Skouriotissa

Skouriotissa is an abandoned settlement located 25 kilometers southwest of Nicosia in the homonymous province of Cyprus, and it is 100 kilometers southeast of Larnaca, 70 kilometers from Limassol and 120 kilometers from the city of Paphos.

At the end of the Solea valley, built west of the dry hill of Foukasa and at an altitude of over 200 meters, Skouriotissa is located next to the homonymous mine, one of the oldest mines in the world, which is still in operation and from which the settlement also got its name (skouria is “rust, copper residue” in Greek). In this place, even though it is abundant with copper, olive trees also thrive here, and the largest of the olive groves in the area belongs to the Morphou Metropolis. There are also many pine trees and eucalypti.

Historically, the settlement of Skouriotissa was inhabited for the first time in the early Bronze Age, as evidenced by the archaeological excavation, with the tombs and vases that it brought to light. Recent research also indicates the existence of the village since the Prehistoric Era, as a Roman settlement along with its cemetery was found in the area. Moreover, the dark galleries of the mines of the site, and thus their community, were related to the Great Persecution of Christians when many of them were exiled from Palestine to Cyprus and were forced to work in the mines of the island. The newer community of Skouriotissa was created due to the needs of the mining personnel, who came from different corners of the island, and built their rudimentary residences there. In the past, the settlement was also known by the name of Eksinda (Sixty), that is, the number of the houses of the area that coexisted under the terms of communal property. With the Turkish invasion of 1974, the landscape is changing. The settlement is abandoned and is slowly being deserted.

Nowadays, Skouriotissa is run by the community of the neighboring Katydata and serves as the base for the Argentinian UN peacekeeping forces of San Martin, which since 1974 have been overseeing the dead zone from this site.

Skouriotissa, although it is not known on the tourist maps, has to show in addition to its rich history, and several sights to visitors that come here, a few meters before the border line. First of all, there is the ancient katholikon of the homonymous monastery (Monastery of Panagia Skouriotissa), which is also open to the public – although it is housed inside the military camp. In addition, the entire UN camp is part of the sacred shelter of Saint Serafim tou Sarof (in place of the old community police station), which is now used as a spiritual center and teaching center for learning Orthodox ecclesiastical art. At the same time, there takes place the production of various organic products.