Alambra

Alambra is a village in the province of Nicosia and it is situated 25 km south of Nicosia, 62 km northeast of Limassol, 29 km northwest of Larnaca and 127 km east of Paphos.

Built at an altitude of 250 meters at the edge of the Troodos mountain range and among hills and valleys and the Ammos brook that runs through the settlement, resulting in a tributary of Tremithos, the Alambra of the approximately 2,000 inhabitants and the headquarters of the Institute of Applied Communication Studies, is enjoying a great developmental boom, due to its short distance from the capital and it is also a point of attraction for the lovers of archaeology with its great ancient sights. At its north, one can visit the ruins of ancient Idalion, a renowned ancient Greek city with a distinct culture, while in the area there is also the first copper mine in Cyprus. The village today consists of modern buildings, old mansions with paved courtyards and well-kept gardens and traditional houses of folk architecture. Many choose it for their permanent residence, as it is a stone’s throw away from the capital and has a primary school, nursery and kindergarten.

The rich history of the Alambra, one of the first settlements of Cyprus inhabited since 6000 BC, is lost in the depths of time, which is evident from the old homonymous Archaeological Settlement and the cemetery brought to light by the archaeological excavation, dating back to the Middle Bronze age. The settlement was a large conglomerate of houses built with local limestone and flint stone, with 3 or 4 rooms and well-preserved walls, and it was abandoned in 1800 BC. after a disaster. About 150 meters away, the cemetery discovered there was home to 82 single spaced carved tombs with many findings housed today in archaeological museums abroad, such as the Metropolitan Museum of New York. Among the findings, a number of bronze objects, knives, swords, tools, handmade and decorated vases were also found. One of the most important findings is also the first estate document on the island of Cyprus, the tablet of Idalios, which is written in the cypro-sylubian alphabet and dates back to the 5th century BC. This tablet states that King Stasikipros urges doctor Onassilos and his brothers to treat the wounded of a battle when the Kitians and the Medes besieged the city of Idalio. As stated, “The king and the city have agreed to pay as a reward a silver talent or the land of the king in the province of Alabria, and all the trees that are inside this land for harvesting them forever” and without tax.

The name of the community remains the same since the 5th century BC. to this day and it comes from the "a" which denotes a negative meaning and the word “lambron”, which means fire, indicating that it is a region that is not in danger of fire. As already mentioned, the copper plaque of Idalion, 450 BC, mentions the same name. According to the latest tradition, during a fire and after the prayers of the residents, Saint Marina appeared, knelt with them, raised her hands and shouted three times “Alabra” (meaning “without fire”), thus saving the village. After the Saint’s intervention of salvation, the place where the inhabitants were gathered for their prayers was called Deisis (meaning “prayer to God”). As a result, the central church in the settlement and specifically in its square is dedicated to the patron saint of Agia Marina and was built in 1837. The temple was reconstructed in 1954 and it is a three-aisled stone-built church with Byzantine hagiographies, built with chalked limestone and externally adorned with carved frames around the doors and windows. On the square there are also two village clubs, the “Association of Hellenism of Alambra” with an amphitheater, where many events and performances are held, as well as the “Union of Folk Organizations”. At the exit of the community is the new church dedicated to the Resurrection of Christ and it is a domed basilica. Other attractions of Alambra include Lambi’s Spilios (Lambi’s cave), the local water dam and the Gerakarkos-Nostos-Mouttes-Misiskopos hills, where sparse forests, plants, grains, as well as olives, carobs and almond trees are found.

The Limassol-Nicosia motorway, one of the most central roads of the island, passes through Alambra. The settlement is neighboring with Agia Varvara of Nicosia and Mosfiloti of Larnaca.