Potamitissa

Potamitissa is a village of the district of Limassol in Cyprus and is located 36 km north of Limassol, 64 km southwest of Nicosia, 87 km west of Larnaca and 86 km east of Paphos.

Built in the Pitsilia region at an altitude of 850 meters, surrounded by steep slopes, fruit trees and vineyards, Potamitissa of the about 60 residents is a peaceful village next to Ambeliko River, known for its traditional cured meat, and where are also cultivated peach, plum, apple, pear and apricot trees, and vegetables.

Also here, as in many villages, traditional wine is produced, zivania and traditional dishes from grapes, such as Palouzes (grape juice jelly), Soutzoukos (traditional grape sweet) and kiofterka (another traditional grape must sweet). If you come in the winter you will be inspired by the serenity of the landscape, but in summer the population increases significantly with expatriates returning and visitors arriving in the community.

According to tradition, the village of Potamitissa was established after the destruction of a large village, the Rogia, which was completely destroyed by an invasion of Kramanon (Turks from Asia Minor) during the Venetian rule (1489-1570). The inhabitants of the village fled and sought refuge at the location where today is built Potamitissa and then stood a Byzantine monastery of Panagia (Virgin Mary), near the river bank. The name of the village is connected with this monastery (potami in Greek means river, which was the name given to the monastery), for which Virgin Mary herself indicated the location where it had to be erected. Thus, the name of the monastery also became the name of the village.

The wooden Venetian bridge located in the community and which was demolished to build the new one, suggests that the lountza, sausages and hams that were manufactured here were of excellent quality and were sought after trading products in the surrounding areas.

The central church, built in 1925, is obviously dedicated to the Virgin Mary Potamitissa and it replaced the old church from which icons from the 17th and 18th century still survive. The miraculous icon that protects pregnant women and according to tradition was found by a shepherd in a rock in the 19th century, is the icon of the Virgin Mary Eleousa. It is celebrated on Easter Tuesday with a festival that takes place in the village and many people come to worship the icon. Next to the church is the heroes monument dedicated to the fallen of the EOKA Liberation Struggle against the British in 1955-59, Stylianos Lenas and Dimitrakis Christodoulou.

One kilometer away from the community there is the chapel of Chrysomyrousas of the 1972 that is dedicated to the Assumption of Virgin Mary and was built on the ruins of the church of Agios Georgios (Saint George).

In Potamitissa, visitors can stay in a restored guesthouse in the village, a complex of traditional houses that offer all the amenities, as well as breathtaking views of the area.