ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

Xylofagou Village

Located on the northern flank of a hill, near the A3 motorway between Dhekelia (Larnaca) and Paralimni / Agia Napa, lies the Greek-Cypriot village of Xylofagou. This sprawling village is part of an area known as "Kokkinochoria" ("the red villages"), characterized by its agricultural landscape.

The name of the village has two versions, both rooted in local folklore. According to one account, the maritime area surrounding Xylofagou was notorious for shipwrecks since ancient times. The second version tells a story about an insect that devoured the tender shoots of trees, leading the inhabitants to call it "xylofaon" and eventually giving them the name Xylofagu.

Geographically, Xylofagou boasts ten kilometres of coastline with beautiful sandy beaches, popular among locals and foreign visitors during the summer. The village is also home to a church dedicated to Santa María (Panagias), built in a rocky area surrounded by landscaped gardens near the sea. Visitors can explore Cape Pyla after visiting the church.

However, the coast of Xylofagou is characterized by its rugged and rocky terrain, with limited tourist infrastructure. The eastern half of the coastline features a fish farm, while the western part has a quarry located far from the shore. A large number of caves are scattered along the cliffs, some accessible only through narrow passages.

The village's population varies across sources: according to the statistical service of the Republic of Cyprus in 2001, Xylofagou had approximately 4,957 inhabitants; by 2011, this number had risen to around 6,231. Despite its growth, the village remains relatively off-the-beaten-path for tourists.

Xylofagou's location near the British military base Dhekelia and the Cypriot district Famagusta adds a layer of complexity to its geography. The town is situated in Larnaca District, with its western border approximately 2 kilometres from the coast.