Xyliatos

Xyliatos is a village of Nicosia in Cyprus and it is situated 42 km southwest of Nicosia, 59 km north of Limassol, 70 km west of Larnaca and 102 km northeast of Paphos.

Built at an altitude of 500 meters in the central part of the island, rich in wild thyme and low shrub vegetation and part of the state forest of Adelfoi, Xyliatos of the approximately 150 inhabitants who are engaged in the cultivation of vegetables and a few citrus fruits – gathers a lot of visitors due to its beautiful dam and the well-known excursion area, as well as the breathtaking tranquility away from the bustling cities. Although it does not have taverns and restaurants, guests can enjoy their coffee at the cafeteria of the village, enjoy the beautiful and many natural attractions and walk along the two Nature Trails of the settlement, the Nature Trail Stitipetra and the Nature Trail Xyliatos Dam.

The village has existed since medieval times and was a royal estate under the Frankish rule, while its name is associated with the owner of the area who was called Xylias (and was probably a logger) and the medieval ending “-atos”, which declares ownership.

The famous excursion area, 2 km from Xyliatos, located at the foot of the dam and in a narrow valley surrounded by green mountains, at an altitude of 600 meters, can be visited by the public during the overflow of the dam between February and March, but also during the summer months. The area has over 100 tables (33 have a cover and 3 are suitable for disabled people), 3 roofed barbecues and 7 open ones, water in 5 places with drinking fountains, playground, sanitary facilities and parking lots.

The beautiful Xyliatos dam in the south of the village and in the Elia river valley, which is where the excursion area is located, was constructed in the 1980s, it has a height of 42 meters and a length of 155 meters and has a capacity of 1,420,000 cubic meters of water. Integrated into the “NATURE 2000” network, it is an attraction for many visitors who come to admire the unique scenery of the dense pine forest. Inside the water one can see the very rare Cypriot water-snake Natrix-natrix cypriaca, while fishing on the bank is allowed after the appropriate permission has been obtained from the fishing department of Cyprus. The small bridge in the area facilitates access to all the points around the dam, offering a beautiful view. Each overflow of the water barrier turns many of its points into a waterfall, which have been shaped as part of a project by the community council, and usually lasts during the most rainy 2-3 months.

In the Potima region, a centenarian olive tree is considered to be the oldest one in Cyprus being 800 years old, but also the largest in diameter, with a circumference reaching 13 meters and a height of 6 meters. The olive tree has been since 2004 under the protection and conservation of the Department of Forests.

In the rocky area of “Oxtipetra”, to the east of the community, the visitor will find a wonderful viewpoint and a rare geological formation, a rocky stone in the color of the graphite, the height of which exceeds thirty meters and has attracted the interest of geologists and researchers. In Xyliatos there used to be also a strong mining activity, as the two copper, gold and iron mines that operated there from 1956 until 1973 are located to the west of the village. Indeed, in the Memi mine, a large crater with rainwater has been created, forming a beautiful lake. Its waters, due to the presence of a copper alloy at the bottom, change color according to the season and create a feast of colors. The other mine, that of Alestos, are located to the west of the village, at the foot of the forests Adelfoi and Macheras, and its reopening can not be ruled out, as copper, iron and gold are still present there. Today the site has iron pyrite rocks, while a small pond has covered the core of the mine.

Inside the village there is the stone church of Agios Mamas that was restored after a fire in 1998, as well as the cave used by the saint as a refuge in the area of ​​Pezoules, on the southern side of the community. The carved in the rock cave is about five meters wide, four meters deep and less than two meters high. According to the tradition, the whole village of Agios Mamas used it as a pasture, because of the natural fencing of the area with rocks.

In the modernised village square, there is a fountain with a wooden bridge, stands, a pedestrian walkway, a cycling path and a green park. The old community bridge was built in the 1930s and was embellished, acquiring a modern look with transparent glass at its edges and is another attraction of the village of Xyliatos.