Sylikou

Sylikou is a village of the district of Limassol in Cyprus and is situated 25 km northwest of Limassol, 97 km west of Larnaca, 84 km southwest of Nicosia and 72 km east of Paphos.

Built at an altitude of 650 meters and surrounded by fertile plains and vineyards that are watered by three natural springs, the semi-mountainous village Sylikou of the about 120 inhabitants is one of the villages of the Commandaria (famous traditional wine), known for the zivania (Cypriot pomace brandy), the raisins, the almonds and the olives it produces.

The name of the area probably originates from the Frankish era and the name “Selisia”, which shows that the settlement has existed at least since then and was a medieval feud. Besides, many places in the village have preserved Frankish toponyms, such as Franzitz, Illits or the irrigation areas of Syrkas (or Syrias, as the Franks came from Syria) with the ruins of a large medieval church with mosaics. According to other sources, around the 13th-14th century the area had many medieval chapels. During the Ottoman domination, the last of the Cypriot families of the Lusignans went to Sylikou where they stayed, playing a major role in the development of the village.

Today in the community the visitor can see the rich history of Commandaria, the King of Wines, in the Commandaria and Olive Oil Museum of Sylikou, which was inaugurated in 2014 by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Anastasiadis. There is also the monument dedicated to fighter Dimitris Kleitos, who fell during the Turkish invasion of 1974 and the mosque that is a remnant of the time when Turkish Cypriots lived in the village.

The main church of Agios Georgios Sylikou is one of the religious sights of the settlement that was rebuilt in the 19th century, after its destruction by the Turks. According to the tradition, as the locals tried to build the church during the day, the Turks demolished it in the evening until the residents decided to tell their problem to the Sultan. He gave them the permission to build the temple and guaranteed that the building would go unimpeded, provided it was completed within a month. To be able to finish their work, they decided to build a smaller church to make it within the deadline.

The chapel of Panagia of Syrkas is located between the community and the neighboring Agios Georgios Sylikou and is a building of 1897. As has been already mentioned, the tradition wants Syrka to be a kingdom, whose people fell into great sins and the Virgin decided to destroy them. Christ heard her will and tried with his hand to close his mother’s mouth. Christ’s endeavor is depicted in the image that exists in the chapel and shows his left hand over the mouth of the Virgin Mary. The chapel of Agios Ioannis Prodromos (Saint John the Baptist) is located in the center of the village and was rebuilt in 2000, while in the area there is also the chapel of Agios Dimitrios.

An important event for the village is the Soutzoukos festival of Sylikou, which takes place every summer.