Month: September 2024
Mikri Salamina Sculpture Park – Yiapanis Art Studio
Set among the hills of a typical Cypriot village Fasoula, surrounded by almond and olive trees, this beautifully landscaped Park is a continuous creation of a passionate artist, Philippos Yiapanis. Here, the natural beauty blends with exceptional works of art, the ancient meets the modern, creating balance and harmony.
The Mikri Salamina is an open-air gallery of bronze and marble sculptures, reflecting the life journey of the artist. On the area of 5500 square meters, set on multiple levels, there are around 140 sculptures on permanent exhibition. You can discover them while wandering through stone-cobbled, curvy pathways, elevated terraces and quiet corners. Here, everything you will see is a result of the artist’s vision, hard work, and his attempt to leave something significant behind. In his art one can find curved shapes, erotic and fertility motives, silhouettes of birds, snails and fishes. Many sculptures present scenes and figures from Greek mythology.
The different sites in the Park were created steadily, over the years: starting with the showroom and workshop, moving to the Amphitheatre, the Gymnasium and now continuing with creating The Waves. First events in the Park were organized by Famagusta Municipality; then, charity events followed to gather money for people in need. The dream of the artist is to now build a big-scale museum, with more space to exhibit his work, host various events and guest exhibitions.
| Region: | Lemesos |
| Address: | Ag. Paraskevis 1, Fasoulla, Cyprus |
| Contact No: | Tel: +357 99681177/ 99516803, email: [email protected] |
| Operating Hours: | For a visit please call in advance |
| Operating Period: | All year round |
| Entrance Fee: | FREE |
| Website: | https://yiapanis-sculptor.com/ |
| Opening and closing times as well as entrance fees, are subject to alterations without notice. Visitors are advised to check before visiting. |
Kakopetria
Kakopetria is located at an altitude of 670 metres south-west from Lefkosia (Nicosia), the capital of Cyprus. It is a fairly large community with 1300 permanent residents and it is built on the foothills of the Troodos Mountain amongst lush vegetation, between the banks of the rivers Karkotis and Garillis. The two rivers join in the centre of the village forming the Klarios river.
The village is known for its excellent quality apples, but it produces other fruit and vegetables like pears, plums, apricots, peaches, cherries, potatoes, vines and tomatoes.
Kakopetria is renowned for the painted churches located in close proximity to the village and are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List: Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis (St. Nicolas of the Roof) and Panagia Podythou (at the outskirts of the neighboring village of Galata). They are definitely worth a visit.
Lefkara
Located in the Larnaka (Larnaca) region, the mountainous village of Lefkara is split into Pano Lefkara and Kato Lefkara (higher and lower Lefkara), and is world-renowned for its traditional handicrafts of lace embroidery and filigree silver. The village is situated at the foot of the Troodos Mountains in the south eastern region, 650 metres above sea level, 43 km from Larnaka, and can be reached by following the A5, A1 and E105 routes.
The crafts of lace and silver have been practiced in the village since Venetian times, and visitors can learn all about them, and watch the lace and silver being made at the Lefkara Handicraft Centre, the Museum of Traditional Embroidery and Silversmithing, and various workshops. Legend has it that the famous painter, Leonardo da Vinci himself visited the village in 1481 and bought a lace altar cloth, which he donated to Milan cathedral.
The character of the village is very picturesque with its narrow, winding streets and traditional architecture of old, terracotta-roofed houses. It is also included as one of the stops on the island’s 7th Wine Route that encompasses the area of mountainous Larnaka – Lefkosia (Lefkosia).
Among its interesting sites are the Folklore Museum, the old fountain and the old olive mill. The village also has beautiful and ancient chapels, including the church of Timios Stavros (Holy Cross), and the chapel of Archangelos Michail in Kato Lefkara, with frescoes that date from the 12th and 15th centuries.
The popular annual Lefkara Festival takes place each August, and includes a programme of music, dance, theatre and handicraft exhibitions, with visitors warmly welcomed.
The Lefkara Christmas Village will be operating from November 22, 2025 until January 6, 2026 (inclusive) as follows:
Friday – Sunday and Public Holidays, and daily from 22 December 2025- 6 January 2026.
Contact Tel. No:
+357 24342422
Deryneia
Located in the Ammochostos (Famagusta) district, the small town of Deryneia – originally known as ‘Yerinia’ – has a rich, ancient past and is likely to have been where settlers to the island arrived after the Trojan War.
As one of the fertile ‘red soil villages’ (Kokkinochoria), Deryneia is the main strawberry grower of the island, and is famous for its juicy, sweet fruit. Visitors to its Strawberry Festival – which takes place every two years – can enjoy complimentary fresh strawberries and their products, such as juice, jam, liquor and ice-cream.
The village’s sights of interest include a Folk Art Museum and Open Air Museum for Traditional Professions, and the Cultural Center of Occupied Ammochostos. The village also has several significant churches, including the 15th century church of Agia Marina, the Byzantine church of Panagia (with its preserved 17th century icons), and the small Medieval church of Agios Georgios.
An important religious festival is held to honor Agios Modestos annually on December 16 (Feast of Saint Modestos), where visitors are welcome to join in the traditional festivities, which include stalls, entertainment and local food and drink.
The Christmas Villages will be operating from November 22, 2025 until January 6, 2026 (inclusive) as follows:
Friday – Sunday and Public Holidays, and daily from 19 December 2025 – 6January 2026.
Contact Tel. No:
+357 23811000
Kalopanagiotis
The village of Kalopanagiotis is located in the Marathasa valley, in the Troodos mountain range.
Kalopanagiotis is one of the most beautiful mountain resorts of the island, with thermal springs, traditional architecture and panoramic views of the Marathasa valley. It is ideal for agrotourism since it is located in a peaceful natural landscape.
The Monastery of Agios Ioannis Lampadistis is included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list. It houses three Byzantine churches, which have exceptionally well-preserved frescoes, dating from the 9th to the 15th century. Other interesting tourist sights are the Venetian bridge and the Kykkos watermill, an imposing building with characteristic architecture of the pre-industrial period. The 16th century bridge is made of traditional stone and until recently served as the only access road from the village to the monastery. The Cyprus Department of Antiquities has declared the watermill as a “cultural heritage monument”.
Kalopanagiotis’ charm is found all over the village, in its chapels, museums, the old neighborhood of cobbled streets.
It’s climate is exceptional for any season and one can enjoy the landscape and nature by hiking in its large network of beautiful and well-maintained hiking trails, is one of the best on the island.
The Christmas Villages will be operating from November 22, 2025 until January 6, 2026 (inclusive).
Contact Tel. No.:
+357 22952297
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Kyperounta
Located in the Troodos mountain range, in the Pitsilia region of Lemesos (Limassol) district, the village of Kyperounta sits at an altitude of approximately 1.300 metres.
This leafy village is the third highest on the island and maintains its traditional character and an active population. Its distinctive features of uphill roads, grapevines, small yards and houses with tiled roofs and picturesque lofts add to its natural charm. It is famous for its apples, wine and traditional cold meats. All these make up the charming character of the village.
Kyperounta was established during Byzantine times and takes its name from the weed ‘kypros’ or ‘kyperi’, which grows abundantly in the area. The special microclimate of the area prompted the English in the 1930s to build a sanatorium in the village for patients with tuberculosis patients, which today serves as the Troodos Hospital.
Amongst its attractions are the village’s church dedicated to Agia Marina – which dates back to the 18th century – as well as the new and imposing church of Agios Arsenios, the ancient church of Timios Stavros with its unique frescoes which also functions as an icon tower, and its three museums of Natural History, Folk Art and the National Liberation Struggle.
Other interesting places to visit are the Kyperounda Winery and the Adventure Mountain Park, whilst there are also two lovely nature trails to hike; ‘Doksa soi o Theos’, and ‘Teisia tis Madaris. In the community there is a hotel and agrotourism accommodation for visitors as well as several places to have a meal.
The Christmas Villages will be operating from November 22, 2025 until January 6, 2026 (inclusive) as follows:
Friday – Sunday and Public Holidays, and daily from 19 December 2025 – 6 January 2026.
Contact Tel. No.:
+357 25813204
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Fikardou
Located in the Lefkosia (Nicosia) district, Fikardou village sits at an altitude of 900 metres on the south-eastern slope of Troodos, in the region of Pitsilia.
This secluded and idyllic village, now almost deserted, has been declared an Ancient Monument in 1978 by the department of antiquities, and won the Europa Nostra award in 1987. The village was carefully restored to preserve the 18th century houses with their remarkable woodwork and folk architecture and vehicles are not allowed to enter. Two of these – the House of Katsinioros, and the House of Achilleas Dimitris – are now owned by the Department of Antiquities, and have been turned into museums, exhibiting rural items and depicting rural life in years past.
The village church, dedicated to the apostles Peter and Paul, dates from the 16th century AD.
The name of the village is believed to have originated from the Greek for ‘den of fugitives’ (‘figa andron’), from the fugitives who were recruited by two dominant clans that controlled the region between 400 AD – 800 AD.
The Christmas Villages will be operating from November 22, 2025 until January 6, 2026 (inclusive) as follows:
Saturday – Sunday and Public Holidays, and daily from 19 December 2025 – 6 January 2026.
Contact Tel. No: +357 22023330
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