A very picturesque village of Pitsilia which demonstrates particular social, architectural and historic character is Fterikoudi. Nicosia.

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Surrounded by greenery and a world away from city noise and pollution, Fterikoudi only 45 minutes by car from Nicosia. All these advantages, together with the area's cool climate, attract people to the village for visits or holidays. Fterikoudi is surrounded by tall ridges reaching up over 1,120 metres, densely covered by pine trees, "trimithies", "xystaries", "latzies", etc.

According to one version, the name of the village came from 'fteriki' (pteridium aquilinum) - from the ancient word 'pteris' - a plant which grows abundantly in the area. Another version says that Fterikoudi took its name from 'Fteri', the mountain slope on which the
village is built. In the centre of the village are many beautiful houses that follow traditional architecture. The natural habitat boasts a wealth of trees, among them almond, hazelnut, walnut and pear, which form a magical landscape.

To the west of today's village there used to be a settlement known as Kalamithasa, which was destroyed in AD 1570 during a fierce battle between the Venetians and the Turks. Afterwards the Turks, enraged by the strong resistance of the Venetians and the village inhabitants, burnt down the whole settlement.

Fterikoudi claims that a renowned inhabitant was one of the Alamanous Saints, Osios Avakoum - protector of the village and alleged miracle healer of ear diseases - who led an ascetic life in the village around AD 1100. Avakoum had actually written an ecclesiastical service. His bones were found at the place where an ancient church had been built, the foundations of which still exist. Today a new chapel standing on the same spot is devoted to the saint whose existence is celebrated twice a year on December 2nd and on Easter Monday.

The large ancient church in the centre of the village is dedicated to Ayios Nicolaos and this saint is celebrated on December 6th. The church is under the protection of the Antiquities Department. Near the village square there is an enormous oak tree said to be 300 years old (a reference point for the village) which presents a strange phenomenon: one of its thick branches is entwined with those of the tree next to it unmistakably forming the letter 'N'.

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