Nord news

4
L
ania, is a charming restored village
just 20 minutes away from the
bustling seaside of Limassol, yet a
world away from modern life.
Like most of the villages in the south
sides of Troodos Mountains, Lania originated in
the feudal times, around 500 to 600 years ago.
The limestone soil of the area around the
village is ideal for the cultivation of grapes with a
very high degree of sugar content. That's what
seems to have attracted Knights and Monks in
the 14th Century to built the first habitations.
Kolossi was the headquarters of a number of
Estates in the region and produced excellent
wines. In their search for a suitable area to
produce even better quality of the
"Commandaria Wine" they moved from Kolossi
and the area around Kolossi castle and built the
first habitations in the Lania area.
This sweet red wine was produced on the
Island from the very early days but actually took
its name from "Grand Commandaria" the
headquarters of the Kingdom. On a map dating
back to 1400 AD the area around the village is
marked as "Nova Lana", clearly connecting the
village with "Lana" the area around Kolossi Castle.
Throughout the centuries Commandaria
NORD NEWS Winter 2006
Lania ... a “ Tra
was produced in the seventeen wineries of the
village. "Linos" is the name of those small family
owned units and you can still see the last one left,
situated in the middle of the village. In these
sophisticated work shops the grapes that were
dried under the sun - were squashed first and
then bundled under the double lever and covered
by heavy, oak presses. Opposite there was a
round shaped rock with a hole in the middle.
This rock was lifted up by turning a spindle so
that the lever is brought down pressing the
grapes. The grape must flowed in an earthenware
jar placed on the ground. The production was
around 200 tons in the 19th century, a huge
quantity considering the population of the
village. Commandaria was always a product for
export and was sold even to France.
The inhabitants of the village are
occupied even these days with the cultivation of
grapes and the existence of this village was always
connected to the production of wine.
Today, Lania is a quiet place with one
hundred or so local residents and almost the
same number of British ex-patriots who enjoy
this beautiful place after their retirement.
Almost all houses have been restored
with stone and wood blending together in
harmony. The restoration of old houses started