The Abandoned Village of Theletra - Part 1
Secret Shrine?
I couldn't work this room out. It has a nice crack in it, and a fairly standard fireplace. But somebody has seen fit to draw the outline of a shrine on the wall.
No Electricity
These hooks are for people to hang lanterns from. There was no electricity back in the 70s in a lot of the villages.
The Water Feature
The water feature actually has two plaques. The one on the left was put there by the British Army in 1954, for some reason. The more decorative one dates back to 1915 though.
Nice Bridge
This is a nice little bridge too. It's next to a house with a recent For Sale sign on it. It is inhabited and even has a yappy dog. So if you are feeling flush, you could treat yourself to a des res with its own bridge.
Now this is all well and good, but so far we haven't exactly been hardcore. We went through Theletra on our second roadtrip (available on Amazon etc etc) and there are similar pictures there. Today we want to really explore. It has to be today, or soon, because when the rains start in earnest, the undergrowth will sprout up making exporation much, much harder.
Go Right Here
So, for our first bit of off-piste bushwhacking, we are going to take the high road here. The buildings around here are mainly inhabited or semi-inhabited (summer homes, winter lodges etc). Beyond them the real ruins reside...
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Abandoned Villages - Agios Fotios
Given that I wrote a blog about Statos last week, it would be unfair of me not to cover its close neighbour, Agios Fotios. Their histories are intertwined, as they were both abandoned for the same reason. Indeed, they merged to form a new, single town, called Statos Agios - Fotios. So what was left behind...
Abandoned Villages - Statos
Statos is unusual, as abandoned villages go. People deserted it not because of inter-communal fighting, but because of the threat of landslides. And then, no sooner had they emptied, some of the abandoned buildings were repopulated. Were villagers returning, or had outsiders moved in, prepared to take the risk of landslide?
Abandoned Villages - Evretou
Evretou is just off the B7 near Polis. It lies on the banks of the Evretou Reservoir, and is another sad testament to the troubles of 1974.
From Miliou To Theletra
While we were exploring the sulphur springs of Miliou a few weeks ago, we couldn't help but notice a village in the distance. When we realised that it was the abandoned village of Theletra, we were surprised, as we hadn't appreciated how close the two places were. So we thought we would find a scenic route between the two locations...
A Crystal Road Trip
Today Max takes us on a road trip around the Paphos district, to look at some of the fine crystal formations you can find by the roadside. He also shows you a nice vineyard where you can stop for a break and sample their wares...
The Crystal Hills of Polemi
We were introduced to the Crystal Hills a few years back. It was the first time we visited Polemi and we were on the hunt for geocaches. This particularly one was a near perfect example of what makes a good cache: an interesting location that we would have been unlikely to find had there not been a cache there. The only thing that let the cache down was it's size, but we won't go into that here. Instead we shall have a look at the terrain, and see why the cache was called "The Crystal Hill".Related Pages
MapThe Abandoned Village of Theletra - Part 1
Old Theletra was abandoned several decades ago. The threat of landslides drove the population up the hll to a new settlement. Since then the village has mainly been left to crumble, save for its church and a few buildings which are still inhabited. At first glance, there is not much to see here, aside from some picture-postcard views. But get adventurous, and there is a whole host of places to explore...
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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.
