General Pissouri is a seaside village located in Limassol’s district, Cyprus (thirty kilometres westwards of the city of Limassol), between Limassol and Pafos urban areas. Pissouri covers a large area stretching from the hills rolling away into dramatic countryside to the north, to the sea in the south, and from the edge of the Western Sovereign Base area in the east to Aphrodite’s Rock in the west. Pissouri’s administrative area is said to be the third biggest in Limassol District. The main settlement of Pissouri is situated about four (4) kilometres away from the , naturally sandy beach at Pissouri Bay and is built on the side of a sloppy hill overlooking the sea. The main settlement (Pissouri Village) is strangely placed in the middle of Pissouri’s administrative territory. Nowadays, there are two distinct settlements, Pissouri Village Area and Pissouri Bay Area. The first one is the ‘traditional one’ whereas the latter is more touristic. The total permanent population of Pissouri is said to reach around 2000 people in total, about 65% of whom are Cypriots and the rest being foreigners, mainly British. In Pissouri Village several amenities can be found such as shops, supermarkets, taverns, restaurants and bars serving food and drink of exceptional quality. There are also banks and ATM’s in the village's central square for anyone wishing to withdrawn money anytime! The Village’s Central Square is the hub of Village life with the Community’s coffee shop at its heart. The local tavernas serve up tasty and affordable food and on summer evenings (May to October) you will find the weekly outdoor ‘Cyprus Night’ taking place, a lively and popular treat of traditional dancing, music and food. The Bay Area of Pissouri is a bit more crowded by holiday makers as hotels, bars, restaurants and tavernas contribute to a lively and friendly tourist location. Pissouri beach extends from ‘Cape Aspro’ in the west and ends in the rocky area named ‘Mavrorotsos’ at the eastern end of the beach. Protected by ‘Cape Aspro’, with its high vertical walls, it creates an admirable combination of mountain and sea that make it unique. The coast stretches west along dramatic cliffs to Aphrodite’s Rock. All around us are the remains of the ancient history of Cyprus. You will be able to discover many of these fascinating sites by joining a local walking group. During recent years, great attention has been paid to the development of tourism in the area, especially at Pissouri beach. There is an excellent range of tavernas, restaurants and shops to cater for the rapidly increasing villa holiday market. In the summer months, the bay area buzzes with happy tourists enjoying the beach and water sports during the day and a busy nightlife scene in the tourist season. Names According to some official resources, the name of Pissouri derives from the ancient city ‘Voousoura’, as reported by the ancient historian and geographer Stravonas. Some other resources connect the name of the village with pitched-dark nights. (According to the Cypriot linguistic idiom, ‘pissouri’ is considered as ‘very dark’). A legendary reports that the 300 ‘Alamanoi’ Saints who came in Cyprus from Palestine in order to practice in various parts of the island, arrived at Pissouri’s coast such a pitch-dark night. Another legendary reports that ‘the Saint Fathers’ pursued during the post-Christian era, were met in Pissouri’s region during a really black-night. However, it seems that the name of the village does not eventually stem from those legendaries but from the fact that in the region there was an extensive extraction of skin-sap from pine trees (called ‘pissa’ in Greek). The skin-sap production begun during the Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire), continued during the Middle-Ages (5th – 15th century) and the Frankish era in Cyprus. Development and occupation Pissouri has an annual rainfall in the order of 447 millimetres. Local products nowadays are tabled grapes, wine, potatoes and other citrus fruits in smaller quantities planted across the valley spanning from the gulf to the hill, where the main settlement is. There are also many olive, carob and almond trees. Unfortunately, during the last years, farmers had to eradicate big part of their vineyards, as they became profitless. During the last decade, and in particular since 2002, the residents have shifted to alternative financial resources with a better interest profit. Most of them have extensively dealt with building and construction and specifically with the erection of numerous residential places and new neighbourhoods. It is a matter of time before the village becomes literally autonomous in terms of services and facilities found locally. Pissouri seems to evolve rapidly, following the trends of the globalisation and global investments'. Churches As a visitor to Pissouri, one would obtain a great insight into Mediterranean culture by visiting the church of Apostle Andreas and some of the smaller old churches in the area. Visiting the church and chapels, in an excursion style, he would feel proud, satisfied and excited about the fact that he had met from close, the size of beauty, the charm and the religious devotion of those who lived and created these holy monuments of Christianity, of Glory and culture in this beautiful and hospitable community. The Church of Apostle Andreas was built with voluntary work by the good-willing residents of the community in 1883. The work for the construction of the church lasted about twelve years. The stone the church is built with originates from the regions of villages Anogyra and Prasteio and was transferred in the village with carts which were dragged by the ‘Cypriot donkeys’. The church is built in Gothic style. The place that it is built was used as the village cemetery up to 1912. The church is famous for its wooden-carved Icon Stand, which is a real work of art and was manufactured in 1890.The manufacture lasted 10 entire years because of the means of that time. The rest of the chapels in Pissouri are devoted to: Saint George, Prophet Elias, Saint Alexandros, Saint Mauritius and Saint Spyridonas. If you wish to learn more about Pissouri you should visit the website: www.about-pissouri.com | 
