Cyprus city of Limassol - part 3

The museum of Viticulture is housed in a traditional village house. Viniculture equipment and items of folk art are on a exibit. In the yard, a large cauldron used for the preparation of the local beverage zivania can also be seen.

Omodos wine village, built on the Troodos hillsides amidst expanses of vines. With its narrow cobbled streets and the majestic monastery in the village square, is one of the most picturesque villages in Cyprus. Omodos was once the property of Sir John de Brie. Prince of Galilee, as was the Monastery of Stavros (Holy Cross), in the centre of the village. The monastery contains old icons, excellent wood carvings and other ecclesiastical objects of interest, as well as a small museum of the national Liberation Struggle of 1955-1959. An old wine-press known as Linos is a short distance from the monastery and is open to visitors.

Arsos village is one of the largest wine producing villages of Cyprus. There are two versions as to where it derives its name: one suggests it comes from the Holy Alsos (grove) of the goddess Aphrodite, where the village is built. The other that it was one of the four towns founded by Ptolemy Philadelphos in honour of Arsinoe. It has been associated with the wine production since ancient times. Nowadays most inhabitants still make their own wine, while the village womenfolk have a reputation for the special dishes they prepare using wine. The Folk Art Museum of Arsos is housed in a traditional house. Its exhibits present traditional village way of life.

Foini village is nestling in the heart of the Troodos mountains amidst green and fragrant pines is yet another picturesque village. According to tradition, the village was named after a Frankish lord Juan de Fejniu while another says its name originates from the Greek word for palm tree foinikas. The village is renowned for its pottery, for the manufacture of traditional furniture and for the local sweet loukoumi (Cyprus delight). The Pilavakeion, a private museum of Folk art, displays examples of local pottery, traditional agricultural tools and kitchen utensils.

Vasa is another important wine producing village of the region with over 40% of its agricultural land being allocated to viticulture. Some of the best red wines of the island are produced here. It is a picturesque village with cobbled streets and traditional architecture. The ecclesiastical museum of Vasa houses important icons and religious objects.