Yermasoyia

Yermasoyia is a suburb of Limassol, situated in the homonymous province of Cyprus, and is 9 km from the capital, 80 km from Nicosia, 65 km from Larnaca and 70 km from Paphos.

As an independent municipality of Cyprus since 1994, Yermasoyia counts 13000 inhabitants, and borders with the settlement of Agios Athanasios Lemesou. Its name comes from the words ieros (sacred) and mesoyia (landlocked) because of the many churches in the area and since it is located within short distance from the sea.

Even though many prehistoric tombs have been excavated in the area, there has been no more evidence of the habitation of Yermasoyia in the past. Thus the foundation of the settlement remains unknown to this day, and it is believed that it probably pre-existed the Middle Ages, when it was part of the region of Commandaria of the Templar Knights. From a rural settlement, in the 60s the settlement began to experience urban development along the coastline of the area and the river Yermasoyia, while after the Turkish invasion it was inhabited by many refugees.

Today Yermasoyia still retains some of the key features of a traditional Cypriot village, and visitors to the area have the opportunity to tour the historic center of the settlement with the stone houses and traditional cafes, the church of Agia Paraskevi (St. Paraskevi) and the church of Agia Christini (St. Christina), from the 12th century A.D. with ancient frescoes, but also the cultural center of the municipality which is housed in an old country house dating back to the 1914. In addition, one can wander through the valley with the orchards of citrus trees, as well as visit the medieval bridge that is situated close by, and is one of the few monuments of the Frankish era still preserved in the region.

Approximately 2 km from the center of Yermasoyia you will find the tourist seafront, while constructed at the northern borders of the municipality, on the river Amathos, lies the dam Yermasoyia, a much beloved point for fishing enthusiasts. On its banks sometimes shipping races take place, while it is also a refuge for many endemic birds.