Aghia Marina’s municipal park brings together a holy-water fountain, a playground, a kiosk and numerous benches. It is also home to a monument with marble and copper busts dedicated to Andreas Moditis and Kypros Petsas. Both lost their lives in the war in 1974. The municipality holds annual commemorations for the heroes, laying wreaths of honour. The dedication names the two men, while the year marks the historical context of their commemoration.

Church and Traditional Houses

The old church of Agia Marina is a small stone church with a triangular roof and a stone bell tower. It is designated as cultural heritage; the Cypriot Museum took over its preservation. The designation and the assumed responsibility for its preservation refer to two different aspects: the classification of the building and responsibility for safeguarding it. The foundations of the older houses are made of stone, with adobe walls above them. Most houses have flat roofs made of earth and the waterproof material “konnos”. This allows two different building methods to be compared: the stone church and the layers of materials used in older homes.

Easter Traditions

Easter traditions include the gathering of residents in Nefka, where they came together for traditional games such as triappithkia, ziziros, potamos, sika and kattomougias. In Agia Marina, many of the traditions and all these games are revived every Easter. Easter is therefore a clear point of reference if you are interested in local traditions. If Easter traditions determine when you travel, check the specific event dates in advance.

Landscape Highlights

The forest forms the natural southern boundary of Agia Marina Xyliatou. Two old olive trees in the Agios Kyriacos area, also called Ay Tzirkakos, are known as “the olive trees of Kattimeritzis”. Deposits of old copper slag are found in the Maurovouni and Ai Tzirkakos areas. The municipality designates the area at the Agia Marina Dam, just outside the village centre, as a picnic site. East of the village of Agia Marina stands an old stone watermill, considered the first watermill in the Peristerona Valley. These landmarks have clearly distinct locations: the dam is just outside the centre, the mill is east of the village, and the forest marks its southern boundary.

Exploring by Bike

Agia Marina has narrow, winding roads. Two named cycling routes pass through the area in different ways. On its return to Lefkosia, the Main 3 – Lefkosia (Nicosia)–Solea Valley cycling route passes through Agia Marina Xyliatou. The Lefkosia 3 – Aderfoi Forest–Asinou route runs from Kato Moni towards Agia Marina and continues through the village. The routes’ different paths can help you choose: one passes through the area on the return to Lefkosia, while the other continues through the village from Kato Moni. Check current route conditions before setting out on a cycling trip.

Discover more destinations: Ghaziveran, Egkomi, Kalopanayiotis, Galata, Kampia, Pedhoulas, Aglantzia, Kakopetria

For the overview of the wider region: Nicosia.