Strovolos
Strovolos is located about 8 kilometers southwest of Nicosia in the homonymous province of Cyprus.
Being an independent municipality since 1986, Strovolos is the second largest municipality in Cyprus, with a total area of 25 square kilometers, 7 parishes, 4 refugee settlements and more than 60000 permanent residents. This municipality has also been twinned with the Greek municipalities of Rhodes, Veria and Pefki, the municipality of Bucharest and the municipality of Teramo, Italy. Either because it got its name from a sort of ancient pine tree that grows in the place, or borrowed the name from a tornado (anemostrovilos in Greek) that is formed in the area, Strovolos was the birthplace of great personalities. Archbishop Kyprianos, who founded the first school and brought water to the area, and Archbishop Cyrillos I, as well as some members who participated in the Filiki Eteria during the Greek Revolution, were all born there.
With references from the Middle Ages, this suburb of Nicosia appears to have been a royal feudal estate, where a farm for hunting hawks operated. Also, in the area, in the past, King Henry II seems to have built his country house. In 1464 it was granted as a gift by Jacob II to Demetrius de Koron, while Diego de Vittoria was the last owner of the settlement. During the Ottoman domination, Strovolos was a small rural settlement. At that time, the churches of Panagia Chryseleousa and Agios Georgios were built, which are still preserved and are accessible to the public. During the British domination period, the community population grew significantly, and the wider region gained a more modern structure. After the Turkish invasion of 1974, besides the refugees settled in the suburb of the capital of the island, a large industrial zone was also created, resulting in the small settlement being transformed into a modern city.
Excavations in Strovolos have brought to light a necropolis, as it is also believed that there was an ancient settlement in the area, which was preserved until the Middle Ages, as reported in various historical studies. Today, the heart of the community beats in the following districts: the Acropolis, the Eksinta Skales and Parissino. Overall, the municipality has given great significance to culture and citizens’ education. The municipal theater and the cultural center, the municipal choir, the photography group, the folklor group and the symphonic band, as well as many feasts – festivals are organized throughout the year. Moreover, the area is a green “lung”, since there are about 250 green spaces, 32 of which are well organized and have amphitheatres and lakes, while the 65 are specially designed for children. The parks of the Acropolis and Agios Dimitriou districts, however, have a special place in the everyday life of the locals, since the caves of the first park have been transformed into places of cultural events.
The most important ecclesiastical monuments in Strovolos include the church of Agios Dimitrios, the church of Apostle Barnabas and Agios Makarios, the church of Agios Vasilios and the parish church of the Ethnomartyr Kyprianou and the one of Stavrou. In addition in the community there is the municipal sports center and the football academy, and since 1993, the “Strovolos Multipurpose Center” has been established, which is an important social project. At the same time for the visitors of the area, there are several public parking spaces and sanitary facilities.
Finally, Strovolos is bordered by other suburbs of Nicosia, such as Aglantzia, Engomi and Lakatamia.