Abandoned Villages - Trozena
The Village Itself
Once we had explored the church, we turned round and drove back to the village. There is a picnic area on the way and I believe a waterfall, though we didn't notice anything as we passed through. You can see from looking at these rails and the building, that they are in fairly good condition.
The Main Road
This road is also in decent condition. Compare that to the cobbles we saw in Souskiou and it is clear that this was abandoned later.
Des Res
On the face of it, it is a surprise that this place was abandoned for economic reasons. There are far remoter villages in Cyprus which still survive.
Electricity
Unusually for an abandoned village, there was electricity here as well. This tallies with what somebody posted on our Souskiou blog:
Andreas Constantinou:
The reason most TC villages we’re abandoned is very simple.
In 1963 TC rebels prevented access to GC and thus the TC people were ‘enclaved’ in the areas of their dominance.
Between 1963-1969 the Electricity Authority of Cyprus implemented its plan for providing electricity in all villages in the island. The same path was followed be CYTA.
Due to the Turkish threat the employees of the two Authorities were unable to reach the villages. Road construction and upgrading with asphalt was also impossible.
Therefore, when TC moved to the occupied part of the island, it was impossible for GC refugees to settle in these areas due to the complete lack of infrastructures.
In the north part of the island infrastructures were available from the 50s and early 60s because many villages had considerable larger populations, the shape of the land made it easier for the construction of new roads and the areas around the coast were the dominant touristic places.
The Government of Cyprus systematically implemented a policy for the innovation/preservation of a number of TC monuments, under its effective control, after the Turkish invasion.
In contrast, it is very well known how the GC monuments were treated in the occupied by the Turkish army areas.
Just to mention that electricity in my village Simou,Paphos was brought in 1964 and telephone connection in 1965 (one Community telephone unit installed in the village’s center).
Trozena Rooftops
That would explain the electricity and the decent quality of the road. Now though, the big winners appear to be the trees.
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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.
