Xylofagou Name & History
There are two versions of how he got the name of the village. At first, the sea area is known since ancient times for its shipwrecks caused. This site who "ate the wooden boats' named Xylofaou.
In the second version, which is the most prevalent, the village embraced a dense forest. Once, appeared worm apparently insect, which devoured the tender shoots of trees and destroy them. The inhabitants named the worm that "xylofaon". With time prevailed called the village Xylofaou.
There are two versions of how he got the name of the village. At first, the sea area is known since ancient times for its shipwrecks caused. This site who "ate the wooden boats' named Xylofaou.
In the second version, which is the most prevalent, the village embraced a dense forest. Once, appeared worm apparently insect, which devoured the tender shoots of trees and destroy them. The inhabitants named the worm that "xylofaon". With time prevailed called the village Xylofaou.
Potamos Xylofagou
Based on the map of Cyprus made by the English in 1890, the area of Potamos mentioned by name "Bay of Larnaca" and stretches of
Cape Pyla to Cape Agia Napa. Potamos until 1960 was called "Potamos Xylofagou" and later given to the community of Liopetri.
Based on the map of Cyprus made by the English in 1890, the area of Potamos mentioned by name "Bay of Larnaca" and stretches of
Cape Pyla to Cape Agia Napa. Potamos until 1960 was called "Potamos Xylofagou" and later given to the community of Liopetri.
Pyrgos Xylofagou
Three kilometers south of Xylofagou, the highest point of the plateau of Cape Pyla, at an altitude of about 100 meters from the sea, is Pyrgos. The landscape is limestone and rough. The rocks descend steeply into the sea and not allow access.
The view from here is panoramic and majestic. The area particularly around the Tower, is rocky. Visitors who loves wild vegetation will enjoy here a wide variety of weeds and wild flowers, cyclamen, matsikorida will breathe pure oxygen and enjoy the fragrant scent of thyme, the soft pink of cyclamen.The tower is cylindrical with a circumference slightly bigger base and is built of hewn cubic limestone.
The Censola, Ambassador of the United States in Cyprus, around 1870 had the permission from the Sultan to excavate anywhere on the island. In an effort to discover the ancient city of "Thrones", which Stravon wrote about it (Greek geographer, philosopher, and historian – 64bc -23ad) and explored this region, initially believing that the ancient city was here in Cape Pylas. Excavations but did not find any sign that indicates the existence of the ancient city. The only identified were deep scars from the wagon wheels Roman era.
For Pyrgos Xylofagou (the Tower) Censola gives the information below:
"At the highest point of the hill is a large tower which the Pocoke describes like an ancient ruin, but a simple watchtower built before the reign of the Lusignan. The circumference at the base is 86 feet and the current height is 22.5 feet . At the height distinguishing the input traces. The lower part of the tower was built around the 18 feet where they made entry to be climbed by ladder. "
During the Second World War the tower was used by the British as an observatory for marking enemy ships, submarines and aircraft.
Three kilometers south of Xylofagou, the highest point of the plateau of Cape Pyla, at an altitude of about 100 meters from the sea, is Pyrgos. The landscape is limestone and rough. The rocks descend steeply into the sea and not allow access.
The view from here is panoramic and majestic. The area particularly around the Tower, is rocky. Visitors who loves wild vegetation will enjoy here a wide variety of weeds and wild flowers, cyclamen, matsikorida will breathe pure oxygen and enjoy the fragrant scent of thyme, the soft pink of cyclamen.The tower is cylindrical with a circumference slightly bigger base and is built of hewn cubic limestone.
The Censola, Ambassador of the United States in Cyprus, around 1870 had the permission from the Sultan to excavate anywhere on the island. In an effort to discover the ancient city of "Thrones", which Stravon wrote about it (Greek geographer, philosopher, and historian – 64bc -23ad) and explored this region, initially believing that the ancient city was here in Cape Pylas. Excavations but did not find any sign that indicates the existence of the ancient city. The only identified were deep scars from the wagon wheels Roman era.
For Pyrgos Xylofagou (the Tower) Censola gives the information below:
"At the highest point of the hill is a large tower which the Pocoke describes like an ancient ruin, but a simple watchtower built before the reign of the Lusignan. The circumference at the base is 86 feet and the current height is 22.5 feet . At the height distinguishing the input traces. The lower part of the tower was built around the 18 feet where they made entry to be climbed by ladder. "
During the Second World War the tower was used by the British as an observatory for marking enemy ships, submarines and aircraft.