Agros village, in the heart of Pitsilia, stands
at a height of 1,100 metres above sea- level. It is the principal
village of Pitsilia and one of the most interesting mountain villages
of Cyprus .
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Agros is renowned for its delightful environment, its enterprising
and hospitable people and its dry healthy climate. 40-minutes drive
from both Nicosia and Limassol, the village is 30 minutes from Troodos
square and 80 minutes away from the airports at Larnaca and Paphos.
Agros is blessed with important places of historical and cultural
interest as well as a fascinating natural environment, with intriguing
flora and fauna and several nature trails. Traditional customs are
steadfastly maintained, and the pretty rustic houses are typical
of the attractive mountain village style. Agros took its name from
the Monastery Of the Great Agros, at Kyziko in Asia Minor. According
to local tradition, 40 monks from that monastery came to Cyprus
in search of a sanctuary at the end of the 11th century and settled
at Agros. Here they built the Monastery of the Great Agros.
In 1894, after a conflict between the inhabitants of Agros and
the Bishop of Kiti, the monastery was demolished and today's church
of Panayia Eleousa was built in its place. Many icons, the iconostasis
and the altar of the Monastery of the Great Agros were saved and
later placed in a chapel that was built in the church yard of Ayia
Eleousa. Two of these icons, Panayia Agriotissa and the Almighty,
are very valuable. Allegedly the icon of Panayia Agriotissa was
one of the 70 painted by St . Luke, and one of the four similar
icons that were brought to Cyprus and donated to the best known
monasteries: Great Agros, Araka, Machera and Trooditissa .
Agros attracts those who wish to learn more about the customs
and lifestyle of rural Cyprus It also has much to offer visitors
with specific interests such as nature-lovers, ornithologists, botanists,
architects and photographers.
In 1979 the progressive ex-inhabitants of the village formed the
Agros Development Company " Proodos" Ltd., which purchased
a large piece of land and sub-divided it into 145 building sites.
At the same time it developed a 400-bed rustic hotel with modern
comforts and facilities. The Radon Hotel, which stands above the
village, was named after the beautiful roses that grow so profusely
in the area and from which the village produces its renowned rosewater.
In the village there are also other tourist complexes, restaurants
and recreation centres
As a result of this tourist development the younger generation
were encouraged to stay in their villages, occupying themselves
either with tourism, agriculture or handicrafts. Small family-run
businesses produce such local specialities as hiromeria (smoked
leg of pork), sausages, wines, ceramics, souvenirs, nuts and sweets
like sujouko and palouze which are made of grapes. The inhabitants
of Agros also cultivate fruit-bearing trees and produce top quality
fruit.
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