8 reasons to head to Farmakas on the weekend
Take a break and escape the city, with a trip to the village of Farmakas in the Nicosia district on the weekend.
This village has existed in Cyprus since Byzantine times, and is considered to be the tenth tallest town in the Troodos area. The town’s name comes from the first person to live in the area, who was believed to be a medicine man (farmaka is the Greek word for medicine). It is thought that the man used to make various remedies using herbs from the area.
During your visit, you will want to stop at the main church in the village named after the saint Irene. It located in the town’s centre near the town’s coffee shop. The church is stone built, and is in a basilica style with a dome.
While you are in Farmakas, make sure to try the local produce, as it is all grown there, and the town is known for the various fruits and vegetables it produces. In October the town also hosts a festival for the tomatoes produced there.
The town is also known for the quality water and wine produced there. The winery Saint Irene should also be one of your stops.
The winery produces local varieties, and it focuses on the production of quality wines with an authentic Cypriot character.
For food, you will want to stop in the restaurant Ierambelos, which is part of the Saint Irene winery, and creates dishes that are paired with the varieties produced there. The restaurant is known for the Greek and Cypriot cuisine it produces.
There is an a la carte menu available on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, while on Sunday they have a buffet. For reservations call +357 22 515515.
The village has other food options as well, including the café-restaurant Farmakas (+357 99 403069), which has a children’s play area.
During your stay, pick some of the spoon sweets produced by Eleni Antoniou Vasiliou, who was awarded by the government for her traditional desserts in 2009. She makes all types of spoon sweets including, walnuts, cherries, watermelons, bitter oranges, pears, bergamot and orange.
To stay, you will want to book a place a Farmakas Living. This inn is made up of homes that have been renovated and turned into suites for rent. They all offer breakfast, and are located in the centre of the village. There are five apartments available for a great escape.
