Villages Of Cyprus – Trachypedoula Village

Information on Trachypedoula Village

Trachypedoula Village                                                                    Photo © CyprusExpat.co.uk

Trachypedoula Village lies in the Paphos District of Cyprus and is close to Kidasi, Prastio and Agios Georgios villages.

Legend states that the village acquired it’s name from a migration of people, who between 1100 – 1200 BC left a village called Trisina in the Peloponese in Greece, due to persecution. The word Traxy meant trek and the view from the new village was so beautiful, they called it “pedoula” (a beautiful vista). The village has thus became known today as Trachypedoula Village. The village flourished as there was an ample supply of water and the land was very fertile.

Trachypedoula Village                                                                    Photo © CyprusExpat.co.uk

The village has a population of around 70 residents. The majority of the residents work in the city of Paphos and the surrounding areas. A few of the villages, mainly the elderly, tend the olive trees in the area, which has plays an important part in the history of the village.

Trachypedoula Village                                                             Photo © CyprusExpat.co.uk

The village was famous for the it’s grapes, which were produced for local consumption and a large was also exported to Russia. The grapes were also used for wine and Zivania production. It is a common sight to see in each village home, a distillery in the garden or courtyard, which was used to make Zivania.

Trachypedoula Village                                                                    Photo © CyprusExpat.co.uk

The grape production declined when Cyprus joined the European Union and farmers were paid to stop grape production, due to oversupply, and to plant olive trees instead. The height of the village was favourable for olive trees, plus the location of the village meant the fields enjoyed sunshine for most of the day. The ample water supply also helped. The village was a sea of olive trees for more than 500 metres around the village.

Trachypedoula Village                                                        Photo © CyprusExpat.co.uk

The olive production of the village was devastated in 2013 when a fire destroyed many of the olive trees of the village. The village was lucky not to have suffered more serious damage to their homes because of the fire.

Trachypedoula Village                                                        Photo © CyprusExpat.co.uk

Trachypedoula Village has retained the traditional Cypriot village architectural style, with many old stone village houses keeping their wooden windows and doors. The large courtyards were used to make and store Zivania, also used to store the local wine production, with many clay pithari vats scattered around the village. The village homes also have many old stone circular mills used for grinding.

Trachypedoula Village                                                        Photo © CyprusExpat.co.uk