In the Limassol wine-growing district of Cyprus’s southern coast, the picturesque village of Lofou has a few permanent residents, with its old stone houses nestled on the cobbled streets among cyprus and almond trees having been beautifully restored.
Sitting at an altitude of 780 metres, the village is just 16 miles, or a 40-minute drive, from the coastal city of Lemesos.
The village takes its name from its position on top of a hill – “lofos” – and has retained its name since Byzantine times over 1,100 years ago.
However, archaeological evidence indicates that the area around the village has been inhabited since at least the early to mid-Bronze Age.
The old primary school found here is regarded as one of Cyprus’s most beautiful schools.
There is also a small agricultural museum and the traditional faucet of Elitji, dating back to 1842. The faucet is where the villagers used to collect water and played an important part in their daily life.
The 19th-century church was built on a small hill in the west of the centre of the village and is dedicated to Evangelismos Theotokou – the annunciation of Mary.
There are also several chapels such as the chapel of Agia Marina in the southwest of the village built in 1983, the chapel of Prophet Elias which was renovated at the end of the 20th century and the chapel of Agios Georgios to the west of the village which was renovated in 2000.
It is worth stopping to appreciate the impressive front doors, which add to Lofou’s unique beauty. There is also an under one mile nature trail which follows a downhill course towards the traditional fountain.
There is also a statue of Ioannis Stavrianos, who, born in Lofou, played a key role in the 1821 Greek War of Independence.
At the end of September, the village celebrates its harvest with a Grape Fest, where visitors can watch the locals make traditional delicacies from grape juice and sample them as well as watch a programme of folkloric entertainment.
In the past, Lofou had one of the largest vineyards in Cyprus, but due to the cultivation of wheat, the vineyards have been largely abandoned today. Almonds, olives, cereals and legumes are also grown, but at a very slow pace.
The population of the village has fluctuated greatly since the late 19th century. In 1881, it had 578 inhabitants and then gradually increased to 962 in 1921. It then decreased for many years, dropping to just 10 residents by 2001. By 2011, however, it had grown to 46.
Visitors to Lofou did not hold back on their compliments on Booking.com. One said: “Lofou is a gorgeous traditional village with a wonderful wine bar and tavern. Everyone is friendly and welcoming. A perfect base to explore the mountains, wineries, and monasteries. It was a wonderfully peaceful and quiet retreat.
“The town was very empty, but this was in the off-season. The local restaurants make sure at least one is open at a time, but they were incredibly friendly and helpful!”
The beautiful European village just four hours from UK | World | News
