Information on Sanida Village
Sanida Village Photo © CyprusExpat.co.uk
Sanida Village is situated in the Limassol District of Cyprus.
The village lies close to Kellaki, Vasa Kellakiou, Klonari, Vikla and Prasteio Kellakiou villages. The nearest major city to Sanida Village is Limassol.
Sanida Village Photo © CyprusExpat.co.uk
The village is built on the slopes of the Troodos Mountains at a height of 740 metres above sea level. The height of the village means that it benefits from having a refreshing cool climate in the summer, and in the winter, frost and some snowfall is quite a common occurrence.
Sanida Village Photo © CyprusExpat.co.uk
Sanida Village, as with many villages in Cyprus, has suffered from major depopulation, with many of the residents of the village leaving, seeking work and further education in the surrounding villages or Limassol. The population of the village currently stands at 55 permanent residents. The close proximity and well maintained road to Limassol also allows for a daily commute to the city, which helps to keep some of the residents in the village. The village is very busy at the weekends, school holidays, public holidays and during festivals.
Sanida Village Photo © CyprusExpat.co.uk
The village dates back to middle ages and the location of the village was not the original site of the village. A little further down the mountain slope was the location of the original site of the village, now called Palio Sanida Chorio, (Old Sanida Village). The village was devastated by the cholera outbreak that was spreading in Cyprus at the time and the village population was decimated, until only a handful were left. The remaining survivors decided to burn the remnants of the village, which helped kill the deadly disease and moved to a new location, the present site of Sanida Village.
Sanida Village Photo © CyprusExpat.co.uk
There are many legends as to how Sanida Village came by it’s name. The most popular, and most believable, is the villagers were experts in working with wood, as the village was surrounded by pine tree forests. A very popular wood product was used in the baking of bread, a long plank with many shallow hollows carved out. The plank was used to transport the bread to the ovens, and for the bread to cool down after it was baked. The plank was called a Psoumi Sanidi (Bread Plank). The village became well known for the Sanidia (Plural). Over time the village became known as Sanida.
Sanida Village has benefited from a good water supply through the ages, and the villagers cultivated vines, olive trees, almond trees and carob trees. The grapes were processed into wine in the local winery. Zivania was also produced, but this was mainly produced in the village homes. The village also produces a small amount of fruit, mainly plums, cherries and mandarins.
Metamorphosis Tou Sotira Church In Sanida Village Photo © CyprusExpat.co.uk
The village has a dominant feature that can be seen from many kilometres away, the Metamorphosis Tou Sotira (The Transformation Of The Saviour). The church is also called Agios Soteris. The original church was built in Old Sanida Village and was rebuilt in 1840 in the new village location. In 1913, major renovations to the church were needed, and an extension was added, to accommodate the increasing population of the village.