Palaichori

Palaichori sits in the Nicosia region, in the Pitsilia district. Its name comes from παλαιο and χωριό — ‘old village’ — and it dates back to the 13th century.

Four churches

The churches here hold remarkable frescoes dating between the 12th and 16th centuries, and there is a museum of Byzantine artefacts, textiles, silver and bronze work and wood carving. All four churches are worth seeing; the best known is the Transfiguration of the Saviour, a 16th-century UNESCO World Heritage site.

Zivania and cured meat

The Serrache river runs through the middle of the village, which does the setting no harm. Traditional houses and cobbled streets make up the centre, with vineyards, fruit and nut trees around it. Traditional zivania is produced here, and Palaichori is also known for smoked ham and spicy sausages — worth buying a few while you are in the village.

Two things to walk to

A preserved historical building in the village was once a hide-out for EOKA fighters in 1955–59. The other is the monument known as the Cypriot Mother, which looks out over the whole region — the views from it are the reason to make the climb.

For anglers, there is a dam on the Kampiou river where fishing is allowed.