A very picturesque village of Pitsilia which demonstrates
particular social, architectural and historic character is Fterikoudi.
Nicosia.
Surrounded by greenery and a world away from city
noise and pollution, Fterikoudi only 45 minutes by car from Nicosia.
All these advantages, together with the area's cool climate, attract
people to the village for visits or holidays. Fterikoudi is surrounded
by tall ridges reaching up over 1,120 metres, densely covered by
pine trees, "trimithies", "xystaries", "latzies",
etc.
According to one version, the name of the village
came from 'fteriki' (pteridium aquilinum) - from the ancient word
'pteris' - a plant which grows abundantly in the area. Another version
says that Fterikoudi took its name from 'Fteri', the mountain slope
on which the village is built. In the centre of the village are
many beautiful houses that follow traditional architecture. The
natural habitat boasts a wealth of trees, among them almond, hazelnut,
walnut and pear, which form a magical landscape.
To the west of today's village there used to be a settlement known
as Kalamithasa, which was destroyed in AD 1570 during a fierce battle
between the Venetians and the Turks. Afterwards the Turks, enraged
by the strong resistance of the Venetians and the village inhabitants,
burnt down the whole settlement.
Fterikoudi claims that a renowned inhabitant was one of the Alamanous
Saints, Osios Avakoum - protector of the village and alleged miracle
healer of ear diseases - who led an ascetic life in the village
around AD 1100. Avakoum had actually written an ecclesiastical service.
His bones were found at the place where an ancient church had been
built, the foundations of which still exist. Today a new chapel
standing on the same spot is devoted to the saint whose existence
is celebrated twice a year on December 2nd and on Easter Monday.
The large ancient church in the centre of the village is dedicated
to Ayios Nicolaos and this saint is celebrated on December 6th.
The church is under the protection of the Antiquities Department.
Near the village square there is an enormous oak tree said to be
300 years old (a reference point for the village) which presents
a strange phenomenon: one of its thick branches is entwined with
those of the tree next to it unmistakably forming the letter 'N'.
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