ANYONE keen to indulge in a spot of local culture should spend this weekend at the first South Marathasa cultural festival – a charming mission to recapture the past and promote an economically forgotten part of the country.
The three-day event, sponsored by the Limassol District and Salamis Tours, celebrates the historic and modern way of life in six villages untouched by tourism: Prodromos, Lemythou, Paliomylos, Ayios Demetrios, Tris Elies and Kaminaria.
A packed programme of walks through the villages and the surrounding countryside, hefty lunches and the inauguration of two new community cultural centres looks set to attract up to 2,000 participants.
Local organisers are principally seeking to attract those with family roots in the area, but tourists and city-dwellers from all over the island are encouraged to attend.
Yesterday’s activities were focused on Prodromos and Lemythou; today is the day for Paliomylos and Ayios Demetrios, with Kaminaria and Tris Elies bringing up the rear tomorrow.
Traditional mountain buses were yesterday laid on to ferry people from the square to the start of a walk to Prodromos dam.
The new cultural centre, alongside the Church of John the Baptist, houses an impressive collection of 17th, 18th and 19th century British Bibles and icons from the Greek island of Tinos.
The walls are adorned with photographs and an artist’s impression of the village and traditional handicrafts – all lovingly put together by Niki Anglides, whose husband was born in the village.
The area is in deep economic recession. Apart from fruit orchards there is no local industry. Both hotels in Prodromos – the Alps and the Berengaria have shut down.
But they have a lot to be proud of. Four Cyprus Archbishops were born in Prodromos, the surrounding forest offers some of the most breathtaking views in the country and the most delightful walks.
Andreas Zervos, president of the association of people of Prodromos and friends of Prodromos, told the Cyprus Mail that the festival was a chance to develop the region.
“The purpose is so people of Cyprus can get to know the physical beauty of the area and the history of the villages to get a taste of traditional and modern life. It’s not just a one off. It will be a continuous effort or a custom every year,” he said.
The festival is part of a number of regional development projects committed to upgrading the quality of rural life and restoring the vitality of the countryside.
Events begin at 10am in Paliomylos today with a walk to the Old Mill and the Chapel of St George the Burier.
A tour of Ayios Demetris begins at 4pm and on Sunday visitors can see traditional arts and crafts in the Kaminaria community centre.
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