Temvria

Temvria is a village of Nicosia in Cyprus and it is situated 60 kilometers southwest of the homonymous city, 51 kilometers north of Limassol, 105 kilometers west of Larnaca and 89 kilometers northeast of Paphos.

Built at an altitude of 480 meters in the center of the Solea valley, Temvria is a hilly mountainous village with a cool climate in winter and cool in the summer and in the region locals cultivate apples, pears, peaches, citruses, olives and vegetables. Despite the distance that separates it from the capital of the island, many residents live permanently in the community that has residential development due to the unique natural environment, the modern road network and the implementation of housing projects, factors that contribute to the confrontation of urbanisation. This is why it is the 4th village of Solea in terms of population.

The village dates back to medieval times and during the Frankish period it was a private feudal estate, and during the reign of Jacob II (1460-1473), it was owned by Ioannis Tafour, the count of the city of Tripoli. Its name is associated with the ancient King Temvros, who had his kingdom here in 300 BC. In fact, according to tradition, his palace was built at the “Vasiliki” site of the village. The main church is located in the center of the community, next to the primary school and is dedicated to Saint Paraskevi. The 1872 basilica-style wooden-roofed building has been refurbished in the 2000s and is decorated with modern frescoes and a 1924 icon screen.

The church of Timios Stavros is at the exit of the village and is also a 16th-century basilica-style wooden-roofed building, which underwent some modifications in the 18th century and was restored in 1994 and 2010. In the temple there is a wooden, carved, 18th-century iconostasis and icons of the 15th century that were transferred from the temple of St. George that was demolished in Pera Gitonia. According to tradition, the church was built after finding a cross from Lambadou and its transfer to the village. During the transfer, the inhabitants were forced to stop because the cross became too heavy to bear and at this point they built the church.

Some other attractions of Temvria that are definitely worth visiting, are the Museum of the Olive Mill of Temvria, the Hani Protopapa, located in the “mesa gitonia (inner neighborhood)”, in the old residential core, functioning today as an agrotouristic accommodation, as well as the old drinking fountains of the village: In the inner neighborhood, “Vassilikon”, used by King Temvros, in the outer neighborhood, the “Dragon Fountain”, which according to the legend was used by a dragon, “Gerovrisi” of 1911 and “Katapesis” in the lower neighborhood and next to the river.

The monument of Heroes is at the primary school and is a place of honor to Andreas Avraamidis, who gave his life during the EOKA liberation struggle 1955-59 against the English. In 1958, Avraamides, along with Andreas Ellinas, transported bombs to strengthen the rebel groups in the Kakopetria-Galatas area, which exploded, and as a result they both lost their lives.