Lapithos Coun Try : Cyprus

Si te : Lapithos 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

Lapithos was one of the largest and most important settlements of the Keryneia district. It is built like an amphitheatre on the northern slopes of the Pentadaktylos mountain chain and on the narrow plain down to the coast. Lapithos is 14 km east of the town of Keryneia. Lapithos is a very lively site. It has been a municipality since 1930 and many improvement works have been carried out. Its main features are the combination of mountains and sea in such close proximity, the beautiful and varied landscape, the

Kef alovrysos spring and the pottery workshops producing the typical Lapithos Countr map y pottery. Regional scale Local sc ale

ARCHITEC TURAL TYPOLOGIES PRESENT

Simple Makrinari Dichoro Rural courtyard house Grouped house (rare)

THE COUN TRY’S APPROVED SIGNIFICANT SI TES

Drousheia Fikardou Kakopetria Lofou Omodos Detail of the urban fabric

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 Lapi th os

HISTORY AND GENERAL INFOR MATION

The history of the settlement goes back to the ancient times (Early Bronze Age, 2500-1100 BC) of the city-kingdoms of Cyprus during the Iron Age (11th-3rd centuries BC). The occupation of the site was uninterrupted until the Arab incursions (7th-10th centuries). The site was also known with the name of Lampousa in the Early Medieval Period. In this period, many inhabitants withdrew to the mountains and built their houses on the slopes overlooking the coast. In the Middle Ages, Lapithos was one of the island’s most important settlements and a royal fief. It was also one of the 14 bishoprics of Cyprus. The prosperity of the settlement continued under Turkish and English rule, but the settlement boomed after independence with the systematic cultivation of lemon trees. Tourism had also began to develop.

 Surface ar ea of the site  Geographical co-ordinates  Height above sea l evel 0-250 m

 Lithology Marls, cherts and chalks (massive or cleaved), marly chalks.

 Population Until 1964, Lapithos was a mixed settlement (3,124 Greek Cypriots and 370 Turkish Cypriots in 1960). In 1974, the population (Greek Cypriots only ) was approaching 4,000 inhabitants. Now Lapithos is under Turkish occupation as a result of the military invasion of 1974. All Greek Cy priots fled to the South for safety during military operations. The site is currently inhabited by an unknown number of Turkish Cypriots and colonists from Turkey.  Population densit y  Average annual maximum temperatures 33.5°  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 543 mm  Averag e number of days of rain p er year

 Specifi c ch aracteri stics  Traditional economic activities Agriculture (mainly citrus, carob, olive and fruit trees and vegetables), stock-keeping, pottery, embroidery and sericulture. Also weaving, basketry, woodcraft and woodcarving. Trade of oil and other agricultural produce was carried out mostly within the country. The waters of the Kefalovrysos spring worked many water mills. There were also numerous olive presses and ironmongers. The silk and cotton fabrics and lace of Lapithos were famous all over Cy prus and the town was one of the most advanced centres of sericulture and silk manufacture. Lapithos glazed pottery was in great demand all over Cyprus. However, Lapithos owed its development and wealth mostly to the production of citruses, especially lemons, which were exported (60% of the island’s production). The extended culture of citrus and other fruits and vegetables was due mainly to the water of the great Kefalovrysos spring, but also to the propitious climate and the fertile land.  New economic activities

 Site’s communications with its terr itor y Sev eral roads connect Lapithos with the neighbouring villages of Karavas to the east and Vassilia to the west, as well as with the town of Kyreneia to the east. Many secondary roads, dirt tracks and paths lead from v arious parts of the site to the cultivated lands and to the coast as well as to the orchards and vines on the slopes, to the Kefalovrysos spring and further up to the mountain.

CURRENT STATE OF VI TALI TY AND PRESERVATION

Lapithos was, until 1974, a very active, dynamic settlement in full progress, with great potential for further development. All this was brutally put to an end with the Turkish invasion which forced the inhabitants to abandon their homes and seek ref uge to the south. Now the village is inhabited by Turks, mostly colonists f rom Turkey. In the few years preceding the Turkish invasion, several traditional buildings (houses, old water mills) were rehabilitated by their owners. After 1974, many houses were destroyed or ruined by neglect and abandonment. The Cy prus Republic has no control over occupied areas. There is no information about any rehabilitation on the site.

TRANSFOR MATION PR OCESS

INTERVEN TIONS AND REHABILI TATION PROGRAMMES

Contacts

BIBLIOGRAPHY

LEXICON

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