Pissouri
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| Pissouri | |
| Country | Cyprus |
|---|---|
| District | Limassol District |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Christos Foutas |
| - Executive Director | Petros Foutas |
| Population (2001[1]) | |
| - Total | 1,033 |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| - Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
| Postal code | 4607 |
| Website: http://www.pissouri.org/ | |
Pissouri is a seaside village located in Limassol’s district, Cyprus (thirty kilometres westwards of Limassol’s centre), between Limassol and Pafos. Pissouri’s administrative area is the third biggest in Limassol District. The main settlement of Pissouri is situated about three kilometres away from the bay named Cape Aspro, and is built on the side of a green hill. The settlement, strangely, is placed in the middle of Pissouri’s territory.
Now they are two distinct communities, Pissouri Village Area and Pissouri Bay Area. The total permanent population is said to reach around 1100 people, about half of whom are Cypriots, the rest foreigners, mainly British, residents and visitors.
In Pissouri there are several shops, and many tavernas, restaurants and bars serving food and drink of exceptional quality. There are also three banks' branches in Pissouri village's central square.
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[edit] Names
According to some official resources, the name of Pissouri derives from the ancient city ‘Voousoura’, as reported by the ancient historian and geographer Stravonas. Some other resources connect the name of the village with pitched-dark nights. (According to the Cypriot linguistic idiom, ‘pissouri’ is considered as ‘very dark’).
A legendary reports that the 300 ‘Alamanoi’ Saints who came in Cyprus from Palestine in order to practice in various parts of the island, arrived at Pissouri’s coast such a pitch-dark night. Another legendary reports that ‘the Saint Fathers’ pursued during the post-Christian era, were met in Pissouri’s region during a really black-night. However, it seems that the name of the village does not eventually stem from those legendaries but from the fact that in the region there was an extensive extraction of skin-sap from pine trees (called ‘pissa’ in Greek). The skin-sap production begun during the Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire), continued during the Middle-Ages (5th – 15th century) and the Frankish era in Cyprus.
[edit] Development and occupation
Pissouri has an annual rainfall in the order of 447 millimetres. Local products nowadays are tabled grapes, wine, potatoes and other citrus fruits in smaller quantities planted across the valley spanning from the gulf to the hill, where the settlement is. There are also many olive, carob and almond trees. Unfortunately, during the last years, farmers had to eradicate big part of their vineyards, as they became profitless. During the last decade, and in particular the last 6 years, the residents have shifted to alternative financial resources with a better interest profit. Most of them have extensively dealt with buildings' construction and specifically with the erection of numerous residential places and new neighbourhoods. It is a matter of time before the village becomes literally autonomous in terms of services and facilities found locally. Pissouri seems to evolve rapidly, following the trends of the globalisation and global investments'.
[edit] Churches
As a visitor to the town, one would obtain a great insight into Meditteranean culture by visiting the church of Apostle Andreas and some of the smaller old churches in the area.
Visiting the church and chapels, in an excursion style, he would feel proud, satisfied and excited about the fact that he had met closely , the size of beauty, the charm and the religious devotion of those who lived and created these holy monuments of Christianity, of Glory and culture in this beautiful and hospitable community .
The Church of Apostle Andrea was built with voluntary work by the good-willing residents of the community in 1883. The work for the construction of the church lasted for about twelve years. The Stone that the church is built originates from the regions of villages Anogyra and Prasteio villages and was transferred in the village with carts which were dragged by Cypriot donkeys. The church is built in Gothic style. The place that it is built was used as the village cemetery up to 1912.
The church is famous for its wooden-carved Icon Stand, which is a real work of art and was manufactured in 1890.The manufacture lasted 10 entire years because of the means of that time.
Other chapels are: Saint George, Prophet Elias, Saint Alexandros, Saint Mauritius, Saint Spyridonas.
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