The Salonica View team organizes an excursion to Pelendri, with a guided tour-tasting at the Tsiakkas Winery and a visit to the Zivania Festival.
Are you ready for a walk on the trails of wine and tradition? Salonica View travels on November 9th to Pelendri, the wine village of Pitsilia, where we will have the opportunity to experience special experiences, both through our tour and tasting at the Tsiakkas Winery, and with our visit to the Zivania Festival.
Our journey will start from Nicosia, we will make boarding stops in Kofinou and Limassol and head to the Tsiakkas Winery, which produces and exports various grape products, with the core of the vineyards located around Pelendri and Agro, where the temperate climate and demanding terrain have contributed to the creation of a unique ecosystem.
We will tour the vineyards and impressive winery, talk about the history, native varietals, tradition, cellar, while delving into the current month's seasonal work. We will complete our experience at the venue with a visit to the tasting room, where we will get to know and taste the collection of wines, through a curated tasting set.
Then we will head to the village square, where, accompanied by a member of the Community Council, we will visit its churches of great cultural value, such as Catholic Holy Mary and Holy Cross, one of the nine churches of Troodos, which are a world cultural heritage of UNESCO, with frescoes, which cover its interior and are excellent examples of Byzantine and post-Byzantine monumental painting.
Then we will go to the Zivania Festival, which is organized every Autumn in the village and includes, among other things, distillation of zivania in a traditional cauldron, live music with dance groups, various local dishes, making and offering palouze to visitors and of course zivania.
In Pelendri we will find small picturesque cafes, where we can enjoy our coffee, but also taverns with traditional food, where those who wish, can enjoy our meal, before taking the road back.
A few words about the points of interest:
Pelendri
Pelendri, one of the most picturesque villages of Pitsilia, dominates the east of the Karvouna-Saitta valley, surrounded by green hills at an altitude of 880 meters. It is about 40 kilometers from Limassol and is connected to the northwest with the village of Lower Amiantos, to the east with Potamitissa and Agro, and to the west with Trimiklini. Known as one of the "wine villages" of Limassol, Pelendri is a special destination throughout the year, thanks to its unparalleled natural beauty and its centuries-old history, which is reflected in its traditional architecture, Byzantine monuments, numerous natural parks and local gastronomy.
Lovers of nature and hiking can enjoy the excursion area of Pelendrio and cross the nature study paths. Among them, the Moni-Fylagra path, 3 kilometers long, and Pelendri-Dymes, about 4.5 kilometers long, offer enchanting routes in nature.
Tsiakkas Winery
With a view of the beautiful Troodos mountain range, among pine trees and vineyards, you can enjoy an unforgettable experience! The Winery, based on tradition and fueled by enthusiasm, passion for wine and hard work to acquire know-how, has managed to produce fine wines, with care that starts from the moment the vineyard is planted.
Beyond the dedication to quality, the Tsiakkas Winery has as its main priority the rescue and promotion of the native grape varieties of Cyprus, combining tradition with modern know-how. From the Cypriot varieties, Xynisteri, Vamvakada and Giannoudi are produced, while they are complemented by the production of Komandaria and red Zivania, with a strong personality and unique character. Among the international varieties, the Winery offers Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay wines, giving an international dimension to the rich Cypriot vineyard.
Church of Catholic Holy Mary
The Catholic Holy Mary, a temple set in a manicured garden full of trees and herbs of the local flora, is an elegant example of the Cypriot architectural tradition. The church, built in the 16th century, has a rectangular shape and an impressive wooden roof covered with hooked tiles, which are supported by well-made wooden beams. This style is typical for the churches of the Troodos mountain range, while the walls of natural local stone emphasize the austerity and authenticity of the temple.
The historical importance and architectural beauty of the church prompted the Diocese of Limassol, in collaboration with the Anastasios G. Leventis Foundation, the Department of Antiquities and the local community, to turn it into a pictorial. In this space, valuable Byzantine icons are housed, which highlight the centuries-old artistic tradition of Cyprus. and bear obvious influences from 16th century Italian art, combining Byzantine and Western artistic elements in a unique way.
Holy Cross Church
The Church of the Holy Cross is included in the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage monuments and stands out for its special historical and artistic value. The main element that makes the church important is the impressive frescoes that cover its interior, which represent different eras and artistic influences, from Byzantine and Western art.
The current form of the church is the product of successive interventions in different periods, while its original construction, a single-aisled church with a dome, dates back to the middle of the 12th century, with the signs of Frankish rule testifying to the period when the village was under the rule of Frankish aristocrats .
Festival of Zivania
The Celebration of Zivania, the Cypriot "water of life", is the occasion to visit the wine village of Pelendri, where we will have the opportunity to see the distillation of Zivania in the traditional cauldron, to cool off with a traditional program and dance groups and to taste traditional dishes. In a few days we will publish the detailed program of the Festival.
Cost of participation (per person):
Package: 35 euros with guided tour and tasting at Tsiakkas Winery
20 euros without guided tour and tasting
** Payment will be made on the bus (Ignore the automatic payment message you will receive).
The price includes:
- Escort and organization
- Trainers specializing in outdoor activities
- Transfer by bus from Nicosia and return
- First aid kit
- Two-hour guided tour and Tasting at the Tsiakkas Winery
Note 1. When you click to book, you must state in the message where you will take the bus from.
Note 2. For the best functioning of the event and for safety reasons, participants must comply with the instructions of the attendants.
Note 3. In case of cancellation of the event due to bad weather conditions, the excursion is moved to another date. Participants unable to participate on that date will be refunded. However, if again the weather conditions do not allow the event to take place, the event is permanently canceled and everyone is refunded. In case of cancellation by the participants, 7 days or less before the date of the event, the money is not returned.
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