Kaliana or Kalliana

Built in the valley of the river Kargotis

Kaliana or Kalliana is a village in the Nicosia province, which belongs to the geographical region of Solias.
Photo: Elena Constantinou

It is built about 60.5 kilometers southwest of the capital, in the valley of the Kargotis River, at an average altitude of 600 meters above sea level.

Photo: George Papageorgiou

The village existed since the Frankish era and on medieval maps it is referred to as Calina.
Fruit trees are grown in Kaliana, mainly apple trees, pear trees, peach trees, apricots and olives. The uncultivated areas of the village bloom rich natural vegetation consisting of pines, tremblings, marshes, scrubs and cones.
Photo: Evdokia Michael‎

It is a village that does not have many inhabitants, although after the Turkish invasion of 1974, it accepted several Greek Cypriots. According to the 2001 census, the inhabitants of the village were 187.

Photo: Κοινοτικό Συμβούλιο Καλιανών

The name of the Village:
There are several versions for how the village got its name. According to the village's history, it is noted that the first settlement in the village of Kaliana was built in the area today called Agia Marina and due to the frequent Arab raids by Turkish pirates and thieves in the village some residents to save their lives and their crops were forced to resort to the south, towards Pano Chorio. Passing through rough paths, they made their wooden huts, known as kaliana. On the basis of this, it is probable that the name of the village came from the huts.
Photo: Marina Kannaourou‎

According to popular traditions that form two other versions, it is said that in the past years among the first inhabitants of the village, lived a very good woman named Anna. So the name of the village may have come from the "good-Anna" (Kali - Anna) and ended up in Kaliana. A third version and variation of the previous one mentions that Anna was very beautiful, so the name of the village came from Anna's beauty and ended up as Kaliana. Finally, Renos Kyriakidis connects the name of the village of Kalliana, Arcadia. This, he notes, is that the Soliates are descendants of settlers from Arcadia.

Churches and Attractions: 
Taking a walk in the village of Kaliana you can find some very beautiful churches such as the church of Saints Ioakim and Anna in the center of the village, building of the 12th century. Inside, there are few frescoes preserved, most notably that of Saints Saranta, dating back to the 12th century. In addition to this church, the portable icon of Virgin Mary Kalionitissa of the 13th century is preserved. Another church is that of Panagia Iamatiki, built in 1993 in the ruins of an older church.
Photo: Κατερινα Γιωργαλλα

Other attractions that can be found in the village of Kaliana are Kalianas Station, an old restored mansion built around 1900, is an excellent example of folk architecture. Next to the hill you will see the St. Herakleidi's Bridge built in 1900 A.D. At the entrance of the village there is a watermill of the Mylonas family as well as an old handmade Elyomilos at another point of the village.

Village Associations:
The village has the Proodos Athletic Association, which was founded in 1983 and deals with football and cultural activities and the Sagittarius Association, which was founded in 1988 and deals with hunting and environmental issues. Finally, in the village there is a newly established center, founded in 1988, which deals with sport and tradition.
Photo: Elena Constantinou

For the map of the area, click HERE