Gerovasa
Overgrown
We decided not to go wading through that lot. Bearing in mind that there will likely be a lot of loose rocks tucked away in the undergrowth, it is not much fun bush-whacking a route through.
Died Down
A similar view in November and as you can see, it is much easier going now. So let's get exploring.
Park Here
The road is fairly narrow, and while quiet you will get the occasional car driving past, so find a decent layby.
Distant Waterfall
In the spring we were able to watch the magnificent waterfall which periodically flows from the cliffs of Trozena. It is an amazing sight if you are here during a wet period. You can see it in the distance in this picture.
Some History
There are several abandoned villages in the Diarizos Valley, and I am aware that their mention can evoke painful memories for some. This is what the PRIO database has to say about Gerovasa:
Gerovasa is a village situated in the Limassol district on the southern foothills of the Troodos mountain range, six kilometers west of Malia village. Until 1964, Gerovasa was predominantly inhabited by Turkish Cypriots. Goodwin suggests that Gerovasa means “holly-wooded valley” in ancient Greek. In 1958 Turkish Cypriots adopted the alternative name Yerovası, literally meaning “plain-like place.
Historical Population
Gerovasa/Yerovası was a Turkish Cypriot village from the Ottoman period. Throughout the British period the population of the village increased slightly, rising from 58 persons in 1891 to 106 in 1960. The reason for the unexpected appearance of the Greek Cypriots in the census reports of 1946 and 1960 was due to the inclusion of the nearby settlement/farm Trozina under Gerovasa village.
Displacement:
No one was displaced from this village during the emergency years of the 1950s. However, due to the intercommunal fighting of 1963-64, all the Turkish Cypriots left the village in January 1964 and sought refuge in Malia(270) village. Following an intercommunal shooting incident on 9 March 1964, all the Malia(270) Turkish Cypriots and displaced persons staying in the village (including those from Gerovasa) fled Malia(270) for Episkopi/Yalova(262) and Avdimou(260) villages. The third conflict-related displacement of the Gerovasa Turkish Cypriots took place after 1974, when some of the village’s Turkish Cypriot population fled to the other side of the divide. Those who were not able to reach the north sought refuge in the Akroteri British Sovereign Base Area. They remained in the Base Area until January 1975, when they were all transferred to the northern part of the island via Turkey. The total number of displaced Turkish Cypriots from Gerovasa/Yerovası can be estimated to be 100 (83 in the 1960 census).
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Related Blogs:
Trozena Waterfall
When we visited Trozena last May, we read about a mysterious waterfall. Mysterious because though we could see remnants of an old stream in a picnic area between the village and the church, there was no waterfall at all. But then it rained. A lot. And somebody said there was a waterfall at Trozena. So we went and had a look. If you see one water feature after all the rains, you should make sure it is this one. It is spectacular...
Abandoned Villages - Trozena
If you've driven over the iron bridge which lies just beyond the abandoned village of Gerovasa, near the outskirts of Paphos Forest, then you will also have driven past the abandoned village of Trozena. Unless you are very observant, you won't have noticed it though, as it is barely visible from the road. It is worth taking a detour to explore the ruins, as these photos will hopefully show...Related Pages
MapAbandoned Villages: Gerovasa
Gerovasa is an abandoned village nestled in the far reaches of the Diarizos Valley. At first glance it isn't very substantial. From the road, only a few ruins are visible. But if you take a walk through the trees you will see that there used to be quite a sizeable neighbourhood here. Just make sure you visit at the right time of year...
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Paphos Chat has been created for people who like our site and want to chat using Facebook. You can also easily upload photos of any size here. A lot of people are members of the Facebook chat group and the main forum. It's entirely up to you.
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eBookCyprus Road Trip 01: the Kathikas - Panagia Loop
Let me take you on a journey around the region of Paphos, Cyprus. Starting at Paphos itself, we travel to Akoursos, then Kathikas, Kritou Terra and Simou. We continue past Lasa and Kannaviou, before taking in the delights of Panagia. Getting a bit more adventurous, we visit the abandoned villages of Statos and Agios Fotios, before passing through Choulou, Letymbou and Polemi, and rejoining the main Paphos - Polis road.
The route is suitable for all types of vehicle, and requires no off-roading. The guide contains about 130 photographs including shots of all the road signs you need to pay attention to, as well as some of the highlights you may experience along the way.
There are also several maps which will help you keep your bearings.
You can do this journey in a day, or you can break it up into chunks. You can also do it in reverse, to get some completely different views. It is entirely up to you.
