Lefkara is a village of the Larnaca district and it is located about 34 kilometres south-west of the city of Larnaca. The community is built on an average altitude of 480 metres. The terrain is hilly and the altitude in the north-east of the settlement reaches up to 417 metres ("Shinokefalos" hilltop). The landscape is fragmented by the rivers Syrkatis and Argaki, and of St. Minas, all tributaries of the Pentaschoinos river. The village receives an annual rainfall of about 570 millimetres. In the village's limited cultivable land, vines (of wine-making varieties), olive, almond, and carob trees, a few citrus-trees, forage plants, broad beans, a few fruit-trees such as pomegranate, and plum trees, and very few vegetables are cultivated. However, the village's greatest part is uncultivated and wild, natural vegetation grows in it, mainly pine-trees, thorny burnets and brooms, sages (cistus), thyme, and wild carob and olive trees.
As far as transportation is concerned, Lefkara is connected to the neighbouring village of Pano (Upper) Lefkara in the north-west (about 1 km), with the village Kato Drys in the south-west (about 4 km.), and with the Skarinou Station in the south-east via the Nicosia - Limassol Highway (about 8 km).
Once a haunt of nobleman of Venice and France, this old charm is simply captivating. Strolling through the narrow, winding streets and alleys of the village of Lefkara is an utter delight. In Pano (Upper) Lefkara, the houses built from local limestone have stood there for centuries and have been preserved and restored. As you pass by open doorways, beautiful courtyards filled with flowers or vine shelters are revealed.
Leonardo Da Vinci visited Lefkara by the invitation of the last Queen of Cyprus, Catherine Cornaro. Legend has it that Da Vinci took with him Lefkara lace, which he then donated as an altar cloth to the Cathedral of Milan. During the 14th and 15th centuries, Lefkara was a prominent town. Since then, Lefkara has been renowned for its embroidery and lace works. Women can still be seen sitting out in the alleys or courtyards carrying out their fine needlework. As a direct result of the lace trade, Lefkara has now taken a more sophisticated turn distinguishing it from other Cypriot villages. Many women have left working in the fields and turned to needlework and embroidery - a tradition that has been handed down to younger girls and women as well.
The Museum of Folk Art, also known as the Patsalos Museum pays a tribute to the fine art of lacemaking in Lefkara. Patsalos refers to the surname of the wealthy family that once owned the house where the museum now stands. On entering the museum you will see the beautiful courtyard - an example of Lefkara's unique architecture. From here you can visit the original staff quarters which house images with information on the village's history. The steps leading to the main house display the rooms restored to their original decorative order with authentic furniture from bygone times. The original stone oven still takes pride of place in the courtyard as it is still used today by locals for the famous dish Ttavas Lefkaritikos - a slow-baked lamb with onions, potatoes, local herbs, bay leaves, cumin and cinnamon. You can also see local costumes and lacework displayed here.
Just behind the village's main square, you will come across the 14th century church of Timios Stavros (Church of the Holy Cross). Here you will find one of the two pieces of the Holy Cross brought to the island by Saint Helen. The other piece is kept at the Stavrovouni Monastery.
Information collected from Larnaca Tourism Board
and Where to Cyprus
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