Pissouri

{{Infobox settlement | official_name = Pissouri | native_name = {{nativename|el|Πισσούρι}} | shield_size = 210px | image_map = | image_skyline = View of Pissouri 03.jpg | latd = | latm = | latNS = | longd = | longm = | longEW = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = [[Cyprus]] | subdivision_type1 = [[Districts of Cyprus|District]] | subdivision_name1 = [[Limassol District]] | leader_title = [[Mayor]] | leader_name = Lazaros Lazarou | leader_title1 = [[Executive Director]] | leader_name1 = Petros Foutas | elevation_m = | population_total = 1033 | population_as_of = 2001<ref>''Statistical Service of the Republic of Cyprus'', 2001 Population Census, MS Excel document [http://www.mof.gov.cy/mof/cystat/statistics.nsf/All/A5E0A9096615A568C2257122003FB72E/$file/POPULATION%20BY%20MUNICIPALITY_COMMUNITY-EN.xls?OpenElement]</ref> | postal_code_type = [[List of postal codes in Cyprus|Postal code]] | postal_code = 4607 | website = https://www.pissouri.org.cy/ | timezone = [[Eastern European Time|EET]] | utc_offset = +2 | timezone_DST = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]] | utc_offset_DST = +3| | img_coa_legend = ||||| | settlement_type = [[List of cities, towns and villages in Cyprus|Village]] }} '''Pissouri''' ({{Langx|el|Πισσούρι}}) is a [[village]] in the [[Limassol District]], [[Cyprus]], located approximately thirty kilometres west of [[Limassol]]’s centre, between Limassol and [[Paphos]]. Pissouri’s administrative area is the third largest in Limassol District. The main settlement of Pissouri is lies about three kilometres away from the bay known as [[Cape Aspro]] and is built on the slope of a green hill. The settlement is situated roughly in the centre of Pissouri’s territory.

Now they form two distinct communities: Pissouri Village Area and Pissouri Bay Area. The total permanent population is estimated at 1100 people, roughly half of whom are Cypriots; the remainder are foreigners, mainly [[United Kingdom|British]] - who include both residents and visitors.

There are several shops, and many tavernas, restaurants cafes and bars in the village and bay.

== Names == According to some official sources, the name ''Pissouri'' derives from the ancient city of ‘Voousoura’, as reported by Stravonas, a 1st-century BCE to the 1st-century CE philosopher, mathematician and geographer.<ref>Hatzopoulos, John N., ''Topographic Mapping: Covering the Wider Field of Geospaiial Information Science & Technology (GIS&T)'', Universal Publishers, Boca Raton, 2008, p.6</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Ιστορική Αναδρομή |url=https://www.pissouri.org.cy/el/h-koinotita-mas/istoriki-anadromi |website=pissouri.org.cy}}</ref> Other sources link the village's name to the phrase referring to pitch-dark nights.<ref>According to the Cypriot linguistic idiom, ‘pissouri’ is considered as ‘very dark’.</ref><ref name=":0" />

A legend recounts that the 300 Alamanoi (German) [[saints]] who came to Cyprus in the 7th century {{When|date=November 2025|reason=A modern study published by the EKT National Documentation Centre [https://phdtheses.ekt.gr/eadd/handle/10442/43026?utm&locale=en]: references an account of the saints' arrival by Leontios Machairas (Λεόντιος Μαχαιράς), a 15th-century Cypriot Greek chronicler:

“Leontio(s) Machera, a Cypriot columnist, writes that the above mentioned saints came to Cyprus from Syropalestine after this region had been occupied by the Saracens.”

Since the Arab conquest of Syropalestine (also written as Syro-Palestine) began in the 630s to 640s, this implies a 7th-century context for their arrival.}} from [[Syria Palaestina]] in order to practice asceticism in various parts of the island, arrived on the coast of Pissouri during a pitch-dark night.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-03-15 |title=Pissouri Village |url=https://www.cyprusisland.net/cyprus-villages/limassol/pissouri-village |access-date=2025-11-19 |website=Cyprus Island |language=en}}</ref> Another legend claims that ‘the Saint Fathers’ who were persecuted during the post-Christian period, were encountered in Pissouri region on an exceptionally dark (pitch-dark) night. However, it appears that the name of the village does not in fact derive from these legends, but from the extensive extraction of resin from pine trees in the area (called ‘pissa’ in [[Greek Language|Greek]]). The resin production began during the [[Byzantine Empire]] (Eastern Roman Empire), continued through the [[Cyprus in the Middle Ages|Middle Ages]] (5th – 15th centuries) and the [[Kingdom of Cyprus|Frankish era in Cyprus]].

== Development and occupation == Pissouri receives an annual rainfall of roughly 447 millimetres. Local agricultural products nowadays include table grapes, wine, potatoes and other citrus fruits in smaller quantities cultivated across the valley that stretches from the gulf to the hilltop settlement. There are also many olive, carob, and almond trees. Unfortunately, in recent years, farmers had to eradicate a large portion of their vineyards, as they became unprofitable. During the last decade, and in particular the last 6 years, the residents have had to shift to alternative sources of income that offer better returns. Most have become significantly involved in construction and specifically with the development of numerous residential properties and new neighbourhoods. It is a matter of time before the village becomes practically self-sufficient in terms of services and facilities found locally. Pissouri seems to evolve rapidly, following trends associated with globalisation and foreign investment'.

==Churches== The Church of Apostle Andrea was built through voluntary work by the public-spirited members of the community in 1883. The work for construction of the church lasted for about twelve years. The stone used in the church came from the villages of Anogyra and Prasteio and was transported to the village by carts which were drawn by Cypriot donkeys. The church is built in [[gothic architecture|Gothic]] style. The site on which it stands was used as the village cemetery until 1912.

The church is famous for its carved wooden Icon Stand, which is a real work of art and was manufactured in 1890. Its creation took ten full years to complete because of the limited means available at that time.

Other chapels include: Saint George, Prophet Elias, Saint Alexandros, Saint Mauritius, Saint Spyridonas.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://pissouri.org.cy/en_GB/%cf%84%ce%bf-%cf%80%ce%b9%cf%83%cf%83%ce%bf%cf%8d%cf%81%ce%b9/ Pissouri Community Council] *[http://www.pra1911.com Pissouri Residents Association]

[[Category:Communities in Limassol District]]