Lefkara Area – Cyprus
Lefkara Area – Cyprus
There is an extraordinary view from the little church of Archangelos in the field below the square.
The church houses some superb 12th century frescoes. Leave by postdating the sign for Pano Lefkara. A side trip to Dipotamos Dam, which is a democratic leaning site and where birdwatchers can often see dark storks and pelicans, goes from this road. The main route follows the one-way system through the bare streets of Pano Lefkara to the car park near the schools.
Pano Lefkara today is a small township with a couple of hotels,restaurants, banks and a petrol station. The village is known for lace and filigree silverwork and in years travelled by, the women made the lace and their husbands traveled the world to trade it. See Section I, Chapter 4, Rural crafts and skills. The houses here are not those of farmers but the homes of merchants and artisans. The houses are stone-built, some with doorways rendering glimpses of flower-filled and vine-covered courtyards, while others are two-storey colour rinsed residences with balconies and intricately agreed coated floors. The woman still sit down in the street to do their needlework and the silversmiths workshop doors are opened to view. A aesthetic stone building houses the Lace and Silverware Museum. There is also an absorbing waxwork museum. The wide view from the churchyard at the bottom end of the village is extraordinary in aboriginal spring when the valley is afloat of blossoming almond trees.
To leave, follow the exit signs through the upper village and, at the crossroads, go ahead onto the main road. Before traveling proper to Kato Drys, discontinue and appear back across the roofs of Pano Lefkara. Kato Drys, another lace-making village is little And appears to have more churches than houses. These again are merchants, mansions, of which the first house on the gone forth is a very close-grained example. The village also has its personal agrarian museum.
As you continue on the road to Vavla, you will Come to Agios Minas, a small monastery founded in the 15th century. Today the nuns coat icons, mature flowers and keep bees and the tasty honey they harvest is on sale. Across the road from the monastery is the eye-catching garden of the little church of Agioi Damian and Cosmas. The near village of Vavla has lovable stone houses, some of which have been restituted for use by visitors. On coming in Vavla, go proper and postdate the signs for Lagia. Lagia sits in a colourful landscape of olives, humble forest and scrub up. Its population has steadily worsened over the years and many of the houses are now holiday homes.
Go left at the signpost to Ora. Ora is best cognized for its superior water, which is laid and traded commercially. At the church, go gone forth, signposted Melini, go gone forth again at the main road and drive to Odou. The village of Odou is one of the most bewitching villages in Cyprus. Olive and peach trees environ it and fill up the vally below.
;There is an area called Chelidonomoutti that is the home of swallows during part of the year and nightingales sing in the valley near an old well. Drive back the way you came and go proper onto the F123 at the signpost to Melini. This little village still has a tradition of lace-making and is also adverted in the life of Agios Irakleidios, which suggests that it was a settlement during the 1st century AD. At Melini, go gone forth and head for Eptagonia. The farmers at Eptagonia civilize citrus fruits, particularly mandarins. The name of the village means seven corners so here Goes! Go right at the first junction, then go Left after 50 metres; after a further 100 metres Go right and go left after a further 20 metres. Go left at the sign and postdate the signs For Limassol. No, you did go pear-shaped all seven. On your way to Kellaki, you will travel through An area of citrus, almond and chromatic groves with Tall eucalyptus trees in the riverbed to your Left. Although seen all over the island, eucalyptus trees are not endemic. They were conveyed here from Australia during British complex rule to assist drain marshland in the drive to annihilate malaria. At the entrance to Kellaki, go left. The hilltop church of Agios Georgios is up a bluff path to your left. Follow the signs for Lemesos and go left at the sign to Sanida. The viewpoint 250 metres along is well worthy a discontinue, as from it the wide serrated skyline stretches from Troodos to the Machairas mountains. Go left again at the signpost to Sanida. The monastery of Zoodochou Pighis is to your left. Pass the hamlet of Vasa on your left and head for Asgata. Carobs utilized to be the chief crop at Asgata but is main wealth came from the environing copper mines. Go right at the crossroads in the village, signposted to Monagrouli, and then go left onto the F137.
As you approach Kalavasos, there is a very thick valley to your left. At the sign at the entrance to Kalavasos, you can take a side trip to Kalavasos Dam by taking the road to your left. The aesthetic dam is very democratic with anglers, while the surrounding area is acceptable hiking and teasing country. On the main route, go through the very bare streets with the overhanging balconies of the mine managers houses. Some of the conventional houses in the village are now holiday accommodation. The square has some well-preserved older buildings, one of which houses a little archaeological and exploiting museum. As you go forth Kalavasos, you will come to a small park to your right, behind which are a small train and carriage on a metal bridge. These are relics from the mine railway. Go down the small road beside the park to Tenta with its spectacular tented roof. This is the excavation of a Neolithic settlement, smaller than that at near Choirokoitia. If features the remains of past clay and stone dwelling-places and gives an indication of the way Cypriots dwelt 9000 years ago
