History

Pedoulas is situated on the northern flanks of the Troodos range, 1200 meters, above sea level, and is thw loftiest village of the Marathasa valley.

Its history dates back in the Byzantine times. According to tradition, Pedoulas, as well as many other Marathasa settlements, were established during the Byzantine period, when the Arab raids forced the Cypriots to leave the coastal areas and move to safer places in the mountains. During the Frankish and Venetian periods, Pedoulas was considered a royal estate. Pedoulas was the pioneer centre for tourism, due to its excellent climate and picturesque scenery. Initially, visitors in the 19th century were accommodated in local traditional houses and hotel tourism wasn’t developed until the beginning of the 20th century.

After the Second World War, Pedoulas’ economy prospered and it became the cultural and commercial centre of the fourteen villages which form the Marathasa Valley.

There were schools, churches, public buildings and services, water supply systems, tanneries and an extensive cultivation of cherries and vineyards, its cherry produce was the largest in Cyprus.

Tourists and visitors can enjoy the exceptional climate and unique scenery in a tranquil setting, at the same time taste a great variety of fruits and its pure and healthy water. Above all, they will experience the friendly and traditional hospitality of the villages.

This guide will help them get acquainted with the most significant sites of interest within the village as well as the hotels, the restaurants and the local public services in the village.