Lania is one of the most beautiful villages for those exploring the mountainous regions of Cyprus. It is here that you will get an idea of the traditions of rural architecture in Cyprus: houses with balconies and large wooden doors, covered with tiles, greenery and the scent of gardens, paved with stones quarried in the same area, streets.
If you believe the legends, the village owes its name to the name of the daughter of the god Dionysus - Lania. Indeed, in this village the traditions of viticulture and winemaking are honored. In 1822, the Linos grape press appeared in Lania, and the legends of Ancient Cyprus make it clear that there have always been traditions of making good wine here.
In just 30 years, the small path that connected the village with civilization turned into good roads. Now there is a place to spend the night for guests traveling from Limassol. Many of the famous and not so famous writers and artists who have been here fell in love with these places. Peace and quiet guarantee inspiration, picturesque landscapes just want to be transferred to canvas. Behind the scenes one can often hear about Lania that this is a village of artists. In one of the oldest houses of Lania lives the British artist Michael Owen, who became famous in the 70s of the last century, having created a gallery of unusual paintings. The originals of his creation are revered all over the world, and are kept in private collections, including in our country. Lania is also home to artist Patrick Thompson's studio, which opened its doors to guests in 1992.
Lania's taverns are delicious homemade food, talk about beekeeping, growing and harvesting fruits and nuts. But the main topic of conversation at the table is winemaking. The villagers often talk about the years when King Henry of France himself came to Cyprus to make up for the loss of plantations in his homeland from local vineyards. Lania and 9 other villages in the region are the main producers of Cypriot dessert wine, which is stored in the main factories of the island. You can taste this tart drink, aged in oak barrels, which received the name "nama" in ancient times, in any tavern in Lania.
The main Orthodox shrine of the village is a white stone church with a perfectly preserved 16th century basilica. The icon of the Virgin Mary Valanas is kept here, which scientists date back to the 12th century. It was found on the ruins of an ancient monastery, destroyed in the 16th century by the Turks during the conquest of Cyprus. There were also found 4 trays from Russia with scenes from the Old Testament.
