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Agros

 

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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