Fterikoudi
Fterikoudi is situated 45 kilometers south of Nicosia in the homonymous province of Cyprus, and it is more than 80 kilometers from Larnaca, about 45 kilometers from Limassol town and almost 120 kilometers from Paphos.
Built on the northwest slope of Troodos and between Mount Hainato and Mount Pyros, Fterikoudi is located at almost 1000 meters above sea level, and is considered to be one of the highest villages of the island of Cyprus.
Although rich in hazelnut trees, the fern is a plant that is found almost everywhere in the community’s valley, and therefore lends its name to the settlement (fteri is how the fern is called in Greek). The locals, on the other hand, believe that the village was named so, because of the fact that it is built on the fteri of the mountain, that is, on its slope.
Being one of the oldest and most picturesque settlements of the Pitsilia region, Fterikoudi was founded with the establishment of the Ottoman rule when the village of Kalamithasas (west of the present community), which was a Lusignian-Venetian estate, was destroyed by the Turks (with cannon shots from the opposite mountain, hence its name Pyros, which means “fire, shots” in Greek). So, the remaining residents went and built the settlement on the site it is today, so they could see in advance when the Turks were going to attack them, having ample time to hide their women and daughters in big jars.
Today, Fterikoudi has about 80 permanent residents, most of whom are relatively old, since all young people have moved, because of work, to the cities. In the past, the village was known for its agro-livestock production (hazelnut harvesting, wine derivatives, cheeses and other dairy products).
The visitors to Fterikoudi can also tour the churches of the community, travel to the past by walking around the settlement, and taste traditional dishes at the tavern, located at the site of the old school of the village. Beginning from the heart of the settlement, the first thing to see is the ancient oak (over 300 years old) on the square with the two traditional cafes of the community (which are usually open in the afternoon hours). Then, passing a downhill paved alley, one can approach the central church of the village, built in the 19th century, which is dedicated to Saint Nicholas. In addition, the settlement has a monument of Heroes (at its southern entrance), the church of Panagia Chrysogalousa (or Galakotropousas), while one can continue his walk, this time walking along the path that starts at the village square, and is 4 km long. This route ends in a region rich in geological formations, just outside the chapel of Agios Abbakum, unique to the island, as well as the tomb of the miraculous Saint. Saint Abbakum lived in the area of old Kalamithasa, practiced and died in the village, so the inhabitants of the settlement built in 1989 in his honor the particular temple. Also, the visitor has the opportunity to see the place where the Saint grazed his animals. Finally, there are ruins of the Agios Eustathiou temple, protector of the hunters, while the recentexcavations in the area brought to light various ceramic vases, a tomb entrance and an ancient stone temple of the Mycenaean period.
Fterikoudi is located between the villages of Alona and Aska, while access to it is possible via quite uphill streets.