Tucked away between the rolling hills of Limassol and Paphos lies Trozena, a tiny settlement that has always felt like a world apart. Perched on a gentle slope 455 meters above sea level, it’s surrounded by mountains, forests and a river gorge with flowing water.
For generations, this little corner of Cyprus was a place where Greek‑Cypriot families tilled the land, tended their vines and olives, and raised their animals alongside their Turkish‑Cypriot neighbors in nearby Gerovasa. Life here moved at the pace of the seasons, and harmony was the order of the day.
If you trace Trozena’s roots back to the 19th century, you’ll find it listed as a “sifliki” – a large estate farmed under the Ottoman system. By 1881, the first settlers had arrived, and over the next decades their numbers grew modestly. At its peak in the mid‑20th century, the village counted just over 130 residents. It was always small, but it was vibrant in its own way: gardens were tended, bread was baked, and stories were shared under the shade of old plane trees.
Then the modern world came knocking. In the 1960s, the population began to dwindle. Nearby Gerovasa emptied out in the inter‑communal strife of 1963–64, and although relations remained good, Trozena’s own residents faced mounting challenges.
The village never received electricity, the roads remained rough, and the lure of better opportunities in the cities grew stronger. By the 1980s and ’90s, urbanization had taken its toll. Families moved to larger towns, children sought schooling elsewhere, and little by little the homes fell silent.
By 2001, Trozena’s last three inhabitants had locked their doors and left, leaving behind only memories and whispering walls.
What remains today is both haunting and beautiful. The Church of Saint George, built in 1885 and lovingly restored in 1983, still stands watch over the valley. A crystal‑clear spring bubbles up at the village entrance, its waters feeding a seasonal waterfall that cascades down the cliffs each winter.
Between Trozena and Gerovasa spans an extraordinary iron bridge – a Bailey bridge designed by a British engineer in the late 1950s, once used by EOKA fighters. Its metal frame and wooden deck still offer safe passage, a link to the outside world and a testament to human ingenuity.
Wandering through the empty streets, you’ll see courtyards overtaken by wildflowers, pottery left on doorsteps as if the owners might return at any moment, and stone walls slowly yielding to nature. Yet there is hope here, too.
We’re bringing Trozena back to life!
We envision a new Trozena, a place where visitors from near and far come together to enjoy life’s simple pleasures. Here, the past meets the present, and the spirit of the village continues to thrive. We aim to honor Trozena’s rich history while creating a shared future, where every visitor adds a new chapter to its story. Stay tuned.