Village of Cyprus - Anogyra
Anogyra is a very attractive village with plenty of traditional style architecture. Many buildings have been restored, using locally quarried limestone. Wander in the pretty cobbled streets. Anogyra was the regional centre for the important carob trade and caravans of camels and donkeys used to head down to the jetty at Avdimou carrying panniers laden with carobs for export.
The road to Anogyra is good quality, but with several sharp bends - so take your time. As you approach the village, a few meters before the sharp bend at the towering rock, on your left, you will see the Apicreni -not bitter water- spring, said by many to be the best water in the area. After the next sharp bend stands the 141 h century Monastery of Timios Stavros - The Monastery of the Holy Cross - on
your right. It is worth stopping to see as the main building has been restored and there are traces of old frescoes.
Just past the monastery, as you approach the "Welcome to Anogyra" sign and directly opposite the sign, is the Anogyra cemetery, which contains the "tripimeni petra", a large pierced monolith. Mothers pass their sick babies through the hole of the monolith as this is said to restore infants to good health.
Late in September the village celebrates the end of the carob harvest with its Pastelli Festival. Pastelli, (which you can buy in the village) is carob toffee. Why not try a jar of Teratsomelo - carob syrup? Delicious spread on toast or poured on local yoghurt. It is a good marinade for lamb and other grilled or roasted meats.