Souskiou

Souskiou. General View
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One story is that this village was abandoned after being devastated by an earthquake. Another story is that the Greek and Turkish Cypriots did not get on with each other so the Greek Cypriots moved down to Kouklia then of course the Turkish Cypriots were evacuated after the conflict of 1974. The village is now sparsely inhabited by goatherds and their flocks.

 

 

 

Souskiou Church.
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Getting there

From the Paphos to Limassol motorway take the turnoff to Kouklia then follow the signs to Arkimandrita. You will bypass Kouklia but at a fork in the road do not drive into the village but keep right. After about three kilometres turn left on a track signposted Souskiou. As the track swings to the right at the top of a hill you will see the Dhiarizos valley below then as you descend you will see the village.

An alternative route is to take the Mandria turnoff from the motorway then proceed down the old road past a filling station. Take the turnoff to Nikoklia, bypass the village then pass a small hotel on the right. Soon you will see Souskiou across the river then look for a old stone built mill on the right. Turn right down a track immediately before this then cross the bridge and drive up into the village. This track is not an advisable route in wet weather.

Looking around

Souskiou Mosque.
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Which ever way you approach the village your best starting point is probably the white and green mosque (without a minaret). This is well preserved but is usually locked. From here stroll through the village on the old cobbled streets. The story is that the streets were laid by the inhabitants and this absolved them from paying tax to the government. Many of the houses were constructed of mud bricks and although the roofs have long ago collapsed many of the walls are still standing. There are quite a few British-built vrisis (water taps with sinks) some of which have dates written on them with marker pen. This indicates that the area has been sprayed against mosquitoes. There is church with an apse, again green and white and well preserved but again fenced off and locked.

Souskiou Mud Walls.
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Considering the number of goats and sheep there are a surprising number of wild flowers in the village and the route to it - Anemone, Ranunculus asiaticus (Turban Buttercup), Valerian …, to name a few.

If you wish to visit a small archaeological site of ancient graves drive up the track towards the top of the ridge (If you arrived from Kouklia you will be retracing your steps). On the ridge at a left-hand bend is a gravel and grass track to the right and along the ridge. On a rock formation on the left you will find the rock-cut graves then further along the track on the left opposite a few carob trees are other graves. You can't really drive much further and the graves were excavated a long time ago and are now largely overgrown but the views from here are very good and there is an abundance of wild flowers.