Secrets of the Mediterranean: Pano Lefkara, Cyprus

Mathias Falcone takes us on a visual tour around the beautiful Cypriot village of Pano Lefkara.

Located in inland Cyprus, about 650m above sea level, the village of Pano Lefkara has been situated right here for several centuries, observing Byzantine, Venetian, British and Ottoman Empires occupying mainland Cyprus one after another until recent independence days. Today, further to a 20th Century of political struggles and local migrations, Lefkara counts 1,000 stable inhabitants and has been put on the touristic map thanks to its incredibly well-preserved heritage.

The village is known for its lace (‘Lefkarito’) and silver work. The former is
UNESCO-recognised and gained huge popularity in East Asia, resulting in more tourist streams from Japan and surroundings than anywhere else. What’s most beautiful, silversmiths and craftspeople can be seen at work while strolling around the typical narrow streets forming the village. Windows are kept wide open and shop owners sits outside their stores on stools and benches, like in the old days.

Approach everyone freely: the locals are incredibly friendly and will gladly tell you as much as you wish about history and secrets of their home village and products.

No surprise if some house doors are open too: you can easily find yourself invited for a coffee by a local chilling by the porch. Cat lovers have one more reason to visit: the village counts more felines than people, like the rest of Cyprus, and they contribute a lot to the quiet atmosphere one can breath around town.

Pano Lefakara in Cyprus, lady working outside her shop
Lady working in her lace shop in Pano Lefkara, Cyprus
Typical Lefkara lace, known as Lefkarito
Silver work from Lefkara in Cyprus

Walking through Lekfara is pure sensory pleasure: cobblestones, original
architecture and pastel colours make a visitor’s experience unique regardless of how many Mediterranean towns one has already visited. History and heritage are embedded into brick walls and shapes defining every building, from the smallest home to museum and churches. Nothing has been staged or prepared for visitors: things are as they’ve always been, built and preserved over generations.

A street in Pano Lefkara, Cyprus
Cats are all around in Pano Lefkara

Check out more inspirational travel photography by Mathias over at his website, MathiasFalcone.com.

And, of course, discover more travel destinations right here.


48 Hours in Bilbao

48 Hours in Marrakesh

Wes Anderson Travel

Share this post

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Keep reading for inspiration travel advice, tips and guides to global destinations

Famed as the destination of eloping lovers, Gretna Green has an enchanting history as one of the most romantic getaways in the UK. This small town on the Scottish border with England was once the Las Vegas of its day (in terms of marriage vows, not the casinos). Young English lovers would run to the […]

Have you ever stuck yourself looking at the sky, thinking what it might be like to soar through the air...

Travel insurance is a crucial component of trip preparation, offering protection and peace of mind in case of unforeseen circumstances....

Japan is a fascinating country known for its rich culture, stunning landscapes and advanced technology. For those evaluating a long-term...

Popular Travel Articles

A small collection of the most popular articles on GoneTravelling.co.uk

The post Brexit landscape might appear tricky to navigate for UK residents. But, in fact it’s still easy to emigate...

Travelling light usually means carry on bags only. To avoid problems with security, make sure you know what you can...

Not all of us can go travelling for an indefinite period, despite what many travel bloggers tell us. A one...

Money matters are one of the major concerns for travellers, long term, short term and regular. There are many prepaid travel cards available now, but which is best? Taking a good prepaid travel money card is one of the most secure ways of looking after your travel finances. Done right, you’ll have low currency fees, […]