ABOUT PISSOURI

Saturday, 09 May 2009 17:30

Written by Daintre Hart

Pissouri covers a large area stretching from the hills rolling away into dramatic countryside to the north, to the sea in the south, and from the edge of the Western Sovereign Base area in the east to Aphrodite’s Rock in the west.   The village is perched on the hillside overlooking the sea, about 4 kilometres inland from the beautiful, naturally sandy beach at Pissouri Bay.   It is some 3 km from Cape Aspro and is roughly half way between Limassol and Paphos, at about 30 km in each direction.

The Village Square is the hub of Village life with the coffee shop at its heart.    The local tavernas serve up good food and on summer evenings you will find the weekly “Cyprus night” somewhere in Pissouri, a lively and popular treat of traditional dancing, music and food.

It is thought that Pissouri may have derived its name from the ancient city "Boosoura", mentioned by the ancient historian / geographer Strabo and placed at the borders of the area of Pissouri. Another version connects the name of the village to events that occurred during nights that were pitch-dark. (In the Cypriot dialect "Pissouri" is considered as "very dark"). According to one tradition it is reported that the 300 "Alamanoi" saints that came to Cyprus from Palestine, in order to live an ascetic's life in various parts of the island, arrived in the Pissouri bay on such a pitch-dark night.

Another tradition cites the escape of the Holy Fathers who, while being persecuted during the first post-Christian years, met in this area on a dark night. Ultimately, it is believed that the interpretation of the name of the village is simpler. Gum ("pissa" = gum, tar, pitch) was being produced in the area once and thus the village got its name. The pine gum must have been produced in the area during the Byzantine era and during the Frank era.

BEACH

To the south lies our beautiful Bay, where hotels, bars, restaurants and tavernas contribute to a lively and friendly tourist location. Pissouri beach extends from Cape Aspro in the west and ends in the rocky area named "Mavrorotsos" at the eastern end of the beach. Protected by Cape Aspro, with its high vertical walls, it creates an admirable combination of mountain and sea that make it unique. The coast stretches west along dramatic cliffs to Aphrodite’s Rock. All around us are the remains of the ancient history of Cyprus. You will be able to discover many of these fascinating sites by joining a local walking group. During recent years, great attention has been paid to the development of tourism in the area, especially at Pissouri beach.

There are two excellent examples of what can be achieved for our beautiful and unique coastline without destroying it. One is the Aphrodite Trail, (see below) and the second is the magnificent Columbia Beach Hotel, which has in no way detracted from the beauty of Pissouri Bay. It is a superb example of how to integrate tourist development while attracting the big-spending tourist to this area. While the Columbia caters for the upper end of the tourist market, there is an excellent range of tavernas, restaurants and shops to cater for the rapidly increasing villa holiday market. In the summer months, the bay area buzzes with happy tourists enjoying the beach and water sports during the day and a busy nightlife scene in the tourist season.

PRODUCE

The main agricultural production is of the sultana grape, as well as table and wine grapes, and olive oil. Also important, now as for millenia before, are olives, both for the table and for oil. The endangered carobs which are so characteristic of the countryside were once Cyprus’s “black gold”, being a major export product for centuries. Thanks to the very agreeable climate a large range of other fruit and vegetables can be grown: almonds, oranges and lemons, apricots, loquats, apples, pears, avocados, persimmons, plums, peaches and nectarines, etc.

The grape harvest in July, and the autumn olive harvest, are peaks of activity in the local agricultural calendar. This is back-breaking, hot and dusty work, often now using migrant labour. The activity is frenetic, and often the whole family is called on to help.

SURROUNDING AREAS

A superb initiative has been taken by the Forestry Department, which has installed a walking path along the low cliffs from Kouklia to Aphrodite’s Rock, with plants and interesting geological sites carefully signposted. Here there is also a new and welcome facility for many with a world-class hotel and recreation facilities, including golf and the Retreat Spa, available for membership to non-residents at the superb Aphrodite Hills development at Kouklia.

There are lovely villages to see within easy reach of Pissouri and nowadays the restoration going on in some the villages is superb. The neighbouring village of Anoyira is being particularly well restored, and Omodos and Vasa, with its excellent tavernas, further afield. Anoyira also has an excellent winery and the traditional olive press, the “Oleastro”, which is well set up for visitors and an excellent excursion whether or not you have olives to be processed.

Far to the northeast lies the Troodos mountain range easily accessible via a sealed road that runs through wonderfully picturesque countryside via Prastio, Pachna and Platres. You can be on the top of Troodos in about an hour.

There are also the remarkable archaeological sites of Curium, and the nearby Wine Museum at Erimi, and the archaeological sites of Paleopaphos (Kouklia) and Paphos and a number of excellent country or sea-side tavernas to make an excellent day out for visitors.

DEVELOPMENT

Since the opening of Paphos Airport, the western end of Cyprus has become a favoured tourism and retirement destination, especially for British people. The village's position, 25 minutes from Paphos yet on the edge of unspoiled countryside, also makes it a desirable location for many Cypriots.

Pissouri is in the centre of an area of extraordinary natural beauty. Sadly, thus far, this world-class scenic area has had few protectors, though the current Mukhtar is doing what he can within the legal limitations. Some of the area’s spectacular beauty has already disappeared under the bull-dozers.

This has an inevitable impact on the quality of life. It sometimes seems as if Pissouri has become a gigantic building site, with non-stop noise, dirt and obstruction from heavy construction traffic, and unsightly building rubbish marring the once-pretty rural lanes. Some people are now trying to limit this transformation of their much-loved village and there are encouraging signs that the Village Council is trying to tackle the problems, though their hands are to some extent tied by the unwelcome zoning of Pissouri as a Village rather than a Town. Far too little thought seems to have been given by the Limassol District planners to the number of houses which can be supported by the infrastructure, or the amount of water available.

For most, Pissouri is still an attractive place to live. Despite the recent influx of foreign residents, local people remain friendly, the pace of life is relaxed, and there is plenty to occupy visitors and residents alike. The countryside north and west of Pissouri is largely undeveloped, with wonderful walking trails and the chance of sighting rare birds and plants. The native scrubland is home to a wonderful range of native flora and fauna. It, too, deserves to be treasured. You will be able to discover many of these fascinating sites by joining a local walking group (see “Walks” tab).