Kornos
Kornos is a village in the Larnaca district of Cyprus and is situated 28 kilometers from Larnaca, 46 kilometers from Nicosia and 56 kilometers from Limassol.
Built in a hilly area, at an altitude of 320 meters above sea level, Kornos is an area known world- wide for its pottery art. In the settlement the residents cultivate citrus crops such as lemons, mandarins and quinces, olives, carobs, cereals, legumes, vegetables, pulses and fruit trees, but its most important product is honey. The local beekeeping has been well known all over Cyprus from the olden times. The houses preserve the traditional folk architecture with the brick-built walls, the arches and the wooden windows and doors.
Remains have been found in the area that prove it to have been inhabited since antiquity, while the excavations have brought to light a tomb of Cypriot Archaic -Cypriot Classical times on the north- eastern boundary of the settlement.
The village has existed at least since the period of Frankish rule, and for its name origins there are several versions: One version states that it came from the French word corne or the Italian word corno (the village is also thus marked on old maps) which means horn, protruding, which is reinforced by the fact that in the village itself there is the name Kornoi for two pointed tops that resemble horns. Another version speaks of the mountains of the village in which many crows used to live, and crows in the Cypriot dialect is Koronoi, and so Kornos got its name. Another version claims that it took its name from the first settler called Koronos, who talked a lot and had a scratchy voice, just like the homonymous bird.
Known world-wide for the pottery that was once the main occupation of the inhabitants, Kornos has received many international awards and distinctions. For the production of the clay pottery, the soil is transported from Stavrovouni and the area of Xylia mountain to the Kornos Pottery Cooperative. After grinding the soil in laboratories with special machinery, the soil is kneaded to form a malleable material used to make a variety of red vases. These red vases are used as storage jars for wine, pots, smokers, kyvertia (a type of pot used in beekeeping), stamnia (pot for transferring water), and more. Vases are often decorated with engraved and embossed representations. Traditional pottery flourished particularly during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries and the pots manufactured there, were used for the household’s daily needs and for the storage of agricultural products. Due to the events of the invasion, production at the Varosion and Lapithos centers stopped, while in Kornos and Phini the production by the few remaining craftsmen continued. In Kornos in particular, the production of red clay pots helped in storing the water, with which they supplied the cities and villages of Cyprus.
In addition to the vases that can be seen and purchased by the visitor in Korno, he will also get the chance to see many religious attractions. The main church of the village is standing at its core, and it is a stone-built 19th century Gothic building which is dedicated to Ioannis o Prodromos (Saint John the Baptist). The icon of John the Baptist dates back to 1734 and is celebrated on 29 August. To the southwest of the church, there is also the old-calendar chapel of Saint Spyridon.
The little chapel of Agios Alexandros is located outside the village, towards Pyrga and was built in honor of the missing people of the village since the Turkish invasion of 1974. It was dedicated to Saint Alexander because of the missing son of the priest of the region. The chapel of Agios Georgios is located near the old Nicosia – Limassol road, towards Mosfiloti and was built with white stone, while to the north of the village, at the mountain “Ftelia”, the Zoodochos Pigi chapel is celebrated every Friday of Diakonisimou (the first Friday after Easter). The chapel of Agios Georgios of Sopotamos is situated quite outside of the village. Saint Euphemianos is a small church built by the Famagusta refugees who came to Larnaca after the Turkish invasion of 1974 and is standing on the road to Stavrovouni.
The village’s picnic spot, situated among pines and cypresses, eucalypti, acacias, terebinth trees, pistacias and wild olive trees, is the ideal place for relaxation and picnic.
Finally, there is a tavern, restaurant, souvlatzidika, as well as a multi-purpose entertainment and sports club for families and not only. Today, the about 2,000 inhabitants of the community, cultivate citrus trees and vegetable, or are occupied with beekeeping and pottery production. Due to the proximity of large urban centers, many are also employed in large cities.