Pelendri (, ) is a village in the
Limassol District
The Limassol District, or simply Limassol or Lemesos, is one of the six districts of Cyprus. , it had a population of 262,238, 75,7% of which was urban The district's capital city is Limassol. Part of the British Overseas Territory of Akrotiri an ...
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 ...
.
Location
Pelendri is located below the Troodos Mountains, in the region of Pitsilia. It is located on a barren hillside, at an altitude of 800 meters above sea level, 40 kilometers from the city of Limassol. Adjacent to the Trimiklini villages Saittas, Potamitissa and Amiandos.
Physical geography
Geology
The terrain is rugged and mountainous with narrow deep valleys and steep slopes. On three sides of the village loom tall peaks, their height in many cases exceeding 1000 metres.
Climate, flora and vegetation
The climate of the region combined with the relatively high annual rainfall received by the village (about 750 millimetres) favours the cultivation of various fruit trees (apple, peach, pear), grapevines, olive, almond, nuts, raspberries and vegetables (green beans, peas, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, zucchini, potatoes).
However, due to the relief of the area there are several uncultivated areas with a rich presence of natural vegetation. Here there are a variety of plants:
πεύκων,
λατζιές,
αντρουκλιές,
τρεμιθιές,
ξυσταριές,
περνιές,
αγριοελιές,
σκλήδρους,
πλατάνους,
μερσινιές. Part of the
Troodos and Monastery state forests are within the administrative boundaries of Pelendri.
History
Pelendri was a well-known settlement during the Middle Ages. Louis de Mas Latrie refers to it as Pelendres or Pelondres. He also says that in 1353 it was a fief of
John de Lusignan, Prince of Antioch and a member of the
royal family of Cyprus. The medieval chronicler
Georgios Boustronios
Georgios Boustronios (Greek: Τζώρτζης Μπουστρούς, hellenised as Γεώργιος Βουστρώνιος; c. 1435/40 - after 1501) was a 15th century Cypriot royal official and chronicler possibly of Syrian origin. His chronicle � ...
mentioned the village twice in his chronicle. In one case he mentions that in around 1461, a rich trader named Satin lived in the village. In the second, he speaks of two Prastio (farms) in Pelendri owned by Ritzzo di Marino. They were seized in 1474 by
Catherine Cornaro
Catherine Cornaro (; or ; ; 25 November 1454 – 10 July 1510) was the last monarch of the Kingdom of Cyprus, also holding the titles of Queen of Jerusalem and Queen of Armenia. She became queen consort of Cyprus by marriage to James II of ...
. These two farms, Kardamas (Kardama) and Filagra, were dissolved during the Ottoman occupation. Filagra was re-established in the mid 20th century.
The church of 'Timios Stavros' was built in the 14th century and is one of the best preserved Byzantine churches in Cyprus. It, along with 9 other
Painted Churches in the Troödos Region
The Painted Churches in the Troödos Region () is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Troödos Mountains of central Cyprus. The complex comprises ten Byzantine churches (buildings), Byzantine churches and monasteries richly decorated with Byzantine ...
were inscribed as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site
World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an treaty, international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural ...
in 1985 because of their outstanding frescoes and testimony to the history of Byzantine rule in Cyprus.
According to narratives, there were still 14 small villages in the area. They were abandoned, their residents joining with those of Pelendri for security. As such villages reads: Poulos, in which many important archaeological artefacts of the era of
Alexander the Great
Alexander III of Macedon (; 20/21 July 356 BC – 10/11 June 323 BC), most commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a king of the Ancient Greece, ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia (ancient kingdom), Macedon. He succeeded his father Philip ...
were found, Fournia, in which there are traces of old settlement, Troumithos, in which there is a very old chalcopyrite mine, the Tzeramis, which was completely destroyed by a landslide, Rontia, Konnara, Kaminia, Mazokampos, Chalazin, Argyrou, Deisis, Ais Giannis Potamoulion, Pontikia and Kountouries.
Population history
References
{{Authority control
Communities in Limassol District