Fikardou 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

The site is implanted in rough mountain relief, with deep narrow v alleys and abrupt slopes; it is surrounded by peaks of over 1,000 m high. It belongs to the Lefkosia district, Pitsilia area, around 32 km south-east of Lefkosia. Fikardou is very popular among the inhabitants of the capital who invest in the settlement by buying property and restoring it for use as a holiday home. The only building with some medieval features is the house of Katsinioros in its upper-f loor room. The village buildings date mostly from the 19th century, with th modifications and additions dating from the early decades of the 20 century. Countr map y Houses are built along the few narrow alleys, but not always in a grouped construction: very often they have a yard surrounded by dry-stone walls. Regional scale Local sc ale

ARCHITEC TURAL TYPOLOGIES PRESENT

Mountain house

THE COUN TRY’S APPROVED SIGNIFICANT SI TES

Drousheia Fikardou Kakopetria Lofou Omodos

Lefkara Pera Oreinis Rizokarpaso Lapithos Old Lefkosia (Nicosia) Detail of the urban fabric

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 Fikar dou

HISTORY AND GENERAL INFOR MATION

It is assumed that the name of the village derives from the Fikardo family who owned the village in the medieval period.

 Surface ar ea of the site 13,086 m²

 Geographical co-ordinates Lat.: 34°57' north – Long.: 33°10' east

 Height above sea l evel 880 m  Lithology The area consists entirely of diabase or sheeted Dyke Complex, greyish in colour. These consist of fine-grained, basic to intermediate rocks in which plagioclase and clinopyroxene are the primary minerals.

 Population The permanent population is four people, all over the age of 65, occupying four dwellings. There were 64 inhabitants in 1881, 122 in 1932 and 120 in 1946. After 1960, there was a steady fall in the population because the inhabitants moved to the city or to large settlements in search of a better life. A number of f amilies return to the village at weekends only.  Population densit y  Average annual maximum temperatures 31º  Average annual minimum temperatures 4.5º

 Averag e of maximum temp eratures 37º during the hottest month for 10 year s  Averag e of minimum temperatur es during -4º the coldest month for 10 years  Averag e rainfall 550 mm

 Averag e number of days of rain p er year 65

 Specifi c ch aracteri stics In 1978, it was declared an Ancient Monument. The local Rural Museum, housed in two of the most interesting traditional dwellings, and the preservation of the site’s authenticity attract many local and foreign visitors.

 Traditional economic activities Agriculture was the main activity of this small, poor settlement. Wine, cereals, almonds, olives, raisins, f igs and broad beans used to be the main products. Rosewater was also produced from roses cultivated for this purpose. In the village, there were kilns for firing the ceramic half-round tiles and slabs used to construct the houses. Mud bricks were also made locally. Fikardou was, until recently, an isolated, self-sufficient settlement. Its only form of trade was the wine business.

 New economic activities The f our remaining permanent inhabitants continue, as far as possible, their traditional activities. Tourists visiting Fikardou hav e contributed to the creation of some new activities, like the restaurant, which is busy all year round.

 Site’s communications with its terr itor y The site is connected to Klirou village to the north-east and to Gourri village to the south-west. Modern vehicular roads have replaced the old dirt tracks. Besides these two main roads, there are several small rural tracks and many paths leading to the f ields on the slopes of the surrounding hills.

CURRENT STATE OF VI TALI TY AND PRESERVATION

Fikardou is becoming very popular among the inhabitants of the capital who invest in the settlement by buying property and restoring it for use as a holiday home.

TRANSFOR MATION PR OCESS

The long period of abandonment was the cause of the deterioration and even destruction of several houses. As a result, the transformation of the buildings was kept to a minimum.

INTERVEN TIONS AND REHABILI TATION PROGRAMMES

The Department of Antiquities declared the whole settlement an Ancient Monument in 1978. In collaboration with various government departments and foundations, a rev ival programme was implemented. Restoration work was carried out by the Department, which purchased two of the most important dwellings, rehabilitating and transforming them into a local rural museum, f or which it received the Europa Nostra award in 1987. A Controlled Area surrounds the traditional settlement, in order to regulate development and to protect the site’s natural environment. According to the Antiquities Law, Schedule A Ancient Monuments are government property and are therefore protected and restored by governmental funds. The rest of the houses in the village belong to Schedule B and are privately owned. Expenditure for their restoration is shared between the government and the owners. In the last ten years, private contractors have been carrying out restoration work under the supervision of the Department of Antiquities.

Contacts

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• SAUVOPOULOU-FLORIDOU, Androulla; RIZOPOULOU-EGOUMENIDOU, Froso. Fikardou village: Architecture and Conservation and Restoration Works. Lefkosia: Part 2 (in greek). Department of Antiquities, 1988. • SAUVOPOULOU-FLORIDOU, Androulla; RIZOPOULOU-EGOUMENIDOU, Froso. Fikardou, a Traditional Village in Cyprus. Lefkosia: Leventis Foundation, 1987.

LEXICON

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