General

Inside a small valley and upon its surrounding slopes that are encircled by small and large mountains, plateaus, steep hillsides and cliffs, all overgrown with vines, at an average altitude of 750 meters and at a distance of about 35 kilometres from the city of Limassol, lies built the picturesque vine-growing village Vasa Kilaniou.

Vasa is one of the most important vine-growing villages of the region and even in previous historical periods it had a reputation for its vines. A reference is made by Masse Latri about the export of large quantities of raisins made in Vasa. Today Vasa also holds a privileged position nation-wide in the production of raisins. Particularly, however, A. Gaudri mentions -among other things -that “… Omodos, Vasa, and Arsos provide the finest dark wines of the island.”

Vasa, based on arable land with vines, is the fifth vine-growing village of Limassol; it is also among the top villages that their arable land with vines surpasses 40% of their total range.

The village, as well as all the vine-growing villages of the region, has gone through large fluctuations of population. In 1881 its inhabitants were 397, increasing to 512 in 1891, to 690 in 1911, to 785 in 1921, and to 871 in 1946. The urban pull phenomenon also hit Vasa just like all the winemaking villages and as a result its inhabitants decreased to 741 in 1960, to 551 in 1973, and to 367 in 1982. In the last census of 2001 the inhabitants numbered….. It is worth mentioning that in 1946, out of a total of 127 villages, Vasa was the sixteenth village of Limassol in population.

Vasa connects on the north-east with Omodos and Platres, with Malia and Arsos in the south-west, with Potamiou in the south-east, and with Kissousa and Pachna in the south.

The village took its name, which is of purely ancient Greek origins, from the word “Vassa” or “Vessa” that means “wooded valley”.

In Arcadia of Pelloponesos there was a settlement with the name Vassae during ancient times, where the famous Temple of Apollo the Epicurean. The name the village thus may -very probably -relate to the colonisation of Cyprus by the Arcadians. Indeed, a temple of Apollo existed in the village, upon which the main church is built, a fact that reinforces this opinion.

Vasa had been an important feud during mediaeval times. It was the property of the -crusaders and Barons -Imbelins of Giaffa. Indeed, Gunnis refers to remains of foundations from a castle on a hill, at the centre of the village, evidently on the hill behind the church where. in 1993. Collections of Venetian swords were discovered.

The village is of the compact, centralised type. Apart from the social factor, the terrain of the region also helped in having this type of settlement. In Vasa the seductive traditional architecture, with paved streets, with elongated, arched or elevated rooms, built with splendid hewed limestone, is still preserved even today. In several houses there still are the old wine-presses as well as the modern presses for the production of the famous wine of Vasa and also the distilleries for the production of “Zivania”.

COMPLETED

The Community Council of Vasa Kilaniou, within the efforts to improve the quality of life of the habitants, has executed some embellishment and infrastructure works.

Some of the most urgent and serious works, which have been done, are the following:

  • Removal of the asphalt of the roads in the village. Repair and restoration of the cobbly     roads, which were under the asphalt.
  • Construction of mini-football field.
  • Replacement of the old distribution and supply system.
  • Road widening project for the area “Pirgos.
  • Embellishment of the old traditional taps of the village.
  • Afforestation of the road that leads to the old bridge, with aromatic plants.
  • Flagging of the village’s plaza
  • Registration of traditional houses on tourist maps.
  • Restoration of the Cultural Center.
  • Creation of traditional shops.
  • Construction of offices for the needs of the Community Council.
  • Construction of Health Center
  • Erection of museum of folklore art and culture
  • Creation of nature trail.
  • Establishment of zivania production unit.

SCHEDULED

The Community Council continues the efforts to make the community a modern and pleasant place, and for this reason, it has already programmed the following projects:

  • Construction of library.
  • Restoration of the old bridge.

COUNCIL FOR COMMUNITY WELFARE
OF VASA KILANIOU

TEL. 25942962

The Council for Community Welfare (C.C.W.) of Vasa Koilaniou was established on 29/9/1996 and is registered as an association ever since 7/12/1998, under the number 1989.

The goals of C.C.W. is to assist -in every possible way -the development of the Community and the offering of services to elderly individuals, so that they will remain independent, equal, and active members of Society, providing them equal opportunities for a creative usage of their free time.

The C.C.W. operates three programs.

  • Day Centre (providing hot meals)
  • Home Care
  • 24 hour based Care.

It runs programs for further education, speeches, lectures, activities in handicraft groups, choruses, entertainment, excursions, festive events, exchanges, collaborations with K.A.P.E.’s from Greece, social service, visits to institutes, etc.

Persons with disabilities and persons having completed their 60th year of age have the right to participate in these programs.

If you are an elder person and desire a pleasant environment with full care so as to have beautiful summer or winter holidays, the C.C.W. of Vasa Kilaniou will probably offer you the most ideal conditions.

For more information please ask Mr. Demetres Motis, Managing Personnel

Tel. 25942963, Fax 25942962

  • Pachna Police Station : 25816228
  • Omodos Health Center: 25421254
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