Lefkara Cyprus And Picture-Perfect Kato Drys- Tia Does Agrotourism

Last Updated on March 4, 2021 by Tia

Lefkara Cyprus – is it really a traditional village? Or has tourism taken over and ruined it all? And Kato Drys village – what is it about this village that made me all head over heels in love? Keep reading to find out the truth about Lefkara Cyprus, Kato Drys with a special addition to a fascinating activity in Vavla that kids will love!

Lefkara Cyprus

Of course, I knew that in Lefkara I would meet a beautiful village. What bothered me and maybe scared me a little? How popular it is. Do they keep up with customs and traditions? Or has it become a tourist destination? It was with great pleasure that I realized that no matter how modern the village is, the tradition in Lefkara Cyprus does not cease to be preserved and maintained by the locals of the village.

Watch Video Episode Now!

We saw ladies going out in the sun with their embroidery, and Mr  Rouvis showing us the handmade ‘’Lefkaritika’’ – in the only shop in the village with 100% authentic Lefkaritika. We met Mr. Michalakis, a man that is somewhat the trademark of the village and one of the old, traditional silversmiths, who makes ‘’Kapnistomerrexa’’ – the traditional smoked utensils – with his hammer and silver, and Mrs. Aphrodite, who masterfully paints Lefkaritika designs on her delicious trademark cookies.

So yes, there is tradition to be found here in Lefkara, as well as beauty in its every corner!

What to do in Lefkara Cyprus

Walk Around Pano Lefkara

There are SO many cute little streets and alleys and picturesque shops – and obviously, fair many Instagram-worthy spots too! Enjoy!

Obsesve a silversmith at work

You simply haven’t been to Lefkara Cyprus, unless you visited Mr. Mihalakis! He is the ”last of the Mohicans” one of the only old silversmiths, who still make the traditional “kapnistomerecha”. His hammer, loud voice, and laughter can be heard from afar! Mihalakis Christou is incredible, and while he lovingly works on a sheet of silver, transforming it into a pine cone, apple, or pear, he talks. And his stories are fascinating like the man himself. He is endearing, captivating, fascinating! The financial crisis has affected his art as well – Kapnistomerecha are a luxury item now. I can’t help but thank God that this man has seen better days than my generation!

Check out authentic lefkaritika at Rouvis Lace and Silver

 Another absolute must in Lefkara Cyprus is to visit Rouvis Lace and Silver. This is the only village shop that sells 100% authentic Lefkaritika and it is of course under the auspices of the EU. Mihalis Rouvis, an embroidery designer, his wife Stavroula, and their son Dimosthenis pride themselves on their authenticity and quality!

Michalis actually designed and delivered the “Lefkaritiko”, a gift from the community, to the Cathedral of Milan in 1986. Incredibly, I find that they still use it at the Duomo -They bring it out once a year, on the 3rd Sunday of October. There are so many designs – each more intricate than the next, like the Mosaic, Catacombs, Byzantine, River, Leonardo da Vinci. Dimosthenis explains to us that Lefkara lace is a dying tradition – with hardly any skilled hands left to be able to keep up with such skillful embroidery. I left wiser, impressed, and happy to see that such an important part of my Cypriot Heritage is safe in the hands of Rouvis Lace and Silver

Eat gorgeous cookies at Lefkara Lace Biscuit

As a woman entrepreneur myself, it is hard not to admire the incredible Afroditi, for her innovative thinking! Afroditi loves to bake, so she returned to her village of Lefkara Cyprus and while the rest of the village, is known for the Lefkara designs on lace… she paints them on butter biscuits!

An innovative twist that combines culture with gastronomy, and incredibly clever thinking! Women really do rule this world, and I obviously support this movement! At Lefkara Lace Biscuit, Afroditi she hand-paints Lefkaritika designs on her fresh butter biscuits in every color and shape, so buying these as gifts or even hanging Xmas ornaments is a genius idea, but beware – they are delicious, so you’ll need plenty for you too.

Where to eat in Lefkara Cyprus

Stafilaris Coffee Shop

If you fancy and good and plentiful Cyprus Breakfast with shade and plenty of safe places for your kids to play – Stafilaris Coffee Shop is great! Maria took over the business from her father, and alongside her mother, they are an important part of the Lefkara Cyprus community. Any guest is treated as family, and that is precious!

Loukoumia

Loukoumia are a traditional sweet, made of sugar, water, and starch. They come in small cubes covered with powdered sugar, and several scents and flavors – from orange to rose and so many more! You won’t be able to resist buying a few boxes to take home – my favorite are the orange ones!

Marikkou

A cute little cafe, with the name of a Cypriot inside joke! Another tale is that ”Marikou was a bold businesswoman of the 1900s, who boarded ships and traveled to Egypt amongst other places, in order to trade”  Currently, the cafe is the Youth Center of the village, and the breath of fresh air brought on by young Ioanna is evident throughout. Here, you can enjoy coffee, brunch, snacks and more

Where to stay in Lefkara Cyprus

Ample Places

Ample Places is dedicated to the promotion and enjoyment of superior accommodation and living for travellers. The goal? To enable travellers to experience what it is like to live, eat, and sleep in an authentic modern or rural house of a local, in a low-impact, educational, ecologically, and culturally sensitive accommodation. Ample Places is actually two houses – ”Polytimo” (Precious) and ”Monadiko” (One of a kind). They are built for comfort and space – with enormous living and dining room areas with a fireplace and fully equipped kitchens.

Book One of the Houses Now

Kato Drys Cyprus

Beautiful people in an even more beautiful village. We are of course talking about Kato Dris village, which did not stop surprising me all day.

Alexia from the Christoudia winery who with humility and hard work brought a new breath of fresh air to the village, Kyriaki who paints inconceivable paintings and hagiographies in her workshop, Lygia who makes the most beautiful almond sweet and crunchy ‘’Tremithopites’’ and Mrs. Elli from the Bee and Embroidery museum bees and embroidery!

The village is incredibly beautiful, well-kept and spotless with nature invading everywhere.

What to do in Kato Drys

Ktima Christoudia Winery

For some, owning a winery is a lifelong dream, and when those dreams come true they are usually extraordinary. So I am delighted to welcome you all to Ktima Christoudia winery

26 years ago, Giannis and Alexia Christoudia started producing their own wine in Dali, Nicosia. Their success pushed them to make their dreams a reality, and so, 12 years ago, they created the wonderful Christoudia winery in the village of Kato Drys.

 In their hospitable and friendly multi-purpose space, you can tour the winery along with wine tasting, and eat delicious brunch made from fresh, local produce. It is also perfect for future larger events like weddings, christenings etcetera, so make a mental note of that!

 The winery produces its own honey and its derivatives and nine different types of wine, with special emphasis on Cypriot varieties such as Xinisteri, Giannoudi, Maratheftiko and Spourtiko. A winery that feels more like a family and less like a business, a rare thing nowadays! Ktima Christoudia is open daily for wine tours and tastings – and the popular brunch will be offered daily from 2021 (currently only on weekends)

Opening Hours:

Monday to Sunday: 9.00a.m.–17.00p.m.
For groups of 10 people or more: Best upon advance booking.
Bank Holidays: Advanced booking

Contact Person:

Ms. Alexia Christoudias
Phones: 99813075, 24342142, 99034828,
e-mail: info@ktimachristoudia.com

To madratzi tis giagias

I loved this lady so much! In this gorgeous little shop right in the center of the village, you’ll find Mrs. Lygia. She makes her own ”Tremithopites” – and if you are lucky, you might get a chance for her to teach you how to make them too!  Tremithopites are crunchy, round-shaped pies, made with terebinth berries, raisins, flour, water, and oil.

The shop is also filled with traditional handmade goodies – like rose water, cinnamon water, spoon sweets, and more from Lygia’s magical hands and her selected partners too. You absolutely MUST try her almost spoon sweet – it is to die for! Madratzi Tis Giagias is a big slice of hospitality, tradition, and taste – a yes from me!

For more information: 97 807307

Kyriakis Workshop and Gallery

Another wonderful woman i met in Kato Drys was Kyriaki – a grandmother (that looks nothing like a grandmother!) who raised her children and grandchildren first, then decided to follow her dream of painting and opened her own little gallery (just a few steps away from ”Madratzi tis giagias). And it really doesn’t get any more endearing, admirable, and downright Cypriot than that! There, she lets her talent loose, and her imagination runs wild. She says she is a self-taught painter – how I ask? – her hagiographies are incredible, it is impossible to imagine how one might teach themselves to paint like that. There are other paintings too – and of course, I am drawn to the huge ballerina painting first – it is incredible work.

There are baskets, and Christmas Decorations, candles and more – but the more fascinating part? Well its the fact that everything is made from stuff she has at home. This recycling queen used everything – from plastic bags, glass and plastic bottles, even toilet paper bases to bring her creations to life! In this day and age, I cannot applaud her enough for the initiative, and forward thinking! A must- see in Kato Drys!

Kato Drys Bee and Enbroidery Museum

In this museum, Elli, her husband, and their wonderful daughter turned a 300-year-old multi-level mansion into a wonderful museum full of old real-life stories and traditions. I’ve never seen such a museum in Cyprus -each room takes you back to generations past – and the accuracy is immaculate. You walk through an incredible garden filled with orange, lemon, and olive trees, as well as flowers of every kind. It is stunning!

Memories and images of Kato Drys and its people brought to life in a collection of agricultural, livestock, and apian tools, furniture, and general household items. A highlight is the beautiful collection of lace and embroidery dating back to the 1880s. Enjoying a trip down Memory Lane and a taste of old village life in Cyprus is a breeze at Kato Drys Bee and Embroidery Museum

For more information: 99 892677

Opening Hours: Wednsday to Sunday – 10am – 4:30 pm

Where to eat

Ktima Christoudia – for a brunch that is to die for! Definitely in my top 2 brunches of the season – and with views of the vineyards you really cant go wrong!

Where to stay

Blue Oak House

This 4 bedroom, sleeps 8 people so it ideal for larger groups of friends! There are 3 bathrooms, Wifi, fully equiped kitchen, washing machine, and a huge 120 square meters of veranda – perfect for barbeques!

Book it now

Garden Camara House

The utterly gorgeous Garden Kamara House was built in 1917 and has been fully renovated to include modern amenities while still respecting its original architectural style. It is actually owned by the family of the Bee and Embroidery Museum and it is on the same premises.

Surrounded by a small orchard with a variety of seasonal fruit and vegetables, you will find this two-story house with a large and private porch. The house consists of a fully equipped kitchen and a living room with a stone-built fireplace. There are two independent master bedrooms each with its private bathroom. Breakfast materials, wifi, and parking are also available!

Book It Now

Ecophysis – A bee haven your kids will LOVE!

Ok, wow! Like, i was seriously blown away by everything i learned here – and the fact that my fear of bees has been replaced (okay not entirely let’s be honest) by an admiration for bee colonies and everything about their ecosystem. Who knew bees were so clever?! Like clever enough to know when it is time to dethrone their own Queen (I am currently obsessed with the Crown series so it was even more fitting)- clever enough to ”prep” a baby into a new Queen and so much more! Fascinating stuff, at Ecophysis in the nearby village of Vavla – utterly fascinating.

Who are they ?

G.S ECOPHYSIS LTD is a newly established family business that offers experiential/educational tours for small groups of visitors with special interests in the natural environment, rural lifestyle, and traditional products of Cyprus. Georgia (a Scientific Counselor in the Federation of Environmental Organizations of Cyprus) and her husband Costas (a generation to generation beekeeper) have created a space that is perfect for rural activities for families and groups including children. Their goal is to offer high-quality services through educational programs and outdoor activities. The experiential engagement of visitors on the excursions and activities is vital to Ecophysis and environmentally-sensitive guests have the opportunity to visit the region all year round, enjoy the natural beauty of the area, and develop and improve certain skills needed in the field.
Here, there is an alternative option for the whole family.

It is possible for special workshops to be organized for groups with focused interests, such as on beekeeping, the study of nature (e.g. birdwatching), taking photos of landscapes and harvest, and workshops on the production of traditional products.

A list of experiences for all ages available at Ecophysis:

• Become a beekeeper for a day
• Trekking and collecting wild plants and herbs
• Candle making workshop
• Local product tasting (including their own incredible honey!)

That is the end of Season 1!! Thank you for traveling with me to Lefkara Cyprus, Kato Drys, and Vavla villages, and I hope that you visit soon, and enjoy them just as much as I did! Don’t forget to follow me on Youtube to watch the episodes and Instagram for many more updates!

Love, Tia

Save this post for Later

Related Cyprus Articles

Tia Does Agrotourism Series

• 1. Episode 1 Wine Villages in Paphos – Cyprus Agrotourism in Pano Panayia, Letymbou, Lemona and Amargeti (And Video)
• 2. Episode 2 Culture, Nature and Wine in Kathikas, Arodes and Akamas Peninsula in Paphos (And Video_)
• 3. Episode 3 Omodos, Arsos and Ayios Amvrosios – the most picturesque villages in Limassol (And Video)
• 4. Episode 4 Vouni, Lofou and Koilani Villages – exploring Limassol Province (and Video)
• 5. Episode 5 Kalopanayiotis, Kykkos, and Pedoulas – Nicosia’s hidden village gems! (and Video )
• 6. Episode 6 Agrotourism in Cyprus – Farmakas, Palaichori, and Askas – Wine, Safari, and Nature! (and Video )
• 7. Episode 7 Tochni, Choirokitia, and Kalavasos – Basket Weaving, history, and cycling activities! (and Video)
• 8. Episode 8 Lefkara, Kato Drys, and Vavla – Lefkara lace designs, wineries, brunch, and bees! (and Video)

Exploring Cyprus Content

• When to Visit Cyprus – A guide to choosing the season to visit Cyprus
• Where to stay in Cyprus – The Best hotels And Cottages In The Villages
• Cyprus Meze – The best Cyprus Taverns in the Villages and Mountains of the island!
• Cyprus Travel Blog – Everything you need to know to visit Cyprus. Start with this first if you are not local!
• A city by city guide to Cyprus. Decide which city in Cyprus suits you best!
• Incredible food in Cyprus to try. You will most likely drool at this article!
• Edem’s Yard – Best Brunch in Cyprus – Larnaca. The best brunch spot in Cyprus- hands down!
• Hamam Omeriye – Stunning Turkish baths in the heart of Nicosia– A Hamam Experience you are unlikely to forget!
• The best beaches in Ayia Napa and Protaras. The best blue flag beaches on the island – say hello to paradise!
• Cyprus Passport Visa Free Countries – Travel to paradise without a visa!

Beautiful Seaside Hotels in Cyprus

• Hotel Napa Suites – Gorgeous, Central, with infinity pools
• Almyra Hotel Paphos – Luxury, elegance, and class.
• King Jason Hotel Protaras – Modern, central, fun, breathtaking!
• Napa Mermaid – The most incredible hotel in Ayia Napa– Looking for a proper hotel in Napa? Say no more!
• Apartment for rent in Protaras – Sofias Seaview review. A gorgeous apartment in the heart of Protaras square!
• Protaras Villas – The Incredible Villa Oniro. A huge and luxurious villa in Protaras!
• Limassol Hotels – A Beautiful stay at The Crowne Plaza Limassol. A modest hotel in Limassol that you will highly appreciate!
• Alasia Boutique Hotel- Luxury and elegance. Elegance and understated luxury in the quiet part of Limassol