Another famous place in Cyprus, the small fishing village of Liopetri, is located near the town of Protaras, in the district of Famagusta. Once Liopetri was famous for its churches, which at the beginning of the last century were seven pieces for the entire small village, which at that time lived less than 4000 people. Nowadays the number of churches has decreased considerably, but there is still a lot to see. For example, one of the oldest churches in Liopetri, which has survived to this day, is the church of Agios Andronikos, which was built in the XV century. This building became famous thanks to the beautiful paintings, which can still be seen on its walls. It is also worth visiting the Church of the Virgin Mary, built in the 16th century.
In addition, during the struggle of the islanders for their independence, the village became one of the places where military operations took place. In 1958, for example, four young Cypriots - Fotis Pittas, Andreas Karios, Elias Papakyriakou and Christos Samaras - engaged in an unequal battle with British troops, taking refuge in one of Liopetri's apartment blocks. The British pelted the building with grenades and bombs. These fallen soldiers are now considered national heroes and a monument has been erected at the site of their deaths.
Overall, Liopetri is a quiet and peaceful place that is perfect for family holidays. The villagers are mainly engaged in fishing and basket weaving, which are famous all over the island and can be a good souvenir of a trip to Cyprus. The small restaurants on the beach offer traditional local specialities made from freshly caught fish.
