Drinia
Drinia in Cyprus is a village in the province of Paphos and it is situated 26 kilometers northeast of the homonymous city, 88 kilometers northwest of Limassol and 170 kilometers southwest of Nicosia.
Built at an altitude of 550 meters among vineyards, grain crops, few legumes and almond trees, in a region transversed by many streams, Drinia with the approximately 50 inhabitants belongs to the geographical region of the Limassol-Paphos ampelochoria (wine-producing villages of Cyprus). The small settlement with its traditional stone houses of folk architecture, vineyards and wild vegetation, wins the visitors seeking tranquility and relaxation away from the bustling urban centers of Cyprus. One of the last “strongholds” of the preservation of the textile art, Drinia maintains, albeit on a limited scale, the weaving of the well-known phytiotic textiles that took their name from the neighboring village Phyti.
The village dates back to medieval times and is referenced to by the name “Thrinia”, although some people associate its name with the name of nearby Drymou, believing that it comes from the word “Drymia” (small oak forest).
The settlement was originally developed in the central square around the church of Agios Georgios and gradually began to expand, following mainly the roads to the north and west connecting Drinia with the road of Lassa-Agios Dimitrianos.
The central church of the village, dedicated to St. George, is a stone-built Basilica building dating back to 1755 that was repaired in 1842. Some of the architectural parts of the small temple might be parts of a much older building, on top of which the church was built. With a stone built bell tower, a beautiful wood carved icon screen and valuable 17th-century icons (Saint George’s icon, John the Baptist, and the miraculous icon of Virgin Mary of Iamatousa), St. George is a religious attraction that will attract the attention of passers-by in the village.
Other religious places of interest in Drinia are the Basilica chapel of Agia Marina in the east, built on the ruins of an older temple and among large cypress trees and poplars, as well as the stone chapel of Agioi Anargyroi.
For the lovers of the history of Cyprus or those who want to see something different, at the site of Kamata and about 2.5 kilometers west of the community, there is the famous “Aetofolia”, a hideout of enormous historical significance for the locals. Here was the hiding place of the wanted fighters during the EOKA liberation struggle in 1955-59 against the British. The “Aetofolia”, which is located in a vineyard, is dug at a small elevation 3 m above the ground while internally it is lined with wood to avoid humidity. Today the hideaway has been restored and a great honorary plaque has been placed, listing the names of all the people who have stayed or passed from the hideout from time to time.