Pelendri
Pelendri village is located 40 km north of Limassol in the homonymous province of Cyprus, and is approximately 70 kilometers from Nicosia, almost 100 kilometers from Larnaca and 80 km from Pafos.
On the Troodos Mountains and between a barren hillside with narrow deep valleys, at an altitude of about 900 meters, at the western end of Pitsilia and east of Karvounas Valley, is located Pelendri, bordering the villages Amiantos, Potamitissa and Trimiklini.
Previously, the large number of Pelendri residents worked at the nearby mine in Amiantos. Today, the settlement has about 1000 permanent residents, while during the summer months the population multiplies and the village is full of life.
During the Middle Ages the village was a feud of Ioannis de Lusignan, while historically it was referred to as two separate settlements (farms), which were destroyed during the Ottoman period. According to mythology, on the other hand, nearby there were a total of 14 small villages (in one of them it is even said that important archaeological objects of the era of Alexander the Great were found) and for greater security, their residents moved, and joined those of Pelendri. For the origins of the name of the village Pelendri there are many different versions. On one hand locals justify this name with local flora, as in the area grew a kind of poisonous mushroom, the pelendri, and a fragrant grass, the pedentri. Others argue that the plants got their names from the village and not the other way around. Historically, this name matches the name of an old medieval family, which used to own the settlement, but newer versions make reference to the fact that the area in the past had many trees and was known as Polydendri (polla dendra means a lot of trees in Greek), and then, for brevity, it got its current name.
Being one of the largest villages in the Limassol district, the Pelendri is considered one of the most picturesque villages of the island of Aphrodite with many traditional houses built with the local stone of gabbro.
The cultural attractions are scattered along the settlement, while Pelendri is mainly famous for its Byzantine churches, where one can visit Agios Ioannis o Lampidistis (St. John the Illuminator), seen from afar, the church of the Archangel Michael, and the world cultural inheritance of UNESCO church, the Timios Stavros Pelendriou (Holy Cross of Pelendri) with the wooden roof, as well as the monumental church of Panagia (Virgin Mary) Katholiki, and the church of Panagia (Virgin Mary) of Amiantos.
In Pelendri operates a nursery station, a primary school, a kindergarten and one of the five citizen service centers that exist throughout Cyprus. The visitor, besides taverns and hotels, will find a local bakery, cafes, a delicatessen shop and a local winery. Nature lovers can walk along the nature trail that passes from the area behind the Kakogyros forest, as well as everyone can explore the history of this place by visiting the Heroes monuments located around. Moreover, the settlement has a multifunctional center, cultural center, an indoor basketball court, community soccer field, a dam, and a taro farm.