Miliou
Encyclopedia
Miliou is a village on the island of Cyprus
.
On the road from Paphos
to Polis
, about 13 km before you reach Polis
, there is a turning on the left which will take you to the little village of Miliou nestling on the Laona plateau.
Right next door to the springs is the restored monastery
of 'Agii Anargyri which is now being used as a spa hotel. The monastery was built in 1649 and is said to be one of the first ever on the island. It was founded by two brothers who used to care for the sick and dying without taking any payment for it. It is said that this is how the monastery got its name, from the Greek
meaning ‘without payment’. Another myth, spread among the inhabitants of the surrounding villages, goes like this: Many years ago a number of monks lived in the monastery and one day an argument broke out. As well as using sticks and stones in their dispute, these mild-mannered monk
s relieved the cellar of its supply of eggs, as it was during the period of Lent. As a result of the argument, the eggs broke and the water from the springs took the smell of rotten eggs.
Miliou is one of the smallest village
s in Cyprus
and has a population of about 60. It is also one of the greenest villages in the area, thanks to an abundant supply of spring water, surrounded by citrus groves, almond
trees and vineyard
s. In early spring the almond blossom is a spectacular sight and the orange
and lemon
trees are laden with fruit.
With far-reaching mountain and valley views and unspoilt countryside, Miliou is a delightful rural
setting, perfect for long walks and for those who love nature and bird watching as the village is renowned as a nesting site for nightingales. The main bird migrations, when a wide variety of species may be seen, take place in spring and autumn. If you’re more interested in seeing Mother Nature’s spectacular show of spring flowers, then visit between the beginning of March and the end of May. The aroma of the surrounding pine and lemon groves, brought in by the cool valley breeze, provides relief from the hot Cypriot
sun.
Village life centres on the coffee shop where the men of the village sit in the shade and put the world to rights while some of the womenfolk work on the old-fashioned looms, making traditional cloth.
Miliou is one of the villages involved in the Laona Project, a non-profit making organisation established to implement rural regeneration and ecotourism and to help introduce the concept of agrotourism to Cyprus
. Although Miliou’s limestone
houses are perfect examples of traditional rural architecture, more have been restored in the traditional Cypriot style through the Laona Project.
The nearest supermarket
to Miliou is about four kilometres away. The beaches, tavernas, market and shops of Polis
and Latchi
are about a 20-minute drive away, and another few minutes will take you to the edge of the Akamas
peninsula. The Troodos Mountains
and the Paphos
forest (home of the moufflon, the island's indigenous mountain sheep) are close by and Paphos International Airport
is a 45-minute drive away.
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
.
On the road from Paphos
Paphos
Paphos , sometimes referred to as Pafos, is a coastal city in the southwest of Cyprus and the capital of Paphos District. In antiquity, two locations were called Paphos: Old Paphos and New Paphos. The currently inhabited city is New Paphos. It lies on the Mediterranean coast, about west of the...
to Polis
Polis, Cyprus
Polis is a small town at the north-west end of the island of Cyprus, at the centre of Chrysochous Bay, and on the edge of the Akamas peninsula nature reserve...
, about 13 km before you reach Polis
Polis, Cyprus
Polis is a small town at the north-west end of the island of Cyprus, at the centre of Chrysochous Bay, and on the edge of the Akamas peninsula nature reserve...
, there is a turning on the left which will take you to the little village of Miliou nestling on the Laona plateau.
Right next door to the springs is the restored monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of 'Agii Anargyri which is now being used as a spa hotel. The monastery was built in 1649 and is said to be one of the first ever on the island. It was founded by two brothers who used to care for the sick and dying without taking any payment for it. It is said that this is how the monastery got its name, from the Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
meaning ‘without payment’. Another myth, spread among the inhabitants of the surrounding villages, goes like this: Many years ago a number of monks lived in the monastery and one day an argument broke out. As well as using sticks and stones in their dispute, these mild-mannered monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
s relieved the cellar of its supply of eggs, as it was during the period of Lent. As a result of the argument, the eggs broke and the water from the springs took the smell of rotten eggs.
Miliou is one of the smallest village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
s in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
and has a population of about 60. It is also one of the greenest villages in the area, thanks to an abundant supply of spring water, surrounded by citrus groves, almond
Almond
The almond , is a species of tree native to the Middle East and South Asia. Almond is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of this tree...
trees and vineyard
Vineyard
A vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice...
s. In early spring the almond blossom is a spectacular sight and the orange
Orange (fruit)
An orange—specifically, the sweet orange—is the citrus Citrus × sinensis and its fruit. It is the most commonly grown tree fruit in the world....
and lemon
Lemon
The lemon is both a small evergreen tree native to Asia, and the tree's ellipsoidal yellow fruit. The fruit is used for culinary and non-culinary purposes throughout the world – primarily for its juice, though the pulp and rind are also used, mainly in cooking and baking...
trees are laden with fruit.
With far-reaching mountain and valley views and unspoilt countryside, Miliou is a delightful rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
setting, perfect for long walks and for those who love nature and bird watching as the village is renowned as a nesting site for nightingales. The main bird migrations, when a wide variety of species may be seen, take place in spring and autumn. If you’re more interested in seeing Mother Nature’s spectacular show of spring flowers, then visit between the beginning of March and the end of May. The aroma of the surrounding pine and lemon groves, brought in by the cool valley breeze, provides relief from the hot Cypriot
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
sun.
Village life centres on the coffee shop where the men of the village sit in the shade and put the world to rights while some of the womenfolk work on the old-fashioned looms, making traditional cloth.
Miliou is one of the villages involved in the Laona Project, a non-profit making organisation established to implement rural regeneration and ecotourism and to help introduce the concept of agrotourism to Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
. Although Miliou’s limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
houses are perfect examples of traditional rural architecture, more have been restored in the traditional Cypriot style through the Laona Project.
The nearest supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
to Miliou is about four kilometres away. The beaches, tavernas, market and shops of Polis
Polis, Cyprus
Polis is a small town at the north-west end of the island of Cyprus, at the centre of Chrysochous Bay, and on the edge of the Akamas peninsula nature reserve...
and Latchi
Latchi
Latchi , is a small village that is part of the Polis municipality. It is the site of a small harbour.-External links:**http://www.polis-municipality-cyprus.com/Latchi.htm...
are about a 20-minute drive away, and another few minutes will take you to the edge of the Akamas
Akamas
Akamas , is a promontory and cape at the northwest extremity of Cyprus with an area of 230 square kilometres. Ptolemy described it as a thickly wooded headland, divided into two by summits [a mountain range] rising towards the north...
peninsula. The Troodos Mountains
Troodos Mountains
Troodos is the biggest mountain range of Cyprus, located in the center of the island. Troodos' highest peak is Mount Olympus at 1,952 metres.The Troodos mountain range stretches across most of the western side of Cyprus...
and the Paphos
Paphos
Paphos , sometimes referred to as Pafos, is a coastal city in the southwest of Cyprus and the capital of Paphos District. In antiquity, two locations were called Paphos: Old Paphos and New Paphos. The currently inhabited city is New Paphos. It lies on the Mediterranean coast, about west of the...
forest (home of the moufflon, the island's indigenous mountain sheep) are close by and Paphos International Airport
Paphos International Airport
-Public transport:A bus serviceis available from the airport to Karavella station in Paphos where one may change bus to other destinations in the island. Information regarding these buses is available at .-External links:*...
is a 45-minute drive away.