Choli

Choli is located south of Polis Chrysochous and about 8 km away from it, while it is about 30 km north of Paphos in the homonymous province of Cyprus.

Being one of the small traditional villages of Cyprus, Choli is crossed by the river flowing from Stavros tis Psokas (Paphos forest), defining the boundaries of the settlement. In the area, the cultivation of grains, fodder plants, pulses, tobacco, citrus fruits and vines suitable for wine production is thriving, and olive cultivation is one of the main occupations of the community. In recent years a stockbreeding farm has also been operating in the area. An alternative occupation of the few inhabitants of Choli has for decades been the basketry craftsmanship. In fact, visitors have the opportunity to observe the local basket weavers near the traditional cafeteria of the community.

Despite the fact that the census of Choli or Coli began around the end of the 19th century, the settlement, as the ecclesiastical monuments in the area indicate, was probably founded in the Middle Ages, and the origin of the village’s name is subject to many different versions. Some of them associate the name of the village with the name of an older feudal lord in the area, and some of the locals claim that there was a religious institution with the same name. In addition, there is the version that Choli, along with the village of Skouli, borrowed their names from the English, as in the Holy School.

This particular village of Paphos includes a series of ecclesiastic monuments dating back to medieval times. More specifically, on the southern side of Choli there is the holy spring of Saint Helena that cures skin diseases, and the abandoned churches of Agios Georgios and Agia Marina (originally built on the foundation of an ancient altar), to which there is now easy access through the new road that has been constructed in recent years. Finally, there is also the chapel of Agios Aristis (north of the settlement) in the community, where some monks from Mount Sinai used to live. The 16th century vaulted church of Panagia (Virgin Mary) Eleousa emerges at the southeastern end of the community, where remains of frescoes of the Presentation of the Christ at the temple and the Baptism of Christ are preserved, as well as the 15th century Archangel Michael Church of Choli, one of the most important churches in the area, both for its architecture and its interior decoration.

There are no lodgings and restaurants in Choli, but the settlement is about 2 kilometers south of Goudi and Skouli, which serves as a bridge for the community, connecting it with the central road artery of Paphos-Polis Chrysochous, only 1.5 kilometers northeast of the community.