Elia Bridge

The Elia Bridge is located about 4 kilometers before Kaminaria, above Foini river (tributary of Diarizos river) and it is one beautiful natural attraction of Cyprus.

One of the most well-known Venetian bridges of Cyprus amidst the beautiful Paphos forest, the Elia Bridge has a pointed arch 5.50 meters long and 2.40 meters wide and it is made of stone. On both ends there are carved crosses. Together with the other two Venetian bridges, the Tzelefou Bridge and Routhkia Bridge, it is part of the nature’s trail Venetian Bridges and it is a complex of bridges constructed in order to facilitate access to the surrounding villages and to fulfill the trade needs of the locals. It used to connect Foini with Marathasa and it was the only way to Vretsia and the other villages of Paphos province.

Also Elia Bridge with the other two were part of ‘kamilostrata’, the main trade route of transporting copper from the mine Pera Pediou to the port of Paphos. Camels were carrying the load until Pera Vasa, where the ore was processed and from there horses transported it to the port.

The name comes from the only olive tree (elia means olive tree) of the whole region which became a reference point as olive trees usually do not grow at this altitude. Another version is that there were a lot of olive trees in the region.

The river passing underneath Elia bridge is Platys which is also passing the Tzelefou bridge before it falls in Arminou dam.

The bridge and the surrounding are ideal for one day escapes from everyday life in the city while hiking the nature’s trail Venetian Bridges is a unique experience.