Travel Guide Arsos

This pretty wine-growing village lies on the slopes of Mount Laona (772 m above sea level). Built on a slope, it is characterized by its concentrated settlement, narrow streets and whitewashed, tiled houses. Most of these still feature old wine presses, some of which are still in use. The name Arsos derives from a "sacred wood" (alsos) of the goddess Aphrodite, which stood nearby in ancient times. Despite the exodus of many of its inhabitants (around 1,000 in the 1960s), the village retains strong traditions, with Easter festivities, traditional festivals in July, the Xarkis festival (traditional and contemporary music) in August and the palouzes festival (a local sweet speciality) at the end of September. Nearby, the village of Malia/Μαλιά, perched atop a hill covered with terraced vineyards, is today another major wine center where KEO has facilities. Its small minaret overlooking the surrounding valleys bears witness to the presence of a Turkish Cypriot population prior to 1974.