Maroni
Maroni in Cyprus is a lowland village in the Larnaca province, situated some 34 kilometers southwest of Larnaca, 65 kilometers south of Nicosia and 39 kilometers east of Limassol. A beautiful traditional settlement of great archaeological value, built on the top of two hills and which has become a popular holiday destination in recent years, Maroni is standing 80 meters above sea level with many crops of early vegetables and citrus fruits such as lemons, grapefruit , oranges and cereals, olive and carob trees. It is worth mentioning that the community is the first in the production of tomatoes in greenhouses throughout Cyprus.
The existence of the settlement dates back to ancient times, as there are reports of Maroni starting from the copper age and even earlier, due to the fertile land of the valley of the river Maroni. Human presence existed in the area about 2 km south of the village’s current location, as remains from the Neolithic, the Chalcolithic, the Early and Middle Bronze Age, the Archaic period, the Roman and Medieval times were found. In the area of Tsaroukas was found a Late Bronze Age Cemetery, in Vournes and Gialos the findings were mainly pottery works dating to the late Copper Age (1650-1400 BC) and (1400-1230 BC). In the area of Petrera, there were also remains of an early Christian church and other related finds, ceramics, skeletons of people, coins, while in Potima, there are surface indications of a medieval settlement.
For the origins of the name of the village Maroni there are several versions. One says it comes from a person of the Odyssey, Maron, who lived in Thrace and hosted Odysseus. Another version states that the name comes from Maroneia, an ancient city of Thrace, whose Greek settlers came and settled here, while another interpretation states that it was named because here probably lived Maronites. Another version mentions the Maroni plant (a wild herbaceous plant with medicinal properties), but the prevailing version speaks of Marona, a saint and witness to the Orthodox Church who gave his name also to Maronas in the province of Paphos.
Inside the village, most of the buildings are old mansions built with the stone of the area, with courtyards and balconies. The central church is dedicated to St. George (of 1901) and the old church of St. George (16th century) is in today's cemetery. The churches of Agioi Anargyroi (Kosmas, Damianos, Cyrus and John celebrating July 1 and November 1) near the beach and the most recent chapel of Agios Nikolaos are the other religious sites in the area. For those who love nature, there is a two arched old bridge southwest of the river in a very beautiful landscape and a leisure area with children’s playground to the left of the road leading to the beach. The geographical location of the village, its traditional architecture, the sights of nature and the lush vegetation, combined with the proximity to Maroni’s beach, just two kilometers away, make Maroni an ideal destination.
The approximately 600 permanent residents are mainly engaged in agriculture as well as tourism, as there are restaurants, cafes and more.