Wealthy in nature and wealthy in tradition
Platanistasa, is a pure Greek village within the district of Nicosia, constructed within the space of Pitsilia, on the north aspect of Troodos. It’s roughly 58 km from Nicosia.
Photograph: Helena Dorničáková
Platanistasa is constructed at a median altitude of 940 meters. The village passes by means of the Peristeronas River of Serrachis and contains deep slender valleys and steep mountain peaks.
Photograph: Platanistasa
A verdant oasis, a pattern of the traditional Greek civilisation and the great thing about nature. In keeping with the census of 2001, Platanistasa had 172 inhabitants.
Photograph: Maria Kiriakou
The historical past of the village:
As evidenced by historic archaeological finds, Platanistasa existed since historic occasions. The traditional archaeological issues discovered are prehistoric tombs, altar and ruined settlements with the names: “Peratides-Dipotamia” and “Fountain of Zintilas”.
Frankish place names, equivalent to “Louvaras” (water website), “Vikla” (Observatory), “Rousse Department” (by Franconian noble Bernard De Riosser, well-known Admiral on the reign of Charlotte, named within the Cypriot “De Rousse” and “King”, in the midst of the village, show the lifetime of the village in the course of the Frankish dynasty on our island.
In keeping with the medieval chronologist Georgios Voustronios, the village of Platanistasa was conceded, together with different villages, in January 1474 to George Kontarini, Depend of Giafa, a relative of the Queen of Cyprus, Catherine Cornaro.
On previous maps the village of Platanistasa is discovered marked as “Platanista” or “Piatanista”.
Photograph: Platanistasa
The identify of Platanistasa:
In keeping with folks custom, there are three variations of how Platanistasa acquired its identify. The primary model states that its identify got here from the “Platanus” tree that thrives within the space. A second model states that the identify of the village got here from the existence of a Frankish palace of the royal household within the centre of the neighborhood, supplied that “Palatistasa” that means the realm the place the palace is positioned and, with the corruption of the phrase they turned it to Platanistasa. Lastly, a 3rd model factors out that its identify is derived from a type of petalloid metallic that was positioned previously beneath or behind their nails by the inhabitant of Pitsilia named after “platana”.
Photograph: Platanistasa
Church buildings and sights of Platanistasa:
In Platanistasa village you can find a number of church buildings and valued sights. Within the centre of the village, there may be the big church of the neighborhood, devoted to the Archangel Michael, a nineteenth century constructing, within the place the place one other smaller one was demolished within the fifteenth century. Within the yard of the church, there was the village cemetery till 1941.
Photograph: Platanistasa
Moreover, the church of Agios Ioannis Theologos, constructed within the north of the village and renovated within the seventeenth century. This church was previously used as the primary church of the village. The Church of Panagia Katafigiotissa, constructed within the southern a part of the village and the bridge of Panagia in Platanistasa.
Photograph: Doros ATheodorou
The temple of the Holy Cross of Agiasmati is constructed within the Troodos Mountains, about six kilometres northwest of Platanistasa village. It’s a temple that follows the one-aisled wood-framed “Franco-Byzantine” temple, with a sloping roof and surrounded by a closed gallery.
Photograph: Doros ATheodorou
In Platanistasa there may be additionally the Monument to the Heroes of World Battle II, a Folks Artwork Museum, which has been housed within the olive press since 2000. The museum contains objects from the olive press space in addition to on a regular basis objects equivalent to cookware, towels and agricultural instruments.
Photograph: Costas Mageiroudes
On the Folks’s Custom Monument there was a standard olive press, to the north of the village there may be a watermill, which for a few years served the wants of the residents of the encircling space. This Watermill is a wonderful pattern of watermills, of uncommon magnificence. It’s positioned nearly a meter above the river mattress, on its southern aspect, throughout from a inexperienced of hazelnut and walnut bushes, lovely surroundings.
For the map of the realm, click on HERE
Photograph: Platanistasa
