Episkopi Paphou
Episkopi Paphou is one of the most unique villages in the province of Paphos and it is located 18 kilometers northeast of the homonymous city, 65 kilometers northwest of Limassol and 150 kilometers southeast of Nicosia.
Built on the west side of the river Ezousa and at an altitude of 200 meters above the homonymous valley, t Episkopi Paphou with the few dozen inhabitants and the huge rock at the entrance of the settlement from the road of Konia is rightly characterized today as the “Meteora of Cyprus”. The crops thriving here are vines (wine producing varieties), grains, forage plants, almonds, vegetables and citrus trees, while livestock farming is also undertaken but limited.
The village has been inhabited since the Frankish occupation and even under the same name, as during the reign of King Iacov II (1460-1473), the Orthodox bishop of Pafos settled there, transferring his seat from Polis Chrysochous (episkopos in Greek means Bishop). Before becoming Episkopi, the village was probably referred to as Komi.
Episkopi Paphou is one of the “villages of Minthi”, along with Kallepia, Tsada and the Minthis Hills tourist project, which essentially consists of a “cooperation” of communities, under a common umbrella, in order to highlight their history, their tradition and their unique natural environment. The “villages of Minthi” have released a guide with tourist information and walks in the valley of Ezousa, highlighting the place as a rural tourism area.
Although a small community, Episkopi Paphou is today a very popular destination, as it welcomes many nature lovers and tourists every year due to the majestic imposing landscape that surrounds it and the rich flora and fauna of the area. From here pass jeep safaris, with the tourists crossing parts of the valley and enjoying the idyllic natural landscape.
The old stone-built core of the village is built with sandstone, a sedimentary rock found in the hills and the surrounding mountains. Maintaining its traditional character, the village consists of old, mainly one storey houses in uphill and very narrow streets with a big incline (in many cases, two cars can not pass at the same time).
The village’s trademark, the vertical rock that is ideal for bird-watching, widely photographed by locals and foreigners and where climbing groups organise many excursions, is located almost in the center of the village and is the largest monolithic volume of Cyprus with a height of 70 meters and a length of 250 meters.
Once, it was part of a bigger and taller rock that offered a view all the way to the city, but with the great earthquake of 1953, a piece of huge rock collapsed, creating this unique breathtaking spectacle. One of the most well-known geological formations on the island of Aphrodite, this rock is part of the Mamonia Geological Complex and has been designated as a protected Natura 2000 site of enormous environmental importance. Species such as falcon peregrinus, oenanthe cypriaca that reproduces only in Cyprus, coracias garrulous, corvus monedulous, are species found on the rock of Episkopi Paphou. Also, at the base of the cliff, there is an important population of the endemic bush zulatzia (bosea cypria), a rare species thriving in only three parts of the world, in Cyprus, the Canary Islands and the Himalayas.
Other community attractions include the old stone drinking fountain near the bottom of the rock and the chapel of the village patron who celebrates on October 21, St. Ilarionas, which until the earthquake of 1953 was under the rock and today there are few ruins remaining with the icon of the Saint. Inside the river bed and beneath the village, there is the “atsupopetra” or “Stone of Atsupa” a stone that, according to tradition, was thrown by the Saint to a demon. Nearby is the cave where he practiced asceticism for 16 years, at the same location where in ancient times used to stand an idolatrous temple. The small chapel of Archangel Michael and the new church of Agios Ilarionas with its empty grave (as his relics have been moved to Palestine) on the summit of the imposing cliff overlooking the valley from above, complete the image of Episkopi Paphou.
After exploring and wondering around the village, the visitor can enjoy his coffee at the traditional cafes and visit the Environmental Information Center of the Paphos District, which is housed in the buildings of the old elementary school. There you can see the botanical park and learn more about the geological and natural history of the place. Another natural experience that the visitor deserves to experience is the well-known Nature Trail Kallepia-Episkopi. In the community there are also some rented rooms and hostels for those who wish to extend their stay in the area.
Access to the settlement is also possible from Achelia towards Agia Varvara and then to Episkopi Paphou, a route that descends down to the river and crosses a small bridge, which overflows in the winter.