Sotira Ammochostou
Sotira Ammochostou is one of the largest villages of the homonymous province in Cyprus and is located at an altitude of 48 meters, about 10 kilometers away from the city of Ayia Napa.
According to several legends, the village was created by the relocation of an ancient coastal settlement. After being constantly attacked by the pirates, they moved to the area where Sotira Ammochostou is located today and gave it its name because they felt they were being rescued (Sotira means “saviour” in Greek). Others claim that the name of the village came from the church, the Metamorphosis of the Sotiras (Transfiguration of the Saviour), which existed there since Byzantine times. It is certain that many Greek Cypriots displaced in Famagusta in 1974 found shelter there.
Today Sotira Ammochostou is considered to be one of the largest kokkinochoria or else red villages, due to the rich red soil with the famous potato plantations. In fact, this village is proud to have the largest crop (2000 tons) of the kolokasi (a type of sweet potato) in Cyprus, and is among the most important vegetable-producing villages on the island, despite the lack of water in the wider region. So most of its inhabitants are mostly engaged in agriculture and livestock farming. Lastly, it is also known for the small beer brewery that has been established there by a local family. There are a total of 17 churches, many medieval or post-Byzantine, in the Sotira Ammochostou, resulting in the village bearing the nickname “Byzantine Town”. For the lovers of culture, the village has three museums, the EOKA Sotiras Museum, the Meletion Historical Museum and the Ecclesiastical Museum of Sotira Ammochostou, while in the area south of the village have been found ancient tombs and some objects from the ancient settlement “Throni”.
On August 6th every year a big festival is being held during the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Saviour, while in autumn (in September) the Kolokasi Festival is being successfully organized in Sotira Ammochostou.
The coastal area of the village of Sotira Ammochostou extends from the beach Agia Thekla, where almost 300 weddings are held annually, up to the Posidonas beach and Sirines beach. The village is connected to the north with Deryneia, and northwest to the village of Frenaros, to the east with Paralimni, and to the southwest to Liopetri.