Fikardou
A whole mountain village protected as a monument of rural architecture
The story
Fikardou is a small village in the Pitsilia mountains, on the eastern slopes of Troodos, about 40 kilometers southwest of Nicosia. Almost all its residents have left, but the old stone houses have survived. The whole village was declared an ancient monument, and the Department of Antiquities restored it. According to the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, it became a monument in 1978. Two houses, those of Katsinioros and of Achilleas Dimitri, won Europa Nostra, the European prize for heritage conservation, in 1987, according to the same source. The Katsinioros house, a two-story stone house under a steep wooden roof, is now a rural museum. It holds tools and household items, as well as photographs and drawings of the restoration.
Fikardou is a mountain village in Nicosia district, not a coastal one. Remember: the whole village is a protected ancient monument, restored by the Department of Antiquities, and two of its houses won the Europa Nostra prize. According to the Deputy Ministry of Tourism website: a monument since 1978, the prize in 1987.
Visiting
Rural museum in the Katsinioros house: entry free, open daily. In winter (Sep 16 – Apr 15) 08:30–16:00, in summer (Apr 16 – Sep 15) 09:30–17:00. These are Department of Antiquities figures; check holiday hours and any changes before you go.
Sources
- Department of Antiquities — Fikardou Rural Museum (EN)
- Τμήμα Αρχαιοτήτων — Αγροτικό Μουσείο Φικάρδου (GR)
- Deputy Ministry of Tourism (visitcyprus.com) — Fikardou village
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