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The community is built on an average altitude of 480 metres. The terrain is hilly and the altitude in the north-east of the settlement reaches up to 417 metres (“Shinokefalos” hilltop). The landscape is fragmented by the rivers Syrkatis and Argaki, and of St. Minas, all tributaries of the Pentaschoinos river.
Kato Lefkara Village
History
Kato (Lower) Lefkara is a village of the Larnaca district and it is located about 34 kilometres south-west of the city of Larnaca.
The community is built on an average altitude of 480 metres. The terrain is hilly and the altitude in the north-east of the settlement reaches up to 417 metres (“Shinokefalos” hilltop). The landscape is fragmented by the rivers Syrkatis and Argaki, and of St. Minas, all tributaries of the Pentaschoinos river.
Kato Lefkara receives an annual rainfall of about 570 millimetres. In the village’s limited cultivable land, vines (of wine-making varieties), olive, almond, and carob trees, a few citrus-trees, forage plants, broad beans, a few fruit-trees (fig, pomegranate, and plum trees), and very few vegetables are cultivated. However, the village’s greatest part is uncultivated and wild, natural vegetation grows in it, mainly pine-trees, thorny burnets and brooms, sages (cistus), thyme, and wild carob and olive trees.
As far as transportation is concerned, Kato Lefkara is connected to the neighbouring village of Pano (Upper) Lefkara in the north-west (about 1 km), with the village Kato Drys in the south-west (about 4 km.), and with the Skarinou Station in the south-east via the Nicosia – Limassol Highway (about 8 km).
The art of needlework (embroidery) developed in Kato Lefkara can also be found in neighbouring village, Pano Lefkara, and have reached a very high level of mastery. Ebroideries here are available in a very large variety and are manufactured locally. What characterizes them is the affluence and the diversity of design.
The separation into Upper (Pano) and Lower (Kato) Lefkara was observed since the times of the Turkish domination, thus the latter village must have been established by banished Greeks. In earlier sources Lefkara is mentioned as a single settlement, obviously being Pano Lefkara.
The village was a strong and rich feud during the years of Frank domination and de Mas Latri includes it in the list of royal estates. Besides, in older maps the village is marked as Lefkara and / or Lescara.
However, Lefkara is one of Cyprus’s villages that we know for sure it existed before the Frank domination era -during the Byzantine times -for which there are no sources that are adequately detailed. The village was claiming the honour of being considered as the birthplace of the significant Cypriot Saint Neofytos, who is however reported as being born in the neighbouring village of Kato Drys. It seems that local tradition attempted to compromise this dispute, regarding the Saint’s decent, by relating that his parents came from “Apliki” -a settlement that existed between Lefkara and Kato Drys -moving however to Kato Drys (where the Saint was born in the 12th century) and later also residing in Lefkara.
The mediaeval annalist Leontios Machairas accepts the descent of Saint Neofytos from Lefkara. In any event, in one of his own writings, Saint Neofytos himself mentions Lefkara as the place of his origin.
There are three different interpretations regarding the name “Lefkara”: the first supports that it comes from the words “Lefka Ori” (White Mountains), because the region has the white coloured, rough, limestone and fire-stone landscape as its main characteristic. The same natural, white colour of the region’s rocks also characterises the appearance of all the stone-made houses, the paved alleys, and the dry-stone, protective structures in the fields, which were made with the local stone of the “White Mountains”. The second interpretation supports that the villages received this name due to the tufts of small, white poplars that grew in their region. Finally, there is the opinion that perhaps the name came from some settler who was named Lefkalos.
Pano and Kato Lefkara, two entirely separate and independent villages, though with a common and interrelated existence, occupy a privileged position on the west, mountainous region of the Larnaca district. Built -side by side -on the edges and the foot of the Sotira mountain, the two villages are adjacent to the Neolithic settlement of Choirokitia and the monastery of Saint Minas.
The first written testimony for the existence of Lefkara under today’s name is given by Saint Neofytos in his book “Typiki Diathiki”, in which he mentions that he was born in Lefkara in 1134. The Saint’s descent from Lefkara is confirmed by his relevant chant, which characterises him as the Glory of Lefkara. This watertight, chronological testimony reveals the existence of Lefkara -as a community -in 1134, which is placed in the end of the Byzantine era (395-1191). Undoubtedly, Lefkara continued their historic tradition and their cultural progress -as the same communal entity -throughout the duration of the Byzantine era.
The second historical testimony goes back to the times of the Frank domination (1191-1570) and reports that all the leading members of the military Order of the Templars were exiled in Lefkara in 1308 and for three years; their inadmissible behaviour obstructed the smooth operation of the Frank regime in Cyprus. In any event, it is reported that -during the 15th century -Sor de Naves, Constable of Cyprus, served as Lord of Lefkara.
Lefkaritiko Lace Private Museum
Museum of Needlecraft
Lefkaritiko Lace Private Museum
The small museum includes traditional hand made works which Mrs. Chrystalla created through love and passion for the Lefkara embroidery.
Lefkaritiko Lace Private Museum
The small museum includes traditional hand made works which Mrs. Chrystalla created through love and passion for the Lefkara embroidery. Apart from the traditional Lefkara embroidery, she use the tradition of white-silicate embroidery on modern clothes. She works more than a year to create modern clothes such as skirts, jackets, bags, shoes, necklaces, bracelets and rings. Small but yet unique, there is an interesting collection which you should pay a visit to, when in Kato Lefkara.
Museum of Needlecraft
Coming Soon: Kato Lefkara Community Council Museum Project: Repair and maintenance of the old Elementary School, which is located in the yard of the “Panagia Eleousa” church, for the purpose of converting it into a Museum of Needlecraft.
Lefkaritiko Lace Private Museum
The small museum includes traditional hand made works which Mrs. Chrystalla created through love and passion for the Lefkara embroidery.
Lefkaritiko Lace Private Museum
The small museum includes traditional hand made works which Mrs. Chrystalla created through love and passion for the Lefkara embroidery. Apart from the traditional Lefkara embroidery, she use the tradition of white-silicate embroidery on modern clothes. She works more than a year to create modern clothes such as skirts, jackets, bags, shoes, necklaces, bracelets and rings. Small but yet unique, there is an interesting collection which you should pay a visit to, when in Kato Lefkara.
Museum of Needlecraft
Panagia Eleousa Church
Archangel Michael Chapel
Panagia Eleousa Church
“Panagia Eleousa” (Blessed Virgin Mary the Merciful) is the central church of the village and liturgies take place in it quite often.
Panagia Eleousa Church
“Panagia Eleousa” (Blessed Virgin Mary the Merciful) is the central church of the village and liturgies take place in it quite often. It is located at the east end of the village in the midst of traditional houses. It is of the Byzantine style with a dome, stone-made, and relatively large for a community like that of Kato Lefkara, having the comfort of accommodating around 120 faithful. Externally it has a large and comfortable yard, which is slated. The church’s external wall is 120 centimeters thick. Internally the church is whitewashed. We will not come across any hagiographies but its woodcut icon-screen is unique in its kind, bearing carvings with representations of angels and lions. It is worth noting that above the icon-screen there are another two rows of icons, the so-called “dodekaorto” (twelve-pieces), depicting the most important moments of the Lord’s life such as the “Palm-bearer”, the “Ascension”, the “Resurrection”, and the “Raising of Lazarus”. The Psalters are new, made out of wood but of a modern, more recent design. About 25 years ago the church went through maintenance, the floor of the church’s interior was paved with new slates and the surrounding walls were scraped. As they were digging the floor so as to extract the old slates, they found earthenware jars at a depth of one meter below the earth’s surface. They were placed there so as to reverberate the sound of one’s voice. Furthermore, when they scraped the walls, again they found some small jars placed inside the walls. One arrives at the conclusion that in this way they achieved the reverberation of the Priest’s voice during Mass.
The icon dedicated to “Panagia Eleousa” is very old and it is kept at the church’s icon-screen. It celebrates in a festive manner on the 21st of November, Her Holy Icon being carried about in procession and many faithful from the surrounding region gathering in order to kneel before the Blessed Virgin and attend Mass.
Archangel Michael Chapel
The country church of Archangel Michael (12th century) is a moderate-sized…
Archangel Michael Chapel
The country church of Archangel Michael (12th century) is a moderate-sized church where the See of Kition and Lefkara was seated in previous times (during the era of Turkish domination). Back then it used to have cells and it functioned as the area hosting the Bishop. It is built in the Byzantine style with a dome at the south end of the village and in the midst of the community’s fields. It is not very large. Stone-made on the outside, being covered with painting of saints inside, it lacks a steeple and only the monastery bell (triangle) is present. On the right wall there is a hagiography of the Holy Veronica, a bit further the ones of the Baptism, Saint Neofytos, Saint Nikolaos, Archangel Michael, Saint Dimitrios, Saint George, and -in the large dome –the “Theotis tou Kyriou” (the Lord’s Judgment). The church’s icon-screen was old and has been renovated. The little church is small and plain. The icon dedicated to Archangel Michael is very old and it is kept in a special icon stand there in the country church. A liturgy takes place in it twice a year, on the 8th of November, which is Archangel Michael’s day, and on the 13th of July, the day when Archangels Gabriel and Michael are celebrated.
Panagia Eleousa Church
“Panagia Eleousa” (Blessed Virgin Mary the Merciful) is the central church of the village and liturgies take place in it quite often.
Panagia Eleousa Church
“Panagia Eleousa” (Blessed Virgin Mary the Merciful) is the central church of the village and liturgies take place in it quite often. It is located at the east end of the village in the midst of traditional houses. It is of the Byzantine style with a dome, stone-made, and relatively large for a community like that of Kato Lefkara, having the comfort of accommodating around 120 faithful. Externally it has a large and comfortable yard, which is slated. The church’s external wall is 120 centimeters thick. Internally the church is whitewashed. We will not come across any hagiographies but its woodcut icon-screen is unique in its kind, bearing carvings with representations of angels and lions. It is worth noting that above the icon-screen there are another two rows of icons, the so-called “dodekaorto” (twelve-pieces), depicting the most important moments of the Lord’s life such as the “Palm-bearer”, the “Ascension”, the “Resurrection”, and the “Raising of Lazarus”. The Psalters are new, made out of wood but of a modern, more recent design. About 25 years ago the church went through maintenance, the floor of the church’s interior was paved with new slates and the surrounding walls were scraped. As they were digging the floor so as to extract the old slates, they found earthenware jars at a depth of one meter below the earth’s surface. They were placed there so as to reverberate the sound of one’s voice. Furthermore, when they scraped the walls, again they found some small jars placed inside the walls. One arrives at the conclusion that in this way they achieved the reverberation of the Priest’s voice during Mass.
The icon dedicated to “Panagia Eleousa” is very old and it is kept at the church’s icon-screen. It celebrates in a festive manner on the 21st of November, Her Holy Icon being carried about in procession and many faithful from the surrounding region gathering in order to kneel before the Blessed Virgin and attend Mass.
Archangel Michael Chapel
The country church of Archangel Michael (12th century) is a moderate-sized…
Archangel Michael Chapel
The country church of Archangel Michael (12th century) is a moderate-sized church where the See of Kition and Lefkara was seated in previous times (during the era of Turkish domination). Back then it used to have cells and it functioned as the area hosting the Bishop. It is built in the Byzantine style with a dome at the south end of the village and in the midst of the community’s fields. It is not very large. Stone-made on the outside, being covered with painting of saints inside, it lacks a steeple and only the monastery bell (triangle) is present. On the right wall there is a hagiography of the Holy Veronica, a bit further the ones of the Baptism, Saint Neofytos, Saint Nikolaos, Archangel Michael, Saint Dimitrios, Saint George, and -in the large dome –the “Theotis tou Kyriou” (the Lord’s Judgment). The church’s icon-screen was old and has been renovated. The little church is small and plain. The icon dedicated to Archangel Michael is very old and it is kept in a special icon stand there in the country church. A liturgy takes place in it twice a year, on the 8th of November, which is Archangel Michael’s day, and on the 13th of July, the day when Archangels Gabriel and Michael are celebrated.
Village Plaza
Village Plaza
Entering the village, you find a large parking area, which was created to serve the village’s visitors. It is located next to the village’s Plaza, which is stone-paved. Around the picturesque plaza there are several shops selling the traditional (silk) embroideries of Lefkara as well as various other products. It’s the starting point for all the little alleys of the village wich all are paved with stones and -combined with the old traditional houses.
“Lefkaritiko” Lace
“Lefkaritiko” Lace
The “lefkaritiko” (lace embroidery of Lefkara) is the finest specimen that the needlecraft and the folklore tradition of Cyprus has to show.
It is embroidery of great value that reflects the dynamism, the sensitivity, and the power of observation of the woman of Cyprus. The skilful hands of the needlewoman manage to create perfect and artistically delivered designs on the fabric, which not even the hand of the most skilful designer would have been able to deliver in such detail, grace, rhythm, and harmony.
All the designs of the lace embroideries from Lefkara are inspired by nature and the environment, receiving a characteristic form as the stitches are combined. Today’s lace embroideries of Lefkara have evolved to a great extent, other -more recent -elements having been added to the stereotyped, old decorative, geometrical motifs. So, a huge variety of embroideries with characteristic names such as «athasi» (“almond”), «margarita», «makoukoudi» (refers to a small weaving row), «mi me lismonei» (“forget me not”), «tagiada» (a basic pattern in weaving), «potamos» (“river”), «arvalotos» (latticed / riddled pattern), «klonotos» (“branched”), «ammatotosς» (with eye-shaped patterns), «arachnotos» (“spider-web”), «aplos» (“simple”), «diplos» (“double”), «karouli» (“bobbin”), «miloudi» (“small apple”), and many more swarm the local and foreign market and become the main source of income for the skilful female weaver of Lefkara -the «kentitria» -and the male embroideries’ merchant of Lefkara –the «kentitaris».
In the past century Lefkara has become world famous as the homeland of embroideries. Indeed, the peculiarities and the technique of the embroideries that are manufactured in Lefkara have contributed to shaping a form of needlecraft with a special style that has now been established and named as «Lefkaritiko Kentima» (Embroidery of Lefkara) or simply «Lefkaritiko». Unfortunately, many of the old designs have stopped being produced -because of the difficulty in execution and of the time necessary for their manufacture -at the risk of a complete disappearance of the traditional needlecraft’s technique.
Today’s ambition is to train and create perfect needlewomen by conveying in a simple manner the wealth of tradition, which was left as a legacy from generation to generation, and through everyone’s contribution to its continuance.
Village Alleys
Village Alleys
Wandering the beautifull alleys of the tiny village reveals good examples of the area’s architecture: houses built with horizontal layers of limestone interspersed with pebbles. There is a wonderful view from the tiny church of Archangelos in the field below the square. The church houses some superb 12th century frescoes.
Architecture
Architecture
Apart from its famous lace and silver work, Kato Lefkara village is also well known for its architecture. It is one of the few villages in Cyprus where the houses are built almost entirely of local white stone, which contrasts beautifully with the terra cotta roofs. The houses here are not those of farmers but the homes of merchants and artisans. The houses are stone-built, some with doorways providing glimpses of flower-filled and vine-covered courtyards, while others are two-storey colour washed residences with balconies and intricately patterned tiled floors.
Old Olive Press
Old Olive Press
Located between the Water Fountain (Havouza) and the Panagia Eleousa Church, is the old preserved olive-press of the village which the inhabitants used to produce their olive-oil in olden times.
Water Fountain (Havouza)
Water Fountain (Havouza)
In the north end of the paved area you can view the stone made old fountain. The two taps of the fountain were used to supply water to the women of the village, needed for their daily chores.
Dipotamos Dam
Dipotamos Dam
A side trip to Dipotamos Dam, which is a popular angling site and where birdwatchers can often see black storks and pelicans. Dipotamos Dam, whose construction finished in 1985 in the Larnaca area, has a storage capacity of 15,5 million cubic metres capacity.
Silversmith
Silversmith
Today the craft of the silversmith & the goldsmith in Cyprus combines the long tradition with the modern trends and conceptions. Specimens of this modern art are presented in well-established, annual exhibitions.
At the same time, the Cypriot folkloric craftsman – silversmith still exists in Cyprus. Unfortunately, today only one such craftsman –silversmith works in Kato Lefkara, working silver in the traditional way of the hammer (forging) and manufacturing the traditional Cypriot, ceremonial items –such as the censer, the holy-water sprinkler, and several other folkloric art items.
It is probable that the silversmith’s craft first appeared in the region of Kato Lefkara in the beginning of the 18th century. The above conclusion is reached due to the testimony of the history researcher Aristeidis N. Koudounaris and based on the dating of the collection of old silver-items that he has (buckles, bracelets, ear-rings, and crosses that he purchased from the known Jewish goldsmith of Larnaca, Leon Algazy, items which came from the region of Lefkara). Indeed, as the same person stresses, the silverware items were coated with enamel.
The craft of laying enamel, which also goes back deep into ancient times, seems to have also been known to the inhabitants and the silversmiths of Lefkara. Besides, from the entries in the «CODEX» of the church of “Stavros” one reaches the conclusion that silver ecclesiastical vessels such as oil-lamps were made in Lefkara in the middle of the 18th century (1742). Moreover, they brought over a craftsman from Rodos along with his apprentices and constructed the icon-screen as it now appears -chiseled –as well as the throne of the priest, the High Altar, and a silver oil-lamp with the expenses paid by the church.
Giant Tree
Giant Tree
In the courtyard of Panagia Eleousa Church you can find the massive oak tree amidst the picturesque scenery, where visitors may go and enjoy it’s shade. The forest depart has placed this tree under it’s protection and is responsible for sustaining it.
The best Restaurants in the Village of
Kato Lefkara
To Panadentro
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