Peyia

Locality Name:	Peyia or Pegeia (Greek  Πέγεια)
Mayor:	Neophytos Akoursiotis
Population (2001):	2362
Postal code:	8560
COMMUNITY COUNCIL OF PEYIA Fountain of Pegeia’s Women Square 8560, Pegeia
Tel:	26621113
Fax:	26621571
Email:	pegeiamu@cytanet.com.cy
Website:	pegeiamunicipality.org

It is thought that Peyia’s name may have originated from a small local harbour called ‘Bahia’ by the venetians. Peyia started life as a tiny rural village with its stone built houses and narrow cobbled streets around a church nestling on a beautiful hilltop overlooking the sea about 4km in land from the sandy beach of Coral Bay which is approximately 15km north-west of Paphos. Villagers in previous times collected their water from the village spring or ‘vrisi’ which can be found in the picturesque village square. . It was on these occasions that the villagers came together notably the young men who would congregate and watch the young girls gathering water in there red clay pitchers. Legend has it that by drinking water from the spring enhanced the girl’s beauty. Several songs have been written about the ‘vrisi’ one of which is still sung today “spring of Peyia women’. The spring can still be seen although it is rarely visited apart from newly weds. Peyia is a popular venue for getting married    

Agios Georgios is situated around 8km north of west Peyia. Is home to a tiny settlement with a few isolated households, but can boast a hotel, cafés and restaurants and a beautiful modern whitewashed church which has been dedicated to St George. and admired by the residents of surrounding villages. Below the area on which the church stands there is a fishing-shelter with a few colorful boats and close by a small beach used in the summer months by swimmers and sunbathers. Opposite (approx 300 meters) is the picturesque isle of Geronisos or isle of Agios Georgios as it is better known.  

The Akamas Peninsula with its breath taking natural beauty, wild landscape, deep gores and beautiful sandy bays, is the most westerly point of Cyprus and was named after the son of Theses who was a hero of the Trojan wars and founder of the Kingdom of Soli. The area is of great biodiversity environmentally and ecological significance. The Akamas is home to 530 plant species which is a third of the total in Cyprus, of which 126 of these are endemic to Cyprus. Because it a wild place and its inaccessibility it remains mostly unspoilt. Lara Bay is famous for in its turtle breeding, and is home to two endangered species the green turtle and the Hawks-bill turtle.  

The park includes an amazing collection of birds a delight of colour and size which include parrots, eagles, flamingoes etc. The Paphos bird park is rated in the top three in Europe not only for its size and variety of birds but also for the preservation and improvement of wildlife including reptiles, giant turtles, deer, moufflons, antelope, giraffes, many types of ostriches too name but a few, these can all be seen by using the stone built pathways provided. These birds and animals live in this beautiful environment surrounded by fountains and lakes, with its tropical foliage making this a spectacular venue which can be enjoyed by all. Weddings can also be arranged at this spectacular location.   Coral Bay   Coral Bay a beautiful sandy beach considered the best beach (even those that have access to beaches at there hotels prefer to use this beach) on the west side of the island, and is only a short drive north from Paphos where you will pass banana plantations and vineyards on route. Taverns on the beaches serve simple dishes; there is also provision for hiring out of water sports equipment On the northern edge of the bay which is a tiny peninsula with cliffs on three sides, the ancient settlement of maa-palaiokastro was unearthed dating back to the 13th century B.C. The museum of Mycenaean settlement has been recently set up, in the area, exhibiting Mycenaean finds and various charts signifying internal trade throughout that period.