Region of Solea

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Solea or Solia is a mountainous region in the Nicosia District, north of the Troodos massif. It occupies two valleys, Klaros / Karyotis and Atsas. Its altitude range is between 300 and 1300 m high which gives it a very pleasant climate in summer. It includes 18 villas.

Toponymy and history

The name Solea or Solia is derived from the ancient kingdom of Soloi. This was created in it and destroyed by the Arabs in it.

The kingdom of Soloi was on the north-west coast of Cyprus, with its capital in Morphou Bay. The city of Soloi (35 ° 8.431 'N - 32 ° 48.797' E) was one of the ten citizens - state of Cyprus. It is located on the top of a hill overlooking one of the most fertile areas in the north-west of Cyprus. The fertile valley with the Potamos tou Kambou River is located along the west side of the height. The site was studied by the Swedish Archaeological Expedition to Cyprus in 1927.

The city of Solea was also the seat of the bishopric of Solos from the time of San Auxibius, in the early times of Christianity.

After the dissolution of the kingdom, the capital was moved about seven kilometres in the direction of the Skouriotissa mines, to a place not precisely located.

Localities of the Region of Solea

1. Del Valle de Klaros:

Agios Georgios.
Agios Epiphanios.
Agios Nikolaos.
Evrychou.
Flasou.
Galata.
Kalianna.
Katydata.
Kakopetria.
Korakou.
Linou.
Sinaoros.
Thembria.
Skouriotissa.

2. From the valley of Atsas

Spilia.
Kourdali.
Agios Theodoros.
Petra.

The peoples of Agios Nikolaos and Agios Georgios were inhabited by the Greek Cypriots and were abandoned in 1974 in the face of the Turkish advance on the occasion of Operation Atila.

The same was true of Petra who had been abandoned by the Turkish Cypriots and, in 1974, was abandoned by the Greek Cypriots. At present, because of its proximity to the buffer zone, it is occupied by Turkish military.

Consequences of the 1974 Turkish Invasion

The region was mutilated by the events of 1974. Three villages were abandoned. The connection to the sea and the town of Morphou and its surrounding valley were cut off. The company Cyprus Mines Corporation closed just like the mines it worked. Subsequently, the Skouriotissa mine resumed its activities. However, the greatest tragedy was the people killed by the struggle and displacement of people. While the residents of the area in 1974 were 7 500, now it's only 5000.

Vegetation

There are dense forests in the region. The main tree is pine, declared a national tree of Cyprus. The main bush is the gold oak that has been declared the national bush of Cyprus. On the banks of the rivers is the cyclamen, also declared national flower. In addition, 127 indigenous plant species are found in Solea.

Tourism

Tourism is one of the region's main economic activities. Tourists use the three main routes leading to the Tro mountains