Laneia (also spelt ''Lania''; or ; ) is a village at the foot of Mount Troodos on the main

Limassol Limassol, also known as Lemesos, is a city on the southern coast of Cyprus and capital of the Limassol district. Limassol is the second-largest urban area in Cyprus after Nicosia, with an urban population of 195,139 and a district population o ...

to Troodos road, about 26 km from

in the country of

Cyprus Cyprus (), officially the Republic of Cyprus, is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Situated in West Asia, its cultural identity and geopolitical orientation are overwhelmingly Southeast European. Cyprus is the List of isl ...

. Lania is one of the country's main wine producing villages. According to tradition, Lania got its name from Lana, daughter of the Greek god of wine and pleasure,

Dionysos In ancient Greek religion and myth, Dionysus (; ) is the god of wine-making, orchards and fruit, vegetation, fertility, festivity, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, and theatre. He was also known as Bacchus ( or ; ) by the Greek ...

. This indicates the deep roots of the village in the field of vine-growing and wine-making. The village is well known for the high quality of its grapes and wines.

Legend

At the time

Henry I Henry I or Henri I may refer to: :''In chronological order'' * Henry I the Fowler, King of Germany (876–936) * Henry I, Duke of Bavaria (died 955) * Henry I of Austria, Margrave of Austria (died 1018) * Henry I of France (1008–1060) * Henry ...

was King of

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

, the country’s vineyards from which champagne was produced were destroyed by disease. The King went in search of healthy plants, which he found in the house of Rousos of Laneia. The healthy vines were loaded on a ship, transported to France and used to replant the Champagne vineyardsbr>

Today

The inhabitants of the village are occupied with-growing and the production of

wine Wine is an alcoholic drink made from Fermentation in winemaking, fermented fruit. Yeast in winemaking, Yeast consumes the sugar in the fruit and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. Wine is most often made f ...

-related products including

Zivania Zivania or zivana () is a Cypriot pomace brandy produced from the distillation of a mixture of grape pomace and local dry wines made from Xynisteri and Mavro grapes. The name of zivania is derived from zivana () which means pomace in the Gree ...

Commandaria Commandaria (also called Commanderia and Coumadarka; , and Cypriot Greek κουμανταρκά) is an amber-coloured sweet dessert wine made in the Commandaria region of Cyprus on the foothills of the Troödos Mountains. Commandaria is made fro ...

and Soutzoukos. Amongst the flower-lined streets and traditional architecture lies the village church, dedicated to St. Mary. The Icon of Saint Mary of Valanas, one of the oldest paintings in the world, is displayed in the church. In Lania one can find an ancient and authentic Linos, a wine press, formerly used in the production of Commandaria. The entrance to the village is dominated by the old fountain from which villagers would get their drinking water and still today brings back memories of bygone times.

External links

Laneia village website (In English)The tower and the belfry of the basilica of Panagia Chrysolanitissa, Laneia

References

{{Limassol District Communities in Limassol District