Neo Chorio Paphou

Neo Chorio Paphou is situated about 45 kilometers northwest of the homonymous capital of the Paphos province in Cyprus and is about 100 kilometers away from Limassol and is located almost 190 kilometers away from Nicosia.

Its name means “new settlement of Paphos” in Greek, and it rather explains the historical events that contributed to its creation. Neo Chorio Paphou, until 1958, was a Turkish Cypriot settlement that, after the Turkish invasion of 1974, was inhabited by refugees from Northern Cyprus.

Built on the plateau of Laona, with an average altitude of about 170 meters, Neo Chorio Paphou is located in the Akamas peninsula, with a large part of the peninsula being under its administrative authority.

With a lot of streams flowing from the ridge of the plateau – Mavri Sinia (at about 428 meters), flowing from a verdant expanse of wildflowers, wild olive trees, wild carobs and pine trees that surround Neo Chorio Paphou, while the settlement has an amazing view from above of the beaches of western Cyprus and the beaches of Polis Chrysochous bay. In the wider area, most of the 300 permanent residents of the village are engaged in the cultivation of citrus fruits, grains, fodder plants, almonds and walnuts, chickpeas, and produce their own wine, although some of them are also lifestock breeders and fishermen.

Neo Chorio Paphou is characterized by the traditional Cypriot architecture of its preserved houses. The houses of the village are either one-storey or two-storeyed, built with the limestone stone of the region and clay. The one-storey houses have a characteristic protrusion for the rainwater, while the two-storey houses stand out for their outdoor stone staircase, which usually leads to a wooden balcony. The paved courtyards with the old-fashioned ovens and the stone arches of chiseled stone are some of the characteristics of these houses. Inside the houses have wooden plank windows, they are small but have large central spaces, and their floors are usually stone, and almost all of them have a fireplace and plaster walls.

The Aphrodite Baths (Loutra tis Aphroditis) and the greatness of the nature of Akamas with the many Nature Trails, such as the Smigies Nature Trail that passes through Neo Chorio Paphou, as well as the sightings of many endemic and non-endemic bird species for the birdwatching enthusiasts, have attracted a wide interest in the area in recent years and thus touristic development, with many Nicosians buying their country houses there. Thus, there are many agrotouristic lodgings and hotel units, traditional taverns, supermarkets, some cafes, and a world- famous ceramics workshop (Triskelion Pottery).

In the center of the settlement of Neo Chorio Paphou, stands the gothic single-spaced large church of Agios Minas, built in 1912, and next to it, the monument in honor of three EOKA fighters. In addition, the community also boasts the ecclesiastical monuments of the church of Agios Efrem, at the entrance of the village, which has a terrific panoramic view, the church of Agios Georgios, a 17th or 18th century temple, and the historic chapel dedicated to Agios Minas Idramis (16th century), which is situated just outside the community.

Access to Neo Chorio Paphou is easy via the port of Latchi (about 3 km to the southeast), although the main road that crosses the settlement passes through Akamas.