Pentalia

Pentalia is a village in the province of Paphos and it is situated 33 kilometers northeast of the homonymous city, 76 kilometers northwest of Limassol and 124 kilometers southwest of Nicosia.

Built at an altitude of 540 meters on a beautiful and steep slope overlooking the Xeros river valley (or Asprokremos), Pentalia is the third village in terms of agricultural land size in the province and consists of two settlements, the old and the new. In the old settlement the traditional character of building is evident in all its corners, as here stand among its small narrow streets many traditional stone-built houses. In the new settlement, modern buildings have been erected, which are mostly used as cottages for people who come from the region but reside elsewhere and visit it during the summers or the weekends. The reason for the division of Pentalia is none other than the caving in of the land that happened after the great earthquake that hit Paphos in 1953, leading to a decision by the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus on the movement of the population in 1954. Since the 1970s, even this beautiful village did not managed to escape from the waves of urbanisation that hit the island, and today it counts a few permanent residents who live in both districts.

In the area, the visitor can enjoy the magnificent view of the Troodos Mountains, including Xeropotamos, enjoy the food at the highest restaurant of the new settlement of Pentalia or buy authentic traditional products such as trachana, zivania (traditional Cypriot pomace brandy), as well as sutzukos (traditional Cypriot sweets made out of grapes), tremithopites (traditional pies) and many more.

The churches of the village are the church of Agios Stylianos that is a building of 2012, the impressive church of Agios Georgios, a 1906 building located in the old settlement of Pentalia and the chapel of Agios Minas built in 1997.

Within walking distance from the community, there is also the famous Panagia Chrysorrogiatissa Monastery and the Holy Monastery of Paphos, two of the most important monasteries in the province. Chrysorrogiatissa is a magnificent building complex that was founded in the 12th century and is a place of pilgrimage for many local and foreign visitors (mainly from Russia), who come here in the thousands every year in order to see the miraculous icon. The Holy Monastery is also one of the most ancient religious sites, since it was built in 300 AD. on the ruins of an ancient Greek temple of the king of Paphos Nicocles (374 / 373-361 BC), which was dedicated to Hera.

One of the most important sights near Pentalia, 5.5 km south of the community, is the famous Panagia (Virgin Mary) of Sindi, one of the most authentic examples of monastic architecture in Cyprus, which is on the UNESCO protected list. The Panagia of Sindi today constitutes an open museum and archaeological site of great historical and archaeological value. The church can be found in a totally cinematic setting and after descending a narrow downhill road through orchards and uncultivated fields covered in wheat, in one of the most impressive road routes on the island of Cyprus.