At the north-west side of Limassol there is a tasteful region of villages called ‘Krasochoria’, meaning ‘wine villages’. This area is known, as you might have already guessed it, for the many vineyards. But the real treasure is what in underneath: the rock. Equally famous this part of the island is known for the rock that is extracted. It is called ‘Kivides rock’ and its known use is in decoration. Yet until this past century it was the main construction material for the traditional houses and the astonishing dry walls.
Kivides is the name of one of villages and even now hosts 15 quarries. The rocks are sea-made and called sedimentary rocks mainly including marls and chalks. No wonder locals can find fossils while cultivating their vineyards. The area used to be under sea millions of years ago and the dead organisms in the sea ended up creating the rocks that equally give fossils and wine.
This coexisting relation of local geology and local life are carved in the landscape as you travel in this part of rural Cyprus. Vineyards bordered with dry walls to reduce erosion are a picture-perfect scenery. Wine villages of Limassol district are wine tasting destination worth visiting. They are a mixture of fine wine and Earth history mystery. And so the geological tail is unfolding in every bottle of wine you will taste.
What is even more appealing the villages retain their authentic identity. The local people keep producing wine and wine products (like ‘sousouko’) but and rocks fill with fossils. They are the perfect example of local traditions created by locals’ dependence on the earth beneath them.
Discover the wine villages of Limassol over a wine tasting geotour. Book ‘The Fossil Rock's Wine Tour’ on Oreen app.
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