Psematismenos, Lefkara, Tochni, and Kalavasos village, 32klm off the Larnaka – Limassol highway in the district of Larnaka is really exceptional. The same is true for the villages of Ayia Anna, Psevdas and Kornos north of the roundabout 3 kilometers outside Larnaka on the Larnaka – Limassol highway.

Having a short walk in one of these villages and then a nice coffee or drink in the central village square will boost your appreciation about the traditional wisdom of an ecological residence and of the quality of life in the Larnaka rural area through the centuries.


Tochni

This village is amphitheatrically situated on the sides of the little stream, which flows under the bridge of the church of Holy Cross, which is connected according to tradition with Santa Elena, the mother of Emperor Constantine the great and her trip from Jerusalem to Constantinople carrying in her ship the Crucifixion Cross of Christ. She was obliged to land because of bad weather at Vasilopotamos nearby Tochni, where according to tradition she built the church of the Holly Cross to give it a small fragment of the true cross. Calcarenite stone, which is abundant in the village was used since ancient times. All impressive houses at the village are built with the same stone, which for centuries is known in the Cyprus building materials market as the “stone of Tochni” and it is widely used in contemporary constructions all over Cyprus. 


Kalavasos

On an area of rich copper mines, Kalavasos was the residential center of the large mining industry of the area till the end of the 1950’s. So, the architectural styles vary, but the collective impression is very positive and gives you a different taste of the Cyprus traditional housing. The village area was inhabited since Neolithic times, but due to mining was inhabited all through antiquity, as recent excavations revealed.


Psematismenos

What grasps the visitor’s attention at this small village is the rich traditional architecture. Many traditional houses have been restored and the proximity of the sea makes the village very attractive.


Skarinou

Its tall church, dedicated to “Guiding Virgin Mary”, dominates the small village. The impeccably carved stone used in the traditional architecture of the settlement impress the visitor.


Lefkara

The community is organized in a Municipality, something that reflects the large population and the civilization of this village in the 19th and early 20th century. The setting is nicely beautified by its unique architecture characterized by the stone-built houses, the red-tiled roofs, the traditional arches, the indigo colors, the wooden doors and windows, the balconies and the numerous details of the construction technique.


Agia Anna

Walking around the village you are attracted by the variety of the color of rocks and soils, the varied geological features and the traditional houses. The lavas and the lime-stones of Cyprus meet here at the bed of Tremithos river. The colored slabs of the chalky rocks of the area are used for the decoration of the Agia Anna traditional houses and many other buildings all over the island.


Psevdas

At a short distance from Agia Anna, it lies on both sides of river Tremithos. The pine trees give a special beauty to the scenery, which is mixed with wild flowers and aromatic bushes so necessary for the famous honey of the area. Traditional houses are similar to those at Agia Anna.


Kornos

This village is at an elevation of 300meters. The houses are made with mud-brick walls of the local village production. This traditional architecture is quite noticeable in the center of the village and it is complemented with the arches, the tiled roofs, the wooden doors and the mud-brick walls on solid stone bases. Besides for being famous for its pottery, Kornos is also known for its high quality of honey as the thyme, rosemary, cistus and sage go together with bee – keeping, dating back to antiquity.