Gialia

The village of Gialia is located about 15 kilometers east of Polis Chrysochous, and it is situated between the villages of Argaka (west) and Agia Marina Chrysochous (east), while it is located about 50 kilometers northeast of the homonymous capital in the Paphos province of Cyprus, and 120 kilometers from Limassol and Nicosia.

The roots of the village are Greek as is made evident by its name, Gialia, which probably originates from the epithet “Aegialia” and means something that is located on the seaside. On the other hand, the river Gialia or Idalia, the second largest river in Cyprus, flows unceasingly alongside the valley of the settlement, providing yet another version for the origins of its name.

The approximately 120 permanent residents of Gialia are mainly engaged in tourism and agriculture. Olive groves, legumes, and some fruit trees and citrus trees are cultivated in the area, while the number of greenhouses has grown in recent years.

From being the center of the Turkish Cypriot enclave, after the events of 1975 Gialia became the site of displaced Greek Cypriot refugees who left the Turkish-occupied areas of Morphou and Kyrenia. Today, the sparsely populated village is divided into two settlements. Kato Gialia (Lower Gialia), which follows in the steps of the coastal development of northwest Cyprus and Pano Gialia (Upper Gialia), which borders with the Paphos forest, an important oasis of oxygen for Cyprus and a beautiful natural environment, where the second largest forest station of the island is found. In addition, in the area many Nicosian residents retain their country houses.

The famous Georgian Monastery of Panagia Chrysogialiotissa (5 kilometers away from the center of the village), with its small church of Agios Georgios and the restored watermill (somewhere in the middle of the community), are the main points of interest of the not so famous Gialia. Also, the Agios Nikolaos Georgianis Monis, located about 200 meters northeast of the Georgian monastery, the chapel of Agios Georgios, as well as the renovated school upon the hill that sometimes also serves as a restaurant, are some of the area’s other attractions.

Finally, the wild beauty of Gialia Beach, which is included in the Natura 2000 network of the European Union and on which flows out the homonymous river of the area, is an ideal location for the visitor to enjoy the sea, while along the coastal road to Pomo one can find many accommodation and dining choices.