Mandria Paphou

The village of Mandria Paphou is situated about 15 kilometers southeast of the capital of the Paphos province in Cyprus (700 meters from the main road of Limassol-Paphos), 55 kilometers from Limassol and 140 kilometers from Nicosia. Just opposite the settlement lies the ancient Cape Zefyrion (Zefyrou akron).

Built at an altitude of about 20 meters from the sea, to the south of Mandria Paphou is the Mediterranean Sea. To the east of the settlement flows the Xeros river, where the Asprokremmos dam has been built, producing a fertile plain for cultivation. Hence the name Yesllona (a green plain), as it was previously known to the locals. The plain narrows as the visitor approaches the sea. There is also the relatively unknown beach of Mandria that is settled in a rough environment of rocks and wild plants.

Mandria Paphou was originally a pasture, as its name implies (mandri in Greek means “pen for cattle”). It is also said that the coastal part of the modern settlement was the ancient Cypriot town of Arsinoe (where the chapel of Agios Efresis stands today). Since 1963 the village had been Turkish Cypriot. After the Turkish invasion (1974), the village was inhabited by refugees who were given land plots, and many of the permanent residents of the village are engaged in livestock farming.

Generally, in recent years there is a lot of tourist activity in the former small village. Today, the population of the village is steadily increasing and there are quite a few Europeans who choose it as a place of residence due to its proximity to the two major cities of the island, combining ideally the rhythms of the city and the nature of the countryside. More specifically, Mandria Paphou has a kindergarten, a municipal school, several restaurants and cafes, a mini-market, a local medical center, banks, a car rental office and a cultural center where various annual events are organized from time to time. In addition, many golf tournaments are hosted in the wider area during the October-May period.

The two historical churches of Mandria Paphou are also the main sights of the village. On the one hand, the church of Agii Andronikos and Athanasia, which once operated from a village house, is celebrated by the community on October 9th. On the other hand, the church of Agia Vryonis, high on a hill in the village, which according to tradition is very miraculous and is honored by the faithful every August.