cartographic outputs enrich the Centre’s exhibition content and help visitors better understand the geographical distribution and ecology of sea turtles.

Green Turtle Distribution Map

Knowledge, Technology and Environmental awareness

The Ineia–Lara Turtle Exhibition and Education Centre serves as an important reference point for promoting the natural heritage of the region, supporting ecotourism and strengthening environmental education.

By combining scientific research, publishing, digital technologies, educational methodologies and cartography, SELAS made a substantial contribution to the development of a modern space dedicated to knowledge, discovery and environmental awareness.

For more information about the Ineia–Lara Turtle Exhibition and Education Centre, its exhibits, educational activities and the natural heritage of the region, visit www.ineia-akamas.com.cy. The website was designed and developed by the SELAS team, contributing to the digital promotion of Ineia and Akamas and highlighting the region’s natural, geographical and cultural identity.

Related Articles and SELAS Projects

Mapping Ineia Village

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3D Artistic Cartography, local identity and the promotion of cultural heritage

SELAS undertook the mapping of the Community of Ineia, creating a detailed, three-dimensional illustrated map that captures the distinctive character of the settlement and its surrounding landscape. Combining cartographic accuracy with artistic representation, the map highlights the area’s topography, the village’s distinctive architecture, and its religious, historical and cultural monuments.

Particular emphasis was placed on illustrating land use, natural vegetation and cultivated areas. Carefully selected colours and illustrative details create a distinctive cartographic composition that combines information with visual appeal, bringing the character of the landscape to life.

A unique feature of the project is the hand-drawn illustrations of points of interest, which capture their distinctive architectural and morphological characteristics. These illustrations give the map its own visual identity while helping visitors locate and recognise the area’s most important sites.

The 3D illustrated map of Ineia is both a practical and creative tool for exploring the area, offering visitors a comprehensive view of the settlement, its natural environment and its cultural heritage.

Through this project, SELAS contributes to strengthening local identity and promoting Ineia as a destination of natural, cultural and exploratory interest.

The mapping of the Community of Ineia is connected to the broader project “Provision of Services for the Configuration of the Turtle Exhibition and Education Centre in the Community of Ineia”, through which cartographic and illustrative approaches help showcase the area and its distinctive natural and cultural character.

Read more about the project: Turtle Exhibition and Education Centre in the Community of Ineia.

Provision of Services for Akamas Regional Bird Fauna and Terrestrial Flora Information Center in the Community of Kathikas

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The modern Regional Information Center for Birds and Terrestrial Flora Akamas in the Community of Kathikas in Pafos district, falls under the project “PROCUREMENT OF EQUIPMENT/EXHIBITS/INFORMATION MATERIALS AND PROVISION OF SERVICES FOR THE REGIONAL INFORMATION CENTER FOR BIRD FAUNA AND TERESTRIAL FLORA” No. Tender: ED.PAF.K.S 15/2021.

The aim of the Project is to present the main species of Bird Fauna and Terrestrial Flora of Akamas Peninsula, world famous for its biodiversity, in the specially designed rooms of the Center, with the ultimate aim of informing and educating the public about the wealth of our natural heritage.

SELAS Publications participated in the Project by undertaking a long on the spot research of the physical and cultural wealth of Akamas. Our editors undertook the writing of the physical, historical, and cultural aspects of each community of Akamas, which are presented in the exhibits of the museum. They also prepared the context of the Center’s website https://akamasvisitorcentre.com/.

SELAS’ cartographers undertook the detailed mapping of the area, including road network, paths, and nature trails, as well as collection of all points of interest. Printed and digital maps have been produced and offered to visitors or displayed in special designed boards within the Community.

The Exhibition Center also serves as a place for education and scientific research, contributing to public awareness of the importance of protecting and properly managing the environmental wealth of the area.

Mapping Tremithousa Community

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SELAS undertook, on behalf of Tremithousa Municipal Council, the Project of mapping Tremithousa Community in Pafos District and the production of digital and printed maps.

The mapping included the recording of the road network as well as the points of interest within the village. The Maps also include an alphabetical listing of all streets within the Community’s administrative area. 

​The printed maps were placed in prominent places within the Community for the guidance of both locals and foreign visitors.

In addition, printed pocket size maps were designed for individual use in a simple and modern design.

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