Katydata

Katydata can be found about 57 kilometers southwest of Nicosia in the homonymous province of Cyprus, and it is situated 100 kilometers from Larnaca, 70 kilometers from Limassol, and about 100 kilometers from Paphos.

At an altitude of about 270 meters, Katydata is crossed to the east by the Klarion river, as well as by the Karkotis river that flows through the settlement. Set in the mountains of the Solea valley, the community is surrounded by olive trees and grain crops, while it has a view up to the bay of the sea of Xerou.

Maintaining its name throughout the centuries (Cattidata in the Middle Ages), the settlement of Katydata has many underground waters. This fact, the composition of the words “down (kato)“ and “water(ydata)”, gave the settlement its current name. Also known by the name vouno (mountain), as well as mana – since most of the valley fields are located in this area.

In 1918, excavations that took place in Katydata, brought to light 100 ancient tombs and many pots\ of the Bronze Age. More recent researches made by various Universities in Laonarka have shown that the village has existed since Prehistoric times, while the site of Pano Limna revealed the existence of a Roman settlement and a Roman cemetery. Finally, the source of the life of the community has always been the old Skouriotissa mine, which is still in operation. In this mine, as well as in other neighboring mines, most of the permanent residents, who now number about 100, used to work.

In Katydata the visitor can walk through the village alleys to observe the two-storey houses built with bricks, many of which are ruined and others have lively colorful gardens, an indication that there is still life in them. In the center of the community there is the Museum of Mineral Heritage (opened after an arrangement), highlighting the mining activity of the place. In the area there is also the house-shelter of Marco Drako’s team, while south of the settlement the landscape is dominated by a very beautiful community park. In the village there is a shop of ancient handmade statues. In addition, there are many ecclesiastical monuments in the community, such as the old parish church of Agios Ioannis Theologos (at the entrance of the settlement), the chapel of Agia Paraskevi and the shelter of Agios Seraphim of Sarof (the last two are housed in the deserted village, which is now a camp of the UN) of Skouriotissa, where there is also the church of Panagia (Virgin mary).

Katydata is one of the rare cases of villages that maintain their ties with tradition and care to attract young people to the region, with the organization of the highly successful Windcraft Music Festival.

Being easily accessible via the main road of Nicosia – Troodos, from Katydata, in the past, used to pass the Cypriot railway.