Once the domain of medieval knights, today Kliru preserves traces of Byzantine chapels, legends of miracles and the memory of the traditional Cypriot way of life, which is not lost even near the capital.
Klirou is a village in the Nicosia region, approximately 24 km southwest of the capital. In the north, Kliru is connected by road with Malunda, in the south with Fikardou, and in the southwest with Kalo Chorio. In 2021, the population of Kliru was 1,895. The number of residents has increased steadily since the first census in 1881, when it was 362 people. The growth is explained by the village’s proximity to the capital, proximity to the Mitsero and Agrokipia mines, which provided local residents with work, and convenient road connections. The steady growth of the population is also associated with the resettlement of residents from neighboring mountain villages - Fikardu, Lasania and Gurri. A significant part of the working population today works in Nicosia.
Kliru has existed since the Frankish rule. In the 14th century it belonged to the famous medieval family of de Montolif. The name of the village comes from the Cypriot name for the turtle dove (“kliros” or “klorkon”).
Temples, caravanserai and military headquarters
There were several chapels in the village itself and its surroundings, but none of them have survived to this day. All the ancient icons from the old churches were brought to the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos Evangelistria. The iconostasis of this temple was assembled from three older ones, the earliest of which dates back to 1747.
One and a half kilometers from the village there is a small monastery of the Most Holy Theotokos Lagni. According to local legend, during the Ottoman rule, Turks from the neighboring village of Arediu came to the monastery, dismantled the main temple and took the construction beams for themselves. But on the way, such a strong hail suddenly began that all the animals loaded with stolen goods died.
The village has preserved an ancient caravanserai - an outstanding example of traditional architecture.
In 1989, the Department of Antiquities declared it a monument. The building was restored through the efforts of the village council and was inaugurated on October 15, 2021. There are traces of more ancient buildings in the Kliru area, but official excavations have not yet been carried out here.
During the Second World War, the British temporarily moved the headquarters of their military forces in Cyprus to Klira, and the area between Kliru and Malounda was used as an underground warehouse for military equipment.
Nature and agriculture
The village is located at an altitude of 445 meters above sea level, although the relief within its borders has strong differences: from 400 m in the north to 850 m in the south. The area is crossed by three tributaries of the Akaki River: Alupos, Kutis and Mirena. From a geological point of view, the territory of the village is dominated by soil of volcanic origin of the Troodos complex and more recent alluvial deposits. Brown soils developed on these rocks.
The average annual precipitation is relatively low - about 380 mm. However, thanks to irrigation from the nearby Kalo Chorio reservoir, as well as the use of local springs and wells, it was possible to expand the area of irrigated land. The main crops are grapes (mainly wine varieties), citrus fruits, fruits (figs, apricots, plums, peaches), almonds, cereals, legumes, forage plants and vegetables (potatoes, melons, cabbage). However, there are also many barren, uncultivated areas where wild vegetation grows - pines, shrubs, myrtle and thyme. Livestock farming in the village is also relatively developed. Traditional occupations of the villagers included basket weaving and pottery. Part of the village has retained its traditional folk architecture, although many new houses have been built nearby.
The text was prepared based on materials from “Polignosi”
