Pitsilia area named top destination for food travel

THE Pitsilia area has been named as the top tourist destination across the island for local gastronomy, the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) announced on Wednesday.

Awarded as part of the European Destinations of Excellence awards, Pitsilia will be on display from the Tourism Unit of the European Commission along with other winning destinations from other participating countries.

Second place was awarded to the Xeros – Diarizos valley area in Paphos.

“Gastronomy is considered to be a cultural expression where travelers wish to experience unique gastronomic experiences and is now one of the most popular trends in the tourism sector,” CTO acting director Annita Demetriadou said during her speech.

Gastronomy, she outlined, is an extremely significant means of boosting tourism particularly in areas and regions where tourism infrastructure is not yet fully developed.

“Culinary arts and gastronomy create a memorable travel package through taste.”

The region east of Mount Olympus is known as the Pitsilia area and includes about 30 villages. Its tallest peaks are Madari (1,612 metres) and Papoutsa (1,554 metres).

It is popular for traditional products such as rosewater, ‘hiromeri’ (smoked ham), ‘loukanika’ (spicy smoked sausages) and ‘lountza’ (smoked fillet of pork), marmalades, liquor and bread, Commandaria wine and authentic Zivania.

 

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