Omodos

Omodos (Greek Όμοδος ) is a village in the district of Limassol with 311 inhabitants in the Troodos Mountains on the island of Cyprus.

History

Today's Omodos was founded during the Byzantine era. For the interpretation of the toponym multiple versions exist: After the pleasant Omodos is from the Greek word " modos " to German "take and take your time ," to be named. More likely, however, is the designation for the mentioned documents in Frankish feudal Homodeus who lived here in the region.

Geography and population

Omodos is located about 42 km northwest of the port city of Limassol on the southern slopes of the Troodos Mountains at 810 meters above sea level and has an annual rainfall of 760 mm. The livelihood of the population forms a majority of the cultivation of wine, apples, pears, plums, peaches and apricots. Especially for its vineyards Omodos is famous. In international tourist guides Omodos is referred to as " the " wine village of Cyprus. Accordingly, the place is frequented by many tourists and offers an alternative source of income for its residents. Restaurants and souvenir shops in the town center are evidence of this development.

Holy Cross Monastery Church

In the center of the newly built in the 19th century monastery church is Timiou Stavrou ( German: " Holy Cross "). Its foundation dates back to the 4th century. The interior is dominated by a splendid gilded iconostasis from the 18th century. In the church, according to tradition, a splinter from the cross of Jesus and a skull relic of the Apostle Philip are kept. In the monastery there are several museums: the Museum of Byzantine Art, the Museum of Popular Arts and an exhibition that documents the liberation struggle of the Cypriots against the British after the Second World War until independence in 1960.

Attractions

• Socrates house and Nikos House: These two wine farms can be visited. Here are embroidery and old furniture. In a shop -distilled grape brandy Zivania and honey can be purchased.
• Linos house: Here viticulture equipment and a heavy wine press can be visited, which saw service until a few years ago.
• Every year is celebrated in August in Omodos a large wine festival.

Sons and daughters

• John Modinos (1927-2011), Cypriot baritone
• Polys Modinos (1899-1988), Chancellor of the European Court of Human Rights