Cultural Patterns of Athienou

Athienou is situated between Nicosia and Larnaka. Administratively it belongs to the Larnaka District. The population today numbers 6.500 people. Its inhabitants are traditionally occupied in agriculture and stockbreeding. They produce large quantities of grain and dairy products.

Watch the women hand making ‘Venice’ and Needle Lace: The origin of the lace possibly dates back to the 16th century and to the influences of the ‘reticella’ lace of the Venetian nobility, who lived in various places in Cyprus at the time. Towards the end of the 19th century and in the 20th century it evolved into a kind of dowry item and mainly a commodity by the Athienou and Lefkara lace-merchants.

It was revived in 2002 as an element of the country’s cultural heritage, with the establishment of a needle-lace group by the Constantinelenion Adult Centre of Athienou. In 2015, the Venice and Needle Lace (Oloploumes) have also been inscribed in the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Cyprus Register.

The Museum was inaugurated in 2009. It is housed in the Kallinikeio Municipal Hall. Guided tour of the Museum Collections: The Archaeological Collection consists of ceramic vessels, lamps, limestone, terracotta statues and other works of art from excavations in the Athienou area. The Collection of Ecclesiastical Art presents Byzantine and Renaissance art icons of the monk Kallinikos Stavrovouniotis and the Kepola brothers. The Ethnographic Collection presents the life of Athienou in the 20th century through objects and photographic materials.

The Family house of the famous monk Kallinikos Stavrovouniotis. The restored house and creamery were inaugurated in 2013 by the Municipality of Athienou. A guided tour and demonstration of traditional dairy products follows. Free time for shopping local traditional products at a beautiful Municipal shop…

A guided tour to the restored Traditional Flourmill ‘‘Mylos tou Kayiafou’’ and bread making demonstration couldn’t be missing from this excursion. The mill presents the agricultural life of Athienou, the traditional profession of Mesaoria plain. One can see the three mills and the machine as they were used years ago. In the yard there is the old oven built by hand with mud and straw.

Besides dairy products and bread, Athienou is also famous for its traditional ‘Kleftiko’. Lamb served in earthenware pots, cooked in traditional stone ovens. Time for a culinary demonstration!