AGROS

Agros - one of the most charming an,d authentic villages left in the Cyprus countryside. Agros has a lot of history for such a small and remote village. With its cobbled, stepped streets, red sloping roofs and mud brick and stone houses, it is a 'must visit' for all those interested in authenticity.	At Almost 1100 metres above sea level, Agros is magnificently situated in the Valley of the Roses at the very heart of Pitsilia area. Placed conveniently for access from all three main towns of Nicosia, Paphos and Limassol, the drive is a pleasant and picturesque one.
The History of Agros can be traced back to the 11 Century. At that time, there was a monastery where the church of the Virgin Mary is today. The name Agros was brought by 40 monks from Asia Minor at the time of the iconoclasts. It was the name of a monastery they had left behind, 'Megas Agros'. In the 19th Century, the monastery was destroyed. Fortunately, the icons and other valuables were transferred to a storehouse and so escaped destruction.
Today, the precious icon of the Virgin Mary painted by St. Luke is one of the ten most important icons in Cyprus. It now stands in a glass frame near the entrance to the church. Construction of the present church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, started in 1894 and was completed in 1909.
Sit in one of the coffee shops and enjoy the tranquillity of the mountain village and the special ambience along with a cup of coffee and glass of ice cold water: the Donkeys are still used as a means of transportation, goats are herded in the surrounding hills. The Village is well-known on the island for its aromatic rosewater, extracted from the petals of the countless roses that grow in the region.

Shoushouko is a chewy sweet made from dipping strung almonds into 'palouze' (a mixture made from grape juice and thickened with flour) several times until the strip has a springy, thick covering. These are strange looking and can be seen hanging up to dry. Other Local products to be found in the village of Agros are 'hiromeri' (smoked ham), 'loukanika' (spicy smoked sausages), 'lountza' (smoked fillet of pork). Small pieces of these tasty products are offered by the producer together with a sip of 'zivania' a pure grape spirit. If you would like to know how to make the typical Cypriot sweets, known as Glyko, made out of fruits and preserved in very sweet syrup, you can see this in the village. There are the relatively ordinary orange, lemon, fig, apricot and cherry versions, with watermelon skin, aubergine, whole walnuts and citrus peel making a desert that you would never guess the ingredients of unless someone told you. Delicious! (More Cypriot dishes at Cypriot food ). Visit Kaoras Spring and taste the pure water coming directly from the mountains. It is a wonderful refreshment, especially on hot summer days.
With its abundant nature trails, the area is a paradise for hikers and mountain bikers. Agros Village is also suitable for nature lovers, bird watchers, biologists, geologists, archaeologists, photographers and those interested in peace, quiet and preservation. This information was used with the permission of Cyprus-Hotels.com
To arrange bird watching, hiking, fishing, cycling trips or any other adventurous activities during your holiday in Cyprus, please take a look at; www.cyprus-adventure.com