Tseri
Tseri is a town located about 10 kilometers southwest of the center of Nicosia in the homonymous province of Cyprus.
Built amphitheatrically at an average altitude of about 300 meters, Tseri has a total area of almost 30 square kilometers and consists of a fodder, industrial and crafts workshops zone, the firing range of the National Guard of Cyprus, a military camp, a light aviation airport and the facilities of the Cypriot Electricity Authority (AEK), some quarries, and two protected areas, which are included in the Natura 2000 network, (Alykos Potamos – Agios Sozomenos). Additionally, it is surrounded by the communities of Strovolos, Latsia, Kato Defterra, Lakatamia, and the settlement of Kotsiati. The origin of the town’s name derives from the word “tzierin” (meaning “bee’s wax”), due to the many bee hives that were harvested in the area in the past. On the other hand, some scholars argue that Tseri is associated with the place name Xeri (meaning “dry” in Greek), which was given to the community due to its lack of water.
Tseri is one of the most recently established communities of the island, dating back to the time of the Ottoman domination. As a toponym, however, the name of the town seems to have existed much earlier, while its original name in English was another (Xeri). By studying various historical records today, the community seems to have always been Greek, except for a very short period of time when it was conquered by the Turks (1571-1878). Probably its first inhabitants were shepherds from the neighboring Kambia Orinis or the ancient village of Trypi, who had their pens in the area.
With continuous population growth, as it is close to the Cypriot capital and there is continuous industrial development in the area, the permanent residents of Tseri are about 9,000. Nowadays one can visit the old elementary schools of Tseri, Rousseo and Elenio, which can be found one opposite of the other, near the heart of the community, observe the preserved buildings, see the cistern of 300 BC, one of the many archaeological findings in the area, and to go to the place called “Plakkia”, from where the visitor can enjoy the view towards Nicosia. In addition, there are some ecclesiastical monuments in the community. The church of Agii Andronikos and Athanasia, which adorns the town square, and the newly built church of Agios Konstantinos and Agia Eleni, which was erected beside the ruins of the old church of Agia Katerina. The settlement also has three parks, several monuments and busts, and a library (housed in the Elegio). Finally, there are two primary schools, a kindergarten, a children’s community center and a children’s club, the multipurpose center for servicing the elderly, and an annex of the Greek Conservatory.