Information on Sotira Village
Sotira Village Photo © CyprusExpat.co.uk
Sotira Village is located in the Limassol District of Cyprus and is close to Souni, Kantou and Paramali villages. A large area of Sotira village also lies in the British Sovereign Base Areas.
The village is not to be confused with the village of Sotira, which lies in the Famagusta District of Cyprus.
Sotira Village Photo © CyprusExpat.co.uk
The current population of the village is around 200 people. The city of Limassol is close by and many of the young people of the village work and study there, commuting on a daily basis.
The village was founded in the Byzantine period and was a fiefdom during the Frankish rule, with pottery found in the area dating back to an even earlier period.
Sotira Village Photo © CyprusExpat.co.uk
The general belief is that Sotira village was named after the saint Chrysosotira, which also happens to be the name of the main church in the village.
Sotira Village Photo © CyprusExpat.co.uk
The village is built at an average height of 270 metres above sea level. The altitude is ideal for olive trees, which allows the village to produce olives and olive oil. Sotira village is also well known for it’s production of halloumi, anari and resi.
Sotira Village Photo © CyprusExpat.co.uk
The village square has original machinery used in the production of olive oil, in the form of a traditional old Cyprus olive press. There are also 2 stone grinding wheels.
Sotira Village is spread over a large area and there are many old stone villages houses still in use today. The village does not have many hills, and has wide roads. This makes it very easy to move around the village, a real benefit for the older villagers.
Sotira Village Photo © CyprusExpat.co.uk
The Sotira Neolithic Settlement remains are to be found on a hill on the outskirts of the village.