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Shell Border Rug
Larnaka West Coast - Cyprus
The octagonal mosque, built in 1816, is considered the finest example of Ottoman architecture in Cyprus. the Tekke and its grounds have been completely renovated. In winter, the Salt Lake, which is one of the two main wetlands in Cyprus, is home to colonies of flamingos and other migratory birds. He lake is below sea level and seawater seeping in through the porous lime rocks leaves a thick deposit of salt as it dries out. The Salt Lake is on the Ramsar list as a wetland of international importance. Leave the Tekke, double back round the airport roundabout and follow the signs for Kiti. Birdwatchers can take a side trip to an extension of the Salt Lake known as Spiros’ Pool and the hide at the Water Treatment plant by going left in Meneou village at the sign for Meneou Beach. In Kiti, go right at the sign to Angeloktisi Church and then first left. The Byzantine church of Panagia Angeloktisi was built around 1,000 Ad on 5th century ruins. It was rebuilt in the 12th century and has later additions. It contains a rare and very impressive 6th century mosaic of the Virgin and Child, flanked by the Archangels Michael and Gabriel with peacock-feather wings. The church is open daily, closing between noon and 14:00 hrs. Back at the main road, go left and head for Mazotos. At Mazotos you can visit the museum of the self-taught contemporary artists Costas Argyrou. On the way the road is bordered by flat farmland with the sea in the distance to your left. A camel park and petrol station are on your left at the junction of the road to Mazotos. Go straight ahead on the road towards Zygi. This is a market gardening area, with fields of tomatoes, artichokes and cucumbers growing in the rich alluvio soil of the valleys of the rivers Xeropotamos, Pentaschoinos and Maron…
After about for kilometers, go right at the sign for Alaminos. Look carefully because the sign is not clear. From this road, you get an excellent view of Stavrovouni Monastery on its solitary peak to your right. As you approach Alaminos, behind a modern house on your left is a good example of a rural two-storey farmhouse with upper and lower arches. On your right is the recently reconstructed Alaminos tower. Alaminos was the fief of Philop of Ibelin during the Frankish or Lusignan Period (1192-1489AD) and this and similar keeps at Xylofagou, Pyla and Kiti are thought to have been watchtowers from that period or the later Venetian one. The sheep pens on the approach road to Kofinou indicate its dairy industry. Drive through the village, go left at the main BI road and take the left turn for Agios Theodoros at the bridge in the valley. The north side of Agios Theodoros is abandoned but the remains of the stone houses are picturesque. After bypassing the village, go left at the t-junction and drive to the coast through the rugged Pentaschoinos valley, where dark cliffs overhang the road and orange groves fill the river valley. At the coas, go right and drive to Zygi.Cyprus Holidays These days Zygi is famous for its fish taverns but in the past it was a busy little port and camel trains used to bring carobs for storage in the large stone warehouses to await export. The pier is derelict but the village and warehouses are undergoing considerable restoration. Leave by taking the road beside the white church, signposted to Maroni and go right before two large concrete water cisterns on a hill. As you approach the village, go right, cross the dry bed of the river Maroni cross the dry bed of the river Maroni and go left. Go right after the old church and left at the end of the road. Go left at the old stone house and into the village centre. The narrow streets of Maroni give you a glimpse of some impressive traditional architecture. There is an
archaeological dig on the southern ourskirts of the village, where traces of a settlement from the 16th centıry BC and an ancient olive press have been unearthed. Forty-five stone anchors were recovered from the sea near the site, some of which are now in the Larnaka Archaeological Museum. To leave, follow the signs for Nicosia and go right to Psematismenos, a compact little settlement with traditional architecture. At the main road go left, and then go right onto the F116 at the signpost to Tochni. Tochni is a picturesque village straddling a gully. On the bridge in the centre is the 19th century Timios Stavros church that stands on the site of a 4th century once said to have been founded by St. Helena to house a piece of the True Cross. Tochni is a very popular area with hikers and cyclists and has rural accommodation. Cross the bridge, go right and at the end of the road go left onto the E133 to Choirokoitia. Turn right into the village at the sign for Agios lakovos church. The postal ahency and grocery store in the square opposite the church are in traditional buildings. To leave, go to the left of the church back down to the E133, signposted to Vavla. After 200 metres go left at the sign for Panagia tou Kampou and go right at the fork. This will take you to the site of the castle, where on 7 July 1426 the Marmelukes defeated the army of King Janus, the Frankish king of Cyprus. all that is left are the remains of a barrel-vaulted room. The left fork takes you to the small church of Panagia tou Kampou, which is usually open. Go back to the EI33 and go right to the Neolithic site of Choirokoitia. Leave the settlement, go to the main BI road and join the Larnaka-Lemesos motorway at junction 14. Stawrovouni Monastery sits atop a steep 750m peak that was called Olympus in ancient times and where a temple to Aphrodite stood. The monastery dates back to 327 when, legend tells us, the ship carrying St Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, home from Jerusalem with the True Cross and the Cross of the Penitent Thief, ran before a storm to the coast of Cyprus. the holy woman dreamt that a young man instructed her to build many churches on the island. On waking, she discovered that the Cross of the Penitent Thief had miraculously transported itself to the top of the mountain, so she built Stavrovouni church in which to house it. He monastery contains a large wooden 15th century cross minutely carved with scenes from the life of Christ. It is encased in a silver reliquary that also contains what is believed to be a sliver of the True Cross. Stavrovouni is a working religious community of monks who follow the ascetic principles of Mount Athos. Although woman are not allowed to enter, the views from the monastery are spectacular.
Choirokoitia, a Neolithic settlement surrounded by a stone wall ,is one of the oldest excavated settlements in Cyprus. Remains show that by 6,800 BC, it’s two thousand or so inhabitants lived in beehive-shaped huts of stone and clay. Many of the houses had under-floor graves where the dead were laid to rest in the foetal position surrounded by gifts and personal effects. The settlement was built on an easily defensible hillside and surrounded by a wall. The Choirokoitians were well-organised goat breeders, who cultivated the land and there is evidence of spinning, weaving and pottery. Flint sickle blades, figurines of fertility gods and stone vases have been excavated, as well as necklaces of shells and cornelian. Houses have been constructed near the site as a pointer to how the people lived. Steps and a series of walkways enable visitors to see main points of the settlement and signs describe the key features of each area. Many of the finds are exhibited in the Cyprus Museum in Nicosia and the Larnaka District Archaeological Museum. The site is a Unesco World Cultural and Naural Heritage Site.
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