Kouka

It is Among the listed villages of Limassol...everything in the village has been restored

Kouka is a village located 29 kilometres northwest of Limassol, at an altitude of about 740 metres above sea level. The village is built one kilometre east of the Pera-Pedi community.

It is among the preservable villages of Limassol and everything in the village is restored in order to remind the visitors of the past.
Photo: Michalis Georghiades‎

The Kouka community consists of 4 Greek Cypriot families and 17 foreign families (Russians, Italians, English, French and Germans.)

The estate property of the village belonged to two Metropolises. North of the road that intersects the village of Koukas, the land belongs to the Metropolis of Kition and to the south of the Metropolis of Limassol.
Photo: Michalis Georghiades‎

The name of the village:
According to local tradition, the village of Kouka was named after the founder of the temple of the Holy Cross, who was called Kokas. He had on his head "kokan" which means a braid. Later, however, the name of the village became Kouka.

Historical data:
According to the ecclesiastical tradition, the Kouka community existed since Agia Eleni visited our island, that is, the 4th century AD.
The first village was built on the river Kouris, east of the current location of the new village.
Photo: Michalis Georghiades‎

Churches and Attractions:
The village of Kouka is known for the church of the Holy Cross, which is the oldest in Cyprus. In this church there is the Cross of "Koukas" with the shavings from the Holy Wood. The temple is a 12th century building and part of the 12th, 14th and 15th century frescoes survive.

In the community of Kouka there is a new museum that presents the vineyard of the village. In addition, many old trees are planted in the centre of the village and are about 700 - 800 years old.
Photo: Andrie Panayiotou

Walking along the narrow streets of the village, you will find beautiful restored houses and you can also walk down to the valley where the village was likely built in the past.

Northeast of Kouka, there was a stream with was a source of natural drinking water. In 1908, the residents created a faucet from which they watered their fields. After an earthquake in 1929, the source dried up, but later, a few dozen metres east, the water began to flow.
Photo: Michalis Georghiades‎

Population:
The population of Kouka village has undergone significant fluctuations since 1881 to date. More specifically in 1881 it numbered 51 residents, which declined in 1901 to 39. Later in 1911 they rose to 56 to fall back to 53 in 1921 and to 40 in 1931. In 1946 they were 46 and in 1960 they were 63. In 1973 there were only 29 residents in the village, which declined sharply until 2001, when the village had only 4 inhabitants. However, in 2011 the village of Kouka increased the number of its inhabitants to 27.
Photo: Michalis Georghiades‎

For the map of the area, click HERE