Aquatic Destinations
Koili
Koili is a beautiful village that administratively belongs to Pafos
District and is only 12 km away from the city of Pafos. The village is
located on the hills of a mountain area with narrow valleys and steep
sides. It is built on a green hill and the Mavrokolimpos River separates
it in two parts.
The name of the village originates from the ancient Greek word that
means “concave” and concerns the ground morphology in the area.
Koili borders with the Community of Tsadas in
southeast, Kallepia village in northeast, the Community of Tala in
southwest, Kissonerga and Pegia in west, Akourso in northwest and
Kathika and Stroubi in north.
The area is very fertile and appropriate for
cultivations such as vineyards, cereal, vegetables, citrus fruits,
almond trees, locust trees and many more. The varieties of vineyards
that are cultivated are suitable for wine production.
Until the beginning of the 20th century Koili
was an isolated community and the communication with the other villages
was made using animals (e.g. donkeys, mules) through dirt roads. During
the medieval years, Koili constituted one of the domains of the medieval
potentates.
In the southern side of the village and at a
distance of 1km away the monastery of St. Neophytos lies behind a high
hill. Moreover, three more churches and many chapels have been built in
the village. The first church is dedicated to Virgin Mary the
Chryseleousa, the second to St. Dometios and the third one to St. Mamas.
In Arothumis area, there is an old stone
bridge over the Mavrokolimpos River that still stands today. A small
canyon of almost 300 metres in extent and 30 meters in depth was formed
by the continuous river water flow and 150 years ago the bridge was
stonebuilt in order to help people cross the river.
The bridge of Arothumis has only one arch and
its construction constitutes a small marvel of mechanics. Passengers can
feel the beauty and admire the old bridge and the remains of old
watermills across the river.
The Mavrokolimpos River and the area around it
are protected under the NATURA 2000 Network Initiative because of the
outstanding natural beauty and native flora and fauna. |
