Agios Ioannis Malountas
Agios Ioannis Malountas is a village in Nicosia in Cyprus and it is situated 26 kilometers southwest of Nicosia, 55 kilometers northwest of Larnaca, 60 kilometers northeast of Limassol and 127 kilometers northeast of Paphos.
Built on the hill of Korakas and next to the Serrachi tributary, Agios Ioannis Malountas of the approximately 600 inhabitants has areas of wild vegetation and cultivated land with grain crops, pulses, seasonal vegetables and olive trees. The community is constantly developing due to the surrounding tranquility and its natural beauty, its proximity to the capital and the good road network that brings it even closer to the urban centers of the area, with residents commuting from their jobs to the village on a daily basis. In the settlement there are modern houses and stone-built houses of traditional architecture built with local stone from the river, while transversing the neighborhoods of the village are scenic narrow and winding streets. The various projects for the amelioration of the community, the communal park with the playground in the Kokkini residential area, the pine- covered area in Korakas and the Agios Ioannis Malountas Nature Trail, have created a beautiful setting for locals and visitors who can enjoy local mezedes in the village tavern.
The name of the village comes from the nearby community of Malounta Lefkosias, while the placename of Agios Ioannis can be also found in other villages of Cyprus.
The sights of the area for the visitor who will come to Agios Ioannis Malountas, are the impressive bridge that divides the village into two and the stone-built watermill with the arches and the furrow that was located in the Vartalis site, on the banks of the river and it was functioning until the 2nd World War, while today it is under the protection of the Department of Antiquities. Also, the ancient necropolis with pottery dating back to the Hellenistic era and various jewels that archaeological excavations have brought to light and that highlight the significance of the area since ancient times, as well as the burrows that the inhabitants dug for the irrigation of the earth and the transfer of water from the river to the fields, indicate the wit and the mastery of the older inhabitants of Agios Ioannis Malountas.
Something that attracts many people to the community is also the ostrich farm that is considered one of the largest in Europe. In a beautiful place, guests can enjoy their day with their children, watching the beautiful bipedal birds and learn everything about them and their eggs.
The central church in the settlement is the church of Ioannis o Prodromos (John the Baptist), built in 1856 with a 14th-century lion’s built-in head in its western section. The icon of Christ of the 16th century stands out inside the temple. To the south of the village, there is the chapel of Agios Markos Eugenikou.
In Agios Ioannis Malountas or Agios Ioannis Lefkosias, there is a primary school, and there are also three military camps and the Hero’s monument dedicated to Pantelis Theodoulos Katelaris. At the memorial of the EOKA’s struggle for the independence from the English in 1955-59, there is also the tomb of the hero.