Teacher Antonis
- Jan 10, 2020
- 6 min read

TPM in CYPRUS - Second Day

Activity - Exploring, Filming, Documenting the Troodos Geopark Centre

Troodos

Troodos (sometimes spelled Troödos; Greek: Τρόοδος [ˈtɾo.oðos]) is the largest mountain range in Cyprus, located in roughly the center of the island. Its highest peak is Mount Olympus (Greek: Όλυμπος), also known as Chionistra (Greek: Χιονίστρα), at 1,952 metres (6,404 ft), which hosts the Sun Valley and North Face ski areas with their five ski lifts.

The Troodos mountain range stretches across most of the western side of Cyprus. There are many mountain resorts, Byzantine monasteries, and churches on mountain peaks, and nestling in its valleys and mountains are villages clinging to terraced hills. The area has been known since antiquity for its mines, which for centuries supplied copper to the entire Mediterranean. In the Byzantine period it became a centre of Byzantine art, as churches and monasteries were built in the mountains, away from the threatened coastline. The mountains are also home to RAF Troodos, a listening post for the NSA and GCHQ.

The name Troodos probably comes from one of two sources: either τρία + ὁδός (tría + hodós), referring to the three roads that lead to the mountain, or τό + ὄρος + Ἄδος (to + oro + Ados), meaning the mountains of Adonis.

Source: [ wiki ]

Troodos Geopark

The Troodos Geopark (an area of 1.147 km2) Visitor Centre is located in the old Asbestos mine (Amiantos mine), an area with enormous historical value which now hosts an extraordinary botanical garden with information about the flora of the area, a seed bank of endemic species and also a plethora of evidence for the past mining activity and the community which once flourished there. The Geopark Visitor Centre is situated in the newly restored elementary school of the abandoned asbestos mine. The building is an impressive listed structure and an example of fine architecture with historic characteristics and features such as its fireplaces, one in every room, and a beautiful internal yard.

At the entrance of the Geopark Visitor Centre the visitors are welcomed by an amazing geological garden consisting of all the rock types encountered in the area, in stratigraphic order, representing the Troodos ophiolite sequence. An outdoor classroom is operated in the garden of the centre, where interactive lessons and demonstrations are delivered to visiting students and the general public. Impressive rocks and minerals, a maquette of the geology of the area, depicting sites of geological importance and interest (faults, mines, geo-trails, etc.), informational panels and a conference room where the visitor can watch documentaries, of the significance of the geology of the Troodos mountain range are only some of the exhibits in the visitor centre.

The Geopark Visitor Center also, hosts exhibits of the abandoned Asbestos and Chromite mines, representations of an ancient pyro-metallurgical furnace for the production of copper and a gallery of the last century for the exploitation of sulphate deposits. Finally, on the way out a shop gives the opportunity to the visitor to buy handcrafted art products and other geo-products, made by raw materials encountered in the Troodos area, as well as an eco-tourism guide and the Troodos documentary movie.

We are confident, that a visit at the Geopark Visitor Center will be an interesting educational journey for the visitor providing an inside to the geological uniqueness of the Troodos area, the most complete piece of oceanic crust on earth. Troodos has been and still is the scientific inspiration of geoscientists from all over the world enlightening them of the geological processes that are taking place in the depths of the recent oceans and the formation of new oceanic crust.

Source: [ Link ]

Photo Collection - Exploring, Filming, Documenting the Troodos Geopark Centre

Video - Exploring, Filming, Documenting the Troodos Geopark Centre

Activity - Exploring, Filming, Documenting the Traditional Cyprus Village of Omodos (Sustainable living, Traditional architecture, Environmentally friendly building materials)

Omodos (Greek: 'Ομοδος) is a village in the Troödos Mountains of Cyprus. It is also located in the Limassol District of Cyprus and is 80 kilometers from the city of Nicosia. The village produces much wine and holds a wine festival every August. You can visit a 17th-century stone-built monastery via a cobblestone path and sample local wine for free at many outlets. There are restaurants, traditional tavernas, and modern bars housed in traditional buildings.

Arkatena Bread

Arkatena is a type of “koulouri” (circular bread) made with leaven using the foam produced from chickpea fermentation (called “Arkatis”). They are produced mainly in Omodos and Koilani villages of Limassol district. History: “At a specific location in the mountains, “paximadia of the worker” were baked from a mixture of cereals, beans and chickpea flour” (Richter, 1913). The name “Arkateno” is most probably derived from the Greek word ‘ergatis’ (meaning ‘worker’), due to the long-hour production method of “Arkatis”. In the past, Arkatena were offered at baptisms and weddings. Production method: Milled chickpeas and ginger are immersed in hot water in the morning and by late evening, ‘foam’ starts rising at the surface. This foam (“Arkatis”) is gradually collected overnight and covered with flour. The foam is left to ‘swell’ and then kneaded with flour and various herbs, such as mastic, nutmeg, etc. The resulting dough is shaped into “koulouria”, that are baked in a pre-heated oven. After baking, soft “koulouria” can be re-baked (after first cooling) for 5-6 hours to harden (“paximadia”). Gastronomy: Consumed either in their soft form or as bread (“pannisides”), or in the form of paximadia. Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment

Photo Collection - Workshop Arkatena Bread

Video - Workshop Arkatena Bread

Holy Cross (Timios Stavros) Monastery

The ornament and true pride & joy of Omodos is the Monastery of the Holy and Life-giving Cross, built at the heart of the community. It rises majestically and with its imposing presence it becomes a significant part of Cyprus's cultural heritage. The Monastery of the Holy Cross is one of the oldest and most historic monasteries of the island. The Monastery's architecture is characteristic. It is a huge, two-levels complex in the shape of (the Greek letter) Π that encircles the church in the north, west, and south with its tall cells and the vaulted arches. One can enter the yard through a vaulted entrance, the so-called "kamaroporta" (arched door), which is found in the north side. Tradition reports that the arched door, which resembles that of a fortress, with its heavy, double crossbars, would not open when Turks who intended to harm the monastery would arrive. The west entrance that today exists in the part of the plaza was opened recently. The complex is consisted of many stone-made cells, cellars, and hostels/hospices. The lace-like balusters under the arches of the roofed verandas, in the interior side of the constructions, have a very picturesque quality. In the fenced yard a marble-made fountain refreshes the visitors. Upon a plate, dating back to 1763, the words "come to me you that are thirsty, like Siloam the fountain I will also quench your thirst" are inscribed. The large temple with three aisles of the Monastery, which is of the Basilica type, is built -according to local tradition -precisely above the cave where the holy Cross was found.

Source: [wiki]

Photo Collection - Holy Cross (Timios Stavros) Monastery

Video - Holy Cross (Timios Stavros) Monastery

Lunch - Omodos Traditional Food

Photo Collection - Omodos Traditional Food

Wine Production in Cyprus

Activity - Exploring, Filming, Documenting the Ktima Vassiliades “Oenou Yi” Winery

Activity - Wine Production in Cyprus - Filming, Exploring, Documenting the Ktima Vassiliades “Oenou Yi” Winery at Omodos Village

Climate change will inevitably transform the way farmers produce wine grapes which is a sensitive crop. Farming traditions and practices used for centuries may have to change due to climate change. Wine grape producers need to practice new methods and experiment with grape varieties which are more adaptable to hotter summers and warmer winters as well as droughts and unexpected weather events like hailstorms, spring frosts, flooding, and extreme heatwaves.

Erasmus Teachers and students from Regional Gymnasium of Livadia who were working on the Erasmus Plus project: Enocultura 2018-1-ES01-KA201-049936, had the opportunity to work together with the European Teachers during the TPM meeting which was organized in Cyprus (December 2019) to meet the requirements of the Erasmus Plus Project: Let's be Eco-sustainAble, towards 2030 2019-1-IT02-KA229-062748_2. The purpose was to learn about Wine Production in Cyprus and how climate change will affect the production of wine in the island. Teachers and students had the opportunity to exchange ideas and share good practices. Most importantly they had the opportunity to discuss how the two Erasmus projects can help students to become more aware about climate change and how this will affect the wine production.

Cypriot Wine

The Cypriot wine industry ranks 50th in the world in terms of total production quantity (10,302 tonnes)., and much higher on a per capita basis. Although, chronologically, Cyprus belongs to the Old World of wine-producing countries, the industry has gone through changes that place it more on par with the New World. The wine industry is a significant contributor to the Cypriot economy through cultivation, production, employment, export and tourism.

Source: [ wiki ]