he first thing that you feel once you arrive at Askas is the change of climate. The climate is dry and cool and the air is clean. It can be seen from far away that the nature in this region has created the whole landscape with love and high spirits.
Advancing toward the village, you will face the “Pernia” restaurant and the park that is dedicated to the community’s missing Person, as well as the Missing Person’s “Christakis Ioannou” monument. Here you can enjoy your food, having the open horizon in the north as background on one side, extending up to Pentadaktylos, and -in the west -an endless range of hazels, transferring you into a magical world with their dark, green colour.
Walking under the thick leafage of the hazels and amongst the gargling, running waters, you will be infatuated with the singing of the nightingales, the swallows, and the other birds; you will feel the calmness and the serenity that only nature can give to you.
Looking towards the village, you will face the Elementary School, which seems as a Parthenon that towers over the village.
Entering the village from the east side, you can visit the church of “Timios Prodromos” (Holy Baptist). The church was built in the 14th century. It is made in the style of a Basilica and in it you can admire its gold-plated icon screen and its remarkable hagiographies (icons of saints). Its steeple is made of chiselled stone and the bell is considered as one of the three most beautiful bells in Cyprus.
In the church’s yard stands the village’s reconditioned, old olive-press. Here you can observe the way with which our ancestors produced oil.
Moving on westerly toward the village, you find the CTO plaza. Here you can rest in the shadow of the towering hazels and enjoy nature in all its glory.
Further on you will come across the old Police Station, which is also reconditioned. It is one of the oldest Police Stations in Cyprus, a sign that the village had several inhabitants in previous times.
Arriving at the village’s centre, you will find the old fountain of the village. It lies next to the renovated House of Evgenia that operates in the context of Agro-tourism. Here you can admire the exquisite architecture of this building and -if you want -spend the night there. The hospitality in this house is one of a kind.
In the village’s upper side there is the coffee-house where one can rest from walking and enjoy his / her coffee. Next to it stands the village’s supermarket.
Ascending the paved, narrow alleys and admiring the unique and remarkable architecture of the village, you come across the village’s second church, which is dedicated to the Holy Cross (“Timios Stavros”). The church was made in the 11th century in the Basilica style and the unique icon of St. George can be found extant in the middle of the Sanctuary.
Next to the church stands the first Girl’s School to ever operate in Cyprus. It now is reconditioned and houses the Community Council’s offices and the community’s Health Centre. Between the Church and the Girl’s School lies the paved plaza of the Holy Cross.
A bit further outside the village you will find the country church of “Agia Christina”, which was later renamed as church of “Agia Paraskevi”. It is a very old country church and it is partly illustrated. Next to it is the excursion site of “Agia Paraskevi”. The entire village gathers there on Easter Tuesday for the roasting of the “souvla” (meat skewer).
At the village’s lower end there is the oldest spring, virtually ridden with the green of the trees. Its ice-cold water refreshes the visitor.
Ending our little tour in Askas, you will depart loaded with all sorts of emotions. The serenity that can be found in the area, the amazing climate, the green of the trees with which nature has so masterly decorated the area with, the village’s unique folkloric architecture, and the inhabitants’ hospitality will -forever -remain engraved in your memory.
