Maronas General View.

Maronas

This village may have been another earthquake victim because it lies to the south of the Dhiarizos valley where Souskiou and Prastio are situated. However, there is no church, only a mosque, so it may have been abandoned by the Turkish Cypriots after the 1974 conflict.

Getting there

Maronas Mosque.

From the Paphos to Limassol motorway take the turnoff to Mandria then proceed along the old road for about two kilometres before taking the turn to Nikoklia. Bypass Nikoklia then drive through Fasoula, bypass Mamonia then drive through Ayios Yeoryious. Past Ayios Yeoryios is a right-hand turn signposted to Maronas. The concrete road soon becomes a vehicle track which after rain can become very slippery and muddy. A fork in the track seems to descend into a river-bed but soon you should cross a concrete bridge and if you can make it from the river-bed you will eventually arrive on a gravel and concrete track at Moronas.

Another route is to take the motorway but turn off for Kouklia. Head for Arkhimandrita then Dora. Before Dora Maronas is signposted to the left down a vehicle track. The trouble is there are no other route markers, but there are many junctions and tracks and you could end up anywhere.

Looking around

Maronas Pigs.

There is not much to see here - unless you like pigs, because the ruins are mainly inhabited by pigs. But beware. Pigs are big and fleet of foot and have large dirty teeth. There should be no problem unless the sows have young piglets in tow in which case they can become aggressive and should be approached with caution. Fortunately any boars, which may boast large vicious-looking tusks, will be locked up. You can wander around the ruins and the pigs looking for uneaten wild flowers but it won't take you very long. There is a mosque with a minaret and you can climb to the top of the Minaret and if you wish you can climb through a window into the mosque.

Theoretically there is a way out of Maronas towards Dora but, as often the case in Cyprus, the upward track becomes a myriad of minor tracks with no indication of the correct route. If you do not fancy an expedition into the unknown you can return the way you came. Then, on the way down the hill there are many wild flowers on each side of the road.