Rizokarpaso Coun Try : Cyprus

C ON TE N TS OF TH E F I L E

Synthesis Architectural typologies present Country’s approved significant sites

History and general information Current state of vitality and preservation Transformation process

Interventions and rehabilitation programmes Bibliography Lexicon

SYNTHESIS

Rizokarpaso is implanted in the Ammochostos district, Karpasia peninsula, around 85 km NE of the town of Ammochostos. It was the largest and most important settlement of the Karpasia peninsula. It is a large settlement where houses are not built close together and each one occupies a large surface area. Even in the centre, where houses are built in groups, party walls are rare: long narrow corridors are formed between neighbouring dwellings, because each house has separate exterior walls. Houses are more

scattered towards the fringes of the site, and gradually they become isolated Countr map y dwellings surrounded by fields; the confines of the site are not clearly defined. Even the yards of the scattered houses are open, or surrounded by a low enclosure which does not hide the property from outside. To a large extent the settlement preserves its traditional architecture, characterised by long makrynari and dichoro usually built in a linear arrangement, arched iliakos and big yards. Regional scale Local sc ale

ARCHITEC TURAL TYPOLOGIES PRESENT

Simple Makrinari Dichoro Rural courtyard house

THE COUN TRY’S APPROVED SIGNIFICANT SI TES Detail of the urban fabric Drousheia Fikardou Kakopetria Lofou Omodos Lefkara Pera Oreinis Rizokarpaso Lapithos Old Lefkosia (Nicosia)

This project is financed by the MEDA programme of the European Union. The opinions expressed in the present document do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union or of its member States. 1/3 Rizokar paso

HISTORY AND GENERAL INFOR MATION

The v illage has existed since the medieval period (it is shown on old maps as Risokarpaco or Risosarpaco). It was probably f ounded in the period of the Arab incursions (7th-10th century) when the populations withdrew from the coastal settlements seeking ref uge in the hinterland. There are remains of several ancient settlements in the area, dating from Antiquity and from the By zantine period. It was also the diocese of the Greek Orthodox Bishop of Ammochostos during the Frankish period. Rizokarpaso became the administrative centre of the Karpasia area in the Middle Ages. Under English rule, the police station, f orestry station, v eterinary service and medical centre were established in the village.

 Surface ar ea of the site

 Geographical co-ordinates Lat.: 35°36' north – Long.: 34°22' east  Height above sea l evel 130 m

 Lithology Calcarenites, gravels, pelagic chalks, limestones. On these formations, Terra Rosa and secondary limestones (surface crust called kafkalla) have developed.

 Population Greek Cypriots only until 1974. In 1973, there was a population of 2,626 inhabitants. After the Turkish inv asion, most of the inhabitants f led to the south for safety. A total of 1,966 persons remained in the enclave of the occupied settlement but this number is constantly falling, as people are obliged to leave their homes by conditions which worsen from year to year. Immigrants, mostly colonists introduced from Turkey, now occupy most of the abandoned houses.  Population densit y  Average annual maximum temperatures 33°  Average annual minimum temperatures 5.5°

 Averag e of maximum temp eratures 41° during the hottest month for 10 year s  Averag e of minimum temperatur es during +3° the coldest month for 10 years  Averag e rainfall 550 mm  Averag e number of days of rain p er year

 Specifi c ch aracteri stics

 Traditional economic activities Agriculture (cereals, tobacco, olive and carob trees), fishing and stock-keeping.

 New economic activities (Until 1974) Agriculture continued to be the main activity, but the tobacco culture was intensified. Tourism began to develop in the seventies because of the beautiful coast and landscape, the nearby archaeological sites and the f amous monastery of Apostolos Andreas, situated 28 km to the north-east of Rizokarpaso.  Site’s communications with its terr itor y The v illage is connected with the monastery of Apostolos Andreas to the NE and to the village of Gialousa to the SW. There were several tracks leading to the coast and to the fishing shelters, as well as to the fields and uncultivated land.

CURRENT STATE OF VI TALI TY AND PRESERVATION

Unfortunately, since 1974 the State has no control of the settlement and the traditional architecture is not protected. Most of the houses are abandoned and hav e fallen into ruin.

TRANSFOR MATION PR OCESS

INTERVEN TIONS AND REHABILI TATION PROGRAMMES

Contacts

BIBLIOGRAPHY

LEXICON

File created: 23/02/01 File last modified: 03/05/01