Abandoned Cyprus without tourists

Cyprus is well known to Russians: to whom the resort, to whom the offshore, and to whom and the place of work, but the heart of the island - outside the cities and beaches.

What you are about to see may turn your mind about Cyprus.

A dying village is not only a Russian problem. Take Cyprus: half a century ago it was entirely rural. Stick it in - blooms, how not to live on earth? But no - they exchanged the honest life of the plowmen for tour services. Labor penny - on the tip.

And they exchanged the very land, territory. Previously, Christians and Muslims lived side by side, although at times they even bred. No wonder - faith is different, but the people are genetically one. But as the great civil war came, they fled. Turks - to the north, Greeks - to the south.

Entire villages were deserted overnight. Breaking - not building, running - not settling in: many simply disdain to settle after the previous owners, carriers of a different culture. So the villages have been empty for over forty years.

Dilapidated, abandoned, they nevertheless acquired a special beauty. A sort of charm of decline and desolation.

That's all that remains of the once large village of Agios Sozomenos. She was abandoned in 1964 due to clashes between the Turkish and Greek Cypriots. Previously, there lived mainly Muslim Turks, although the population was mixed. And the only valuable ruin preserved on the site of the village is the remains of the church of St. Mamant (Mamas) of Caesarea, a martyr who lived in the territory of modern Turkey in the third century.

It was destroyed during fierce battles in 1974, when the village was already abandoned. In 2001, four people were still registered here, although in reality no one has lived for a long time.

From a distance Vrestia seems like a small and cozy village in the foothills of the Paphos forest. You come a little closer and you see abandoned gardens and traces of oblivion.

Turks also lived here, but many years ago they all moved to the northern part of the island, leaving their homes forever.

The small mosque inside is well preserved. What surprised - no dirt, no graffiti.

Caution, shoot! The terrain here is not so deaf, and cars often pass through the village, even put signs.

Such drinking fountains can be found everywhere in Cypriot villages. They replace the inhabitants with wells. This set relatively recently, in 1961, when the village still lived its usual life. No one knew what would happen a few years later ...

Decades later, former residents are still returning to visit their homes. Perhaps someone even tried to start life anew: in some buildings I met completely old kitchen cabinets and a very modern electric switchboard.

One of the most picturesque abandoned villages of Cyprus bears the beautiful name Foinikas and is located in the south-west of the island, on the banks of the Asprokremmos reservoir.

The history of the village is so similar to the previous ones that one could not tell: before the conflict began, mainly Turks lived here, although not only they. When the relationship grew tense, the inhabitants were washed away by water to the northern part of Cyprus.

And the village of Teletra, which is located on the road from Paphos to Polis, has a different fate. She left 40 years ago due to a strong earthquake, as a result of which almost all houses were destroyed. Residents built themselves new ones on the top of the hill.

In the old, interiors and things still remain.

Even bottles with brandy forty years ago have survived. Some are almost untouched. Or are there already other drinks?

The old church is better preserved than other buildings, and maybe was restored. The door is closed, but the key is sticking out. I turn and go inside.

The church, it turns out, is functioning. In a place where no one has lived for forty years. There are icons and shops. No one takes it.

Fikard will be an exception to the rule - tourists are brought here (again an exception) and they even take money for entry (I still did not find who to pay, or maybe just lucky).

Guides call the village an "open-air museum" and call for lunch in a restaurant. But all this is lyrics.

In fact, only one person lives here, and most of the houses are completely empty, if you just leave the main street, there will be no trace of museum!

If you are looking for a sign - here it is! (inscription on the sign)

The village of Melandra is another reminder of the split of the island. Now the ruins of buildings are used as agricultural buildings, they store grain and keep animals.