Liopetri River

The Liopetri river runs through Liopetri village in the Famagusta district — the area known as the Kokkinoxoria, the Red Villages. Arriving in the village, a left turn takes you down to it: a narrow river with brightly painted fishing boats tied along the banks and thick natural vegetation on either side.

Over the years the river has extended towards the sea and now reads more like a small fjord. Fishermen dock here, and a steady stream of visitors comes simply to look at the boats and the water.

The numbers, and the history

The river holds roughly 100 boats, some working, some recreational. It is 630 metres long and between 15 and 40 metres wide, with an extension reaching about 110 metres further. The anchorage is said to date back to the medieval era, when the site was also worked as a quarry; in the 18th century the river was used to export limestone and farm produce to Syria, Lebanon and Egypt. At the mouth stands the small chapel of Saint George, where you can look in and light a candle.

Walking the bank

A walk along the banks turns up something different each day — boats docking, loading and unloading, the catch being shown off — and there are small tavernas serving some of the freshest fish and seafood you will find in the district.