Pachyammos Tillyrias

The village of Pachyammos Tillyrias is located in the Nicosia province, about 200 km from the homonymous capital, 130 km from Limassol, 180 km from Larnaca and 60 km from Paphos.

Just 40 km away from the Turkish occupied lands, the village is built 2.5 km from the sea in order to protect it against pirate raids. The community of Pachyammos Tillyrias was formally established after 1931. Initially there were two settlements, Kolokapi with the church of Agios Ioannis and Halleri with the church of Agios Georgios, which is still preserved at the location where the present settlement is located. In the past, their residents lived almost hidden behind the mountain, so that the Turks won’t find them, while at the same time there was a military army that oversaw the area.

The name of the village is probably related to the abundance and the thickness of the sand in the wider region (pachia means “thick” and ammos is “sand” in Greek). Today, approximately 30 permanent residents live in the village of Pachyammos Tillyrias, as since 1963 most of them left their homes when the Kokkino checkpoint closed (although the Limnitis checkpoint has now been opened). Various vegetables are cultivated in the village. In the past the village was famous for its almonds and figs, but this is no longer the case, since the trade in fruit and vegetables has ceased since the Turkish invasion of 1974.

The village of Pachyammos Tillyrias also has a beautiful long sandy beach, Pachyammos beach, as well as several apartments for rent throughout the year. Right next to the outposts of the National Guard, the imposing church of Agios Raphael emerges, which was constructed after the healing of Neophytos Socratous in 1987. The church of Agios Georgios, on the other hand, which was the early parish church of the village was restored in 1992, after being bombarded by the Turks.

Visiting an area situated at the borders, that has been through some hard times in the past, is definitely a special experience for every visitor to the island of Aphrodite. From Paphos you need two hours to reach the village of Pachyammos Tillyrias, making for a troublesome journey, but through a unique mountainous environment that remains indelible in the memory of every traveler.