Kathikas

Kathikas is a village in the province of Paphos in Cyprus and it is situated 26 kilometers north of the homonymous town, 88 kilometers northwest of Limassol and 145 kilometers southwest of Nicosia.

One of the villages in the area of ​​Laona, which used to be the center of southwestern Cyprus (with a school dating back to the times of the British occupation), Kathikas is built at an altitude of 660 meters and on a plateau surrounded by lush hills, offering idyllic views from most of its parts. From several parts of the village you can actually see the Coral Bay, the Akamas peninsula, the Troodos mountain range and the Paphos forest. One of the island’s ampelochoria (wine-producing villages of Cyprus) and, at the same time, one of the most developed tourist settlements of the province, it is visited by thousands of Cypriots and foreigners who come to enjoy its cool climate, beautiful scenery and eat at its excellent taverns. The settlement of the village, with the approximately 350 inhabitants, maintains its traditional character, as there are stone-built houses of folk architecture amongst its beautiful narrow streets that are bustling with life on the weekends and in the summer.

The name of the community probably comes from its location, being as it is in the middle of the Paphos and Polis Chrysochous districts, in the past traders’ caravans stopped here to rest and “sit” (kathome in Greek means “sitting down”). Another version refers to its original owner who had this name, while a third refers to the fact that when one looks at the settlement from a distance, it seems to be “sitting” on a flat location.

The famous vineyards of the settlement produce white grapes, from which comes the Xynisteri (wine that comes from an indigenous white grape grown in Cyprus), which is considered probably the best of Cyprus. As a matter of fact, more than 50% of white wine on the island comes from grapes from the region, indicating the necessity of a visit to the 2 local wineries. The first one is one of the first wineries in western Cyprus which opened in 1993 and has a museum, a wine-tasting hall, a shop, a conference room and varieties of superb quality (white Xynisteri and “Saint Onufrius” Mourvedre, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, rose Einalia, red Methy Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc). The second winery is small in production volume, but it is big in quality, while it also offers magnificent views from its huge balcony and features small natural caves within its premises.

The many taverns in the area, in the center of the village or on the street just outside it, some of which can be also found in old stone mansions, cater to all tastes and cover a wide range of Cypriot cuisine such as mezedes (appetisers), spit meat, mageirevta (home-cooked food), all cooked with fresh and local ingredients.

As part of its agrotouristic inclinations, Kathikas has restored houses and state-of-the-art guesthouses that offer all the comforts for those who want to extend their stay in the settlement, in addition to wandering and dining in this excellent natural environment.

The central church is dedicated to Panagia Evagelistria and is a 1870 building, and there is also the chapel of Agios Onoufrios and Agios Ypatios, Agia Marina and Agios Georgios. As a matter of fact, Saint Hypatia is the patron saint of the village and celebrates on March 31st. In the area there is a primary school for children, there are mini-markets, beautiful and traditional cafes where guests can enjoy their coffee, while the touristic image of the community is completed by the small donkey shelter where visitors can feed and ride these lovely animals.

For the absolute nature enthusiasts, close to the community, and in particular at 11 km, there is the impressive and imposing Avakas gorge, the most famous in Cyprus, with a length of 2 kilometers and steep rocks on its both sides up to 80 meters high.

Kathikas is also known for its local customs during the Easter period, such as the one on Good Friday, when residents are used to dramatizing the “Passions of Christ”using as “protagonists” people from the community council who assume some of the roles while the procession goes from the chapel of Agios Onoufrius to the church of Panagia Evangelistria, with the rest of the village following close by.