This route crosses an area of rich geological interest with impressive rock formations and vineyards. There is a stone fountain with drinking water 800 meters from the starting point.
About the village of Kathikas
Small and traditional, this Paphos village is situated at an altitude of 700 meters and is inhabited since the ancient times. It is ideal for those of you that love rural tourism, because of the quiet environment. Just 23 kilometers north of Paphos, you can reach the village following the route B7 and then the road E711, or taking the coastal route E701, which after some point converted to E727 and then the road E709.
Maintaining the traditional charm of the village, you will witness houses dating back more than a century and serve as fine examples of folk architecture. You will also come across many old yet interesting churches. Moreover, the little donkey refuge further complements the authentic character of the village.
Kathikas is one of the wine villages in Paphos region. Its name is said to derive either from the original owner, or the verb "sit", because of the perception that the village when one sees from a distance, it appears that "sitting" on a flat location.
The village is known for its great local Easter customs, which guests are welcome to watch during the Greek Orthodox Easter period. Good Friday is customary to dramatize the "Passion of Christ", where the President of the Community Council assumes the role of Jesus and leads the procession from the church of St. Onoufriou to the church of Panagia Evangelistria, with the rest of the village following him.
When you visit the village, the path you follow is simply enchanting and green dominates everywhere. You will have the opportunity to enjoy the Cypriot countryside and a wave of emotion will carry you, as a lot of villages are well hidden within the bosom of our island and you may not have visited them all.
Kathikas goes far through history as a resting place for traders since it is halfway between Paphos and Polis. It is built on the Laona plateau 700 meters above sea level. Its name probably comes from its location. It is said that because it was in the middle distance of Paphos and Polis and because it was the highest point, the caravans made a stop to rest / 'sit' in Kathikas.
It is a beautiful village, which strikes at once the visitor. The lush landscape as it is surrounded by vineyards and the houses built out of stone are only a few elements of the village that will win you over. Because of the altitude the climate is cool, dry in summer and cold in winter. The views are spectacular from most parts of the village. From different parts of the village you can see either the beach of Coral Bay and the Akamas or the Troodos Mountains and the Paphos forest.
Famous for its vineyards, the village is surrounded by vines and is well known for the quality of the grapes. Many of the vineyards, in fact, are owned by the same family for generations. Two well known wineries (Sterna and Exalted) open their doors to visitors, so you can enjoy the wines of the winemaker.
The route follows the ridge, offering spectacular images of the surrounding area and Nicosia. It is rich in flora and fauna and associated with Lazanias - Fikardou path.
What do you know about the village Fikardou?
The Fikardou village is a traditional settlement and will find it built on the southeastern slopes of the Troodos Mountains, approximately 40 km southwest of Nicosia. There are two streets that can lead you to the village, one of the clergy and the other from Kalo Chorio Clergy and Gouri. Nearby yu will also see the traditional village Lazanias and Monastery of Panagia of Machairas.
From an architectural point of view the village is a typical mountain Cypriot architecture, with simple shapes embedded in the environment, built with raw hard stones of the region and plitharia. The most houses are storied with roofs sloping upper floors covered with Byzantine style tiles and the ground floor is flat. Most flat roofs were used for the spreading and drying of various products produced in the village, such as raisins, figs, almonds and more.
In earlier times the village held a predominantly agricultural work and due to the nature of the region, which excluded the use of machines, they were all done in the traditional way. Plowing with a wooden plow which was pulled by animals, threshing with "doukani" in the village threshing and harvesting with the sickle. In the village they cultivated vines and brewed wine, zivania, raisins, and olives also for the oil and olives, almond, walnut and various cereals. With all these, the village was self-sufficient, given that the women of the village, weaved in traditional looms and woven necessary for the family's clothing.
But the village now has been completely abandoned by their indigenous inhabitants. Most of the houses which remain a property of indigenous and that were preserved with the help, supervision and financial grant of Antiquities Department, closed and hardly have been used seasonally by their owners.
Much of the village is owned by the Department of Antiquities, which in 1978 declared the entire village "Ancient Monument" and "Controlled Area" and restored and preserved the collapsed houses. Typical examples of such housing is "Katsiniorou House" and "House of Achilleas Dimitri".
The "House Katsiniorou" is prominently and apart from other homes, due to the particular architecture, with strongly sloping roof, like the roof of the village church and a similar interior design of the roof. The main part of the building has two floors and the rest is the ground floor with a flat roof. The ground floor areas used as a winepress, warehouses of various offspring were like wine and oil, which were kept in large jars which exist today, and stables for animals.
Moving to the village will meet the 'Dimitris Achilles House ", which is behind the" House Katsiniorou "at the north end of the village. The building is two storey with the ground floor built with the typical local stone and the upper floor with mud brick. As in "Katsiniorou House" and "House of Achilleas Dimitri" the upper floor was used as a residence and the ground floor, which is divided into two rooms, used as a warehouse and mantras for different animals. The "Achilles House Dimitri" was restored between 1984 and 1986 with the AG Foundation expenses Leventis.
In the village even today the Antiquities Department continues to work on restoration of some houses.
The church, which is dedicated to the Apostles Peter and Paul, dating from the 18th century. Until recently, the church remained closed and operated only on June 29 that the memory of the Apostles celebrated. The last two years, however, Metropolis Tamassou made sure be running to church once a month.
Learn more, that the abandoned school community, which was in full collapse, restored and repaired between 2010 and 2011 after sustained efforts of the community and the Community Council of the village, at the expense of the Community Council of Antiquities and supervision department.
The village currently has thirteen residents, most of whom are indigenous, but people who chose the village for permanent residence because of rare beauty, the climate outstanding, the diversity of the flora and the fauna, and the relative of silence. The people they built their houses in the village periphery, outside the traditional core at selected locations within environment of rare beauty. If you are one of those who love nature and hiking are maintained by the Community Council caring "nature trails" and many forest roads within the local vegetation of golden oak, pine, maple and Trimithias and on the infinite beauty of hillsides and mountains.
The village visited by many thousands of visitors a year, either on tour or to eat at the only restaurant open in the village.
The summer and especially in August, many of the owners of village houses returning for a short vacation.
I must warn you that winter in the village is quite heavy, with severe weather. However this time is one of the most enjoyable times in Fikardou with snow, heavy rains and the daily fogs that cover the mountain tops.
Boldly beautiful are the summer nights in Fikardou, as well, because the lack of light pollution leaves starry skies unaffected for observation!
Are you in?
Start Point: Church Fikardou
End: Restaurant "Archontides", the main street Kalo Chorio - Pharmakas
Estimated Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Difficulty Rate: Category 2: Average degree of difficulty, with a particular terrain, such as sudden changes in gradient (uphill and / or downhill), course along narrow and / or steep terrain.
Trip Length: 5 km