Denia

Denia is a village of Nicosia in Cyprus and it is situated 27 kilometers west of Nicosia, 84 kilometers northeast of Limassol, 65 kilometers northwest of Larnaca and 128 kilometers northeast of Paphos.

Built at an altitude of 180 meters in the central part of the island, Denia, of the about 520 inhabitants, is one of the four villages along with Pyla, Troulous and Athienou in the Larnaca district, that are located on the demilitarized zone or else the green line of the UN. In this part of the land, set between the Turkish occupied areas and the free areas of Cyprus, the United Nations are in charge. The area consists of large parts of uncultivated land, livestock units but also areas with grain crops, wheat and barley and a few olive trees, while the beautification projects that have been done in recent years, such as the circular interchange with colorful flowers and the trees planted along the streets, have shaped the face of the community.

The name of the village is linked to the ancient Greek names “Dionia” (the name of a Cypriot city) or Dionea (the daughter of the goddess Aphrodite) and there might have been a sanctuary of the Dionea Aphrodite in the area, at the location of the present settlement.

The history of the area is ancient, as at the southeastern end of the village the excavations brought to light a prehistoric settlement of the early Bronze Age (2500-2075 BC), as well as a cemetery, bronze objects and several red vases. Subsequent reference to the community is made in the late 19th century, since it is one of the villages that are marked on the Map of Mas Latri. As far as the modern history of the place is concerned, during the Ottoman domination, Denia was a mixed village in which Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots lived peacefully until the intercommunal riots of the 1960s. Then the Turkish Cypriots fled to other regions, creating enclaves, while during the the Turkish invasion of 1974, the Greek Cypriot residents also left the village. Following the withdrawal of the Turkish army from Denia, the Greek Cypriot residents returned and the Turkish Cypriots were finally transferred to an occupied area where they were given land. Today, the Turkish Cypriot district is ruined, with the mosque a remnant of the past of the community. The mosque was restored, but in February 2016 destroyed by a fire.

The two religious sights of the village are the newly built chapel of the Archangel Michael and the church of Agios Charalambos of 1850. The stone-built temple with the impressive bell tower is located at the core of the community opposite the primary school and was built during the Ottoman domination, after the request of the few Christians living in Denia.

Also in the center is the monument of the Fallen and the Missing, a marble slab dedicated to the missing from the Turkish invasion of 1974, Minas Konstantinos.

The 6-kilometers-long Denia Nature Trail offers a beautiful experience to those who enjoy walking and is an ideal opportunity to see various species of flora and fauna.