Welcome to the Gabriel’s House

(…because travel is an adventure…)

The owners are involved in bio-agriculture and and all the gardens fruit trees are growing

with organic methods. The visitors are free to taste and of the gardens products. The

visitors can also visit the owners' field and try more agricultural products there.

About the Kato Drys Villege

Where is Kato Drys located?

Kato Drys is located in the South-west of the city of Larnaca.

It borders with the villages of Pano Lefkara (4 km), Kato

Lefkara (4 km), and Vavla (6 km).

It stands in the middle of three cities. The distance from

Nicosia is 50 kilometres while from Larnaca and Limassol it is

only 36 kilometres. It also stands at a distance of 25 kilometres

from Governor's Beach.

It is built at an average altitude of 520 meters above sea level.

The hilly terrain of the village with its narrow, deep valleys is

fragmented by the "Agios Minas" river.

The origin of its name and a general history.There are two interpretations regarding how the

village got its name. The first one says that the village took its name from the many "Dryes"

(plural, means "oaks") that existed in it.

The traditional "Gabriel House" is

located between the two historic

churches of the village and the

Agricultural Museum. It is comprised

by to independent one-bedroom

Apartments with full facilities

(including kitchen with full equipment).

A second interpretation reports that -many years ago -there were two villages, Pano Drys

and Kato Drys (Upper and Lower Drys), a large oak-tree standing between the two villages.

The village existed under the same name during the Frank domination era and it is found

marked as Catodi. Some researchers believe it is possible that the village is identical with

the one reported by Georgios Voustronios as "the village Kakotrygitis", which -along with the

villages of Vavla, Kornokipos, Lympia, and Arsos of Mesaoria -had been given by the King of

Cyprus Jacob II to the nobleman Maurizio di Constanzo when he became the Admiral of

Cyprus. It is also reported that the village was granted to another nobleman, Fabricio

Gentile, father of Gabriel Gentile, who was a doctor of the King of Cyprus, Jacob II (1460-

1473), the village soon after returning to the King's estate -according to De Mas Latri.

The village's population.

The village's population in 1881 was 345, reaching 536 in 1946. After 1946, the urban pull

started affecting the village and its population constantly decreased as a result. Today the

village's population is 130 permanent inhabitants. In recent years the emigrants started to

recondition their houses or to build new ones. Many locals are buying old houses and are

restoring them. Kato Drys is slowly beginning to come to life again.

Occupations of the inhabitants.

.

Significant Figures from Kato Drys.

A very significant figure of Kato Drys is Saint Neofytos, born in Kato Drys in 1134. The

house in which he was born is extant until today.

According to tradition, between Kato Drys and Lefkara there was another settlement under

the name Apliki, which was abandoned by the end of the 18th century because of frequent

landslides.

The inhabitants are occupied with stockbreeding and

agriculture only to a limited degree.

In the past three years great tracts of land in the

village have been planted with various wine-making

varieties of vines, offering occupation to many of the

village's inhabitants.

There are plans for a modern winery in the near

future.

Furthermore, several inhabitants are also occupied

with the reconditioning and construction of buildings.

The famous embroideries of Lefkara are also made

here in Kato Drys

The parents of Saint Neofytos -always according to tradition -came from this village,

however moving to and inhabiting in Kato Drys where the Saint was born. The Saint's country

church is located on a hill of the village, where repairing now takes place after a donation by

Sister Anna. Another great figure from the village is the dear departed Argyros Stakis,

known as Reo Stakis, who also was Kato Drys's great benefactor. Argyros Stakis was born in

Kato Drys. He always aided the community whenever he was asked to do so.

The greatest projects done by the dear departed Argyros Stakis were the transfer of

water to the village's house and others. The last project before he closed his eyes was the

raising of the Community Buildings and the "Stakio" Health Centre in 2000.

The village's churches.

The village's big church is dedicated to Saint Charalambos and was constructed in 1897.

Saint Charalambos is the Community's Patron Saint. There are also three country churches in

the village, one of Saint Neophytos -on a hill in the south of the village - that was

constructed in 1923 after a donation by the community's inhabitants, one of Saint George,

and one of John the Baptist.

''Panagia Eleousa''

It is worth noting that above the icon-screen there are another two rows of icons, the so-

called “dodekaorto” (twelve-pieces), depicting the most important moments of the Lord’s life

such as the “Palm-bearer”, the “Ascension”, the “Resurrection”, and the “Raising of Lazarus”.

The Psalters are new, made out of wood but of a modern, more recent design. About 25

(Blessed Virgin Mary the Merciful) is the central

church of the village and liturgies take place in it

quite often. It is located at the east end of the

village in the midst of traditional houses. It is of

the Byzantine style with a dome, stone-made,

and relatively large for a community like that of

Kato Lefkara, having the comfort of

accommodating around 120 faithful. Externally it

has a large and comfortable yard, which is

slated. The church’s external wall is 120

centimeters thick. Internally the church is

whitewashed. We will not come across any

hagiographies but its woodcut icon-screen is

unique in its kind, bearing carvings with

representations of angels and lions.

years ago the church went through maintenance, the floor of the church’s interior was paved

with new slates and the surrounding walls were scraped. As they were digging the floor so as

to extract the old slates, they found earthenware jars at a depth of one meter below the

earth’s surface. They were placed there so as to reverberate the sound of one’s voice.

Furthermore, when they scraped the walls, again they found some small jars placed inside

the walls. One arrives at the conclusion that in this way they achieved the reverberation of

the Priest’s voice during Mass.The icon dedicated to “Panagia Eleousa” is very old and it is

kept at the church’s icon-screen. It celebrates in a festive manner on the 21st of November,

Her Holy Icon being carried about in procession and many faithful from the surrounding

region gathering in order to kneel before the Blessed Virgin and attend Mass.

Attractions

Agios Minas Connnvent (Monastery)

This 15th century convent near the village of Kato Drys consists of a church, cloisters and

other monastic buildings. Besides performing their religious rites, the nuns also paint icons.

The convent probably began as a Dominican establishment. The church is the common mix of

Byzantine and Gothic styles, with a pointed vault with traverse ribs and side porticos. On

the north and south walls are two large paintings of Agios Georgios and Agios Minas dated

1757. Eighteenth century monastic buildings surround the church, with cloisters to the

west.

Operating hours: Daily: 08:00 - 12:00, 15:00 - 18:00 (May - September), 08:00 - 12:00, 14:00 - 17:00 (October - April) The convent is open for group visits only from Monday to

Friday except: between 12:00 - 15:00 (May - September), between 12:00 - 14:00 (October -

April)

Entrance Fee: Free Pano Lefkara - Kato Drys (Linear) Nature Trail

This cross-country trail links Pano Lefkara and Kato Drys villages, connects with the Pano

Lefkara - Metamorfosis tou Sotiros Church trail and offers excellent views all around.

Category 3: High degree of difficulty. Route with difficult terrain such as sudden changes in gradient (uphill and/or downhill), course along particularly rough and/or slippery, and/or

narrow, and/or steep terrain. Suitable for adults in very good to excellent fitness levels.

Unsuitable for young children. Entrance Fee: Free

Estimated Duration: 1hour

Trip Length: 2 Km

Cycling -Biker's Paradise

Cyprus is a biker’s paradise and it’s not just because of the guaranteed sunshine. Granted

the excellent weather conditions prevailing on the island mean cycling can be enjoyed almost

throughout the year. And, unlike other European or Mediterranean countries, strong

headwinds are rare.

ATV Bikes

First class tourist attraction offering tailor made safaris/treks excitement and adventure

for all age groups in a dream location with stunning views, surrounded by mount, restaurants

and villages. Rent in Kato Drys.

Choirokoitia (Linear) Nature Trail

The trail leads to Choirokoitia archaeological site, one of the most important settlements of

the Neolithic period and a listed UNESCO World Heritage site. Category 2: Average degree of difficulty, suitable for adults in fair to good fitness levels. Sudden changes in gradient

(uphill and/or downhill), and/or course along narrow or rough terrain. Entrance Fee: Free

Estimated Duration:45 min Trip Length: 2 Km

Choirokoitia Neolithic Settlement

The ancient site of Choirokoitia dates back to the 6th millennium BC. It lies in the domain of

the village from which it takes its name in the Larnaka (Larnaca) district on the west bank of

the Maroni River overlooking the south coast, 8 kilometres from Kato Drys. Included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list since 1988, Choirokoitia is one of the best preserved

settlements of this period in Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean. Entrance Fee: 1,71 Euro

Local Agricultural Museum

of

Kato Drys (House of Gabriel and Eleni

Papachristoforou)

Traditional Apartment No.1

The separate apartment was originally built in1800 and was renovated in 2008, with a view of

the veranda.It includes TV, DVD player, Central Heating, WC-Bathroom, kitchen, living room

and air conditioning!It also features furniture and fixtures of the 19th century and early

20th century.

Facilities:WC-Shower, Living Room, Two single traditional beds or One double bed, Air

Conditioning / Central Heating, TV, DVD Player, Safe box, Linen and Towels are

provided, Fully Equipped Kitchen

Occupancy: 2 persons 1/4 (min/max)

View to: [Yard - Veranda]

For Book: www.gabrielhouse-cy.com/

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Traditional Apartment No.2

The separate apartment was originally built in 1800 and renovated in 2008, with a view of the

veranda. It features TV, DVD player, Central Heating, WC-Bathroom, kitchen, large living

room (42m2) and air conditioning!It also features furniture and fixtures of the 19th century

and early 20th century.

Facilities:WC-Shower, Living Room, Two single traditional beds or One double bed, Air

Conditioning / Central Heating, TV, DVD Player, Safe box, Linen and Towels are

provided, Fully Equipped Kitchen

Occupancy: 2 persons 1/6 (min/max)

View to: [Yard - Veranda]

For Book: www.gabrielhouse-cy.com/

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