History
Pachna : Historical Review
Pachna, an aesthetically pleasing and picturesque village situated within the metropolitan district of Paphos and administratively affiliated with the province of Limassol, is approximately 35 kilometres distant from the city of Limassol. The mean elevation is 650 metres above mean sea level, with a range of 400 to 775 metres for the surrounding region.
The pristine natural surroundings of the village are exquisite. It consists of a variety of cultivated and uncultivated lands teeming with wild vegetation, in addition to an abundance of trees (including carobs, olives, and almonds) and vineyards. The village is surrounded on the northwest and northeast by minor tributaries of the Ha and Paramali rivers, which complete the overall landscape.
Pachna is enclosed by the villages of Prasteio and Kissoussa to the south and east, respectively, and Agios Ambrosios and Kissoussa to the north. Avdimou Paramali (south), Malia, Arsos Potamiou, Vasa Koilaniou (north), Dora, Arsos, Moussere (west), and Vouni, Agios Therapon, Kivides (east) are all within a short distance.
The village has been in existence since the Middle Ages, as it was comprised of royal estate communities during the Frankish era. Catalogues from the Venetian era make reference to the village under the name Padena. This may be the result of a misspelling of the village’s original name, Patena, which translates to “basin,” “manager,” or “dew.”
Diverse iterations exist regarding the appellation of the village. One of them, and the most prevalent, according to Nearchos Cleridis, asserts that the village derives its name from the word pachni, denoting the dew that develops on plant leaves during the spring nights. Dew derives its name from the process by which atmospheric moisture crystallises directly into the air and is subsequently deposited on the ground and any objects discovered within it. A identical name can be found in the Greek prefecture of Rodopi, in the village of Pachni. The highest peak in the White Mountains of the Chania prefecture in Crete is also called Pachnes.
The discovery of both prehistoric and contemporary artefacts in the administrative region of the village provides evidence of its primordial inhabitants.
The ATIK antenna has been situated atop Vouni hill for an extended period of time. According to conventional belief, the Castles of Rigaina comprise one hundred rooms. The village still contains olive trees with lengthy trunks, which serve as a reminder of the Venetians due to the fact that olive cultivation was also a defining characteristic of the Venetians.
Sklinikas was the name of an ancient settlement located near the municipality. This community was abandoned in 1692 due to the spread of a fatal disease. Those who managed to flee the settlement established residence in the adjacent village of Pachna.
Pachna is among the most populous grape villages in Cyprus, specialising in the cultivation of table and wine grapes. During the early years of agricultural prosperity in the countryside, particularly in the Limassol district, Pachna was among the pioneers in the region, engaged in the cultivation of cereals, vegetables, carobs, almonds, and olives. Additionally, animal husbandry is advanced.
Pachna, similar to numerous rural villages, experienced the repercussions of urbanisation. Despite the hardships it faced, its inhabitants were compelled to relocate; as a result, it is presently among the most populous villages in the province of Limassol, particularly among those situated in the Krasochoria region. This is a result of both the residents’ affection for their community and the village’s infrastructure. The villagers’ diligence and their large numbers of visitors during the summer, holiday seasons (e.g., Christmas, Easter, and vacations) imbue the village with an unparalleled allure that evokes recollections of bygone eras. Both expatriates and those seeking a unique rural experience will find Pachna appealing due to its blend of the contemporary and traditional ways of life.
Religious life in the village is one of the many aspects that Pachniotes and Apodimos hold in high regard. This is evident not only from the expansive temples that adorn the centre of the community but also from the numerous chapels situated on the outskirts of the village.
The pristine natural surroundings of the village are exquisite. It consists of a variety of cultivated and uncultivated lands teeming with wild vegetation, in addition to an abundance of trees (including carobs, olives, and almonds) and vineyards. The village is surrounded on the northwest and northeast by minor tributaries of the Ha and Paramali rivers, which complete the overall landscape.
Pachna is enclosed by the villages of Prasteio and Kissoussa to the south and east, respectively, and Agios Ambrosios and Kissoussa to the north. Avdimou Paramali (south), Malia, Arsos Potamiou, Vasa Koilaniou (north), Dora, Arsos, Moussere (west), and Vouni, Agios Therapon, Kivides (east) are all within a short distance.
The village has been in existence since the Middle Ages, as it was comprised of royal estate communities during the Frankish era. Catalogues from the Venetian era make reference to the village under the name Padena. This may be the result of a misspelling of the village’s original name, Patena, which translates to “basin,” “manager,” or “dew.”
Diverse iterations exist regarding the appellation of the village. One of them, and the most prevalent, according to Nearchos Cleridis, asserts that the village derives its name from the word pachni, denoting the dew that develops on plant leaves during the spring nights. Dew derives its name from the process by which atmospheric moisture crystallises directly into the air and is subsequently deposited on the ground and any objects discovered within it. A identical name can be found in the Greek prefecture of Rodopi, in the village of Pachni. The highest peak in the White Mountains of the Chania prefecture in Crete is also called Pachnes.
The discovery of both prehistoric and contemporary artefacts in the administrative region of the village provides evidence of its primordial inhabitants.
The ATIK antenna has been situated atop Vouni hill for an extended period of time. According to conventional belief, the Castles of Rigaina comprise one hundred rooms. The village still contains olive trees with lengthy trunks, which serve as a reminder of the Venetians due to the fact that olive cultivation was also a defining characteristic of the Venetians.
Sklinikas was the name of an ancient settlement located near the municipality. This community was abandoned in 1692 due to the spread of a fatal disease. Those who managed to flee the settlement established residence in the adjacent village of Pachna.
Pachna is among the most populous grape villages in Cyprus, specialising in the cultivation of table and wine grapes. During the early years of agricultural prosperity in the countryside, particularly in the Limassol district, Pachna was among the pioneers in the region, engaged in the cultivation of cereals, vegetables, carobs, almonds, and olives. Additionally, animal husbandry is advanced.
Pachna, similar to numerous rural villages, experienced the repercussions of urbanisation. Despite the hardships it faced, its inhabitants were compelled to relocate; as a result, it is presently among the most populous villages in the province of Limassol, particularly among those situated in the Krasochoria region. This is a result of both the residents’ affection for their community and the village’s infrastructure. The villagers’ diligence and their large numbers of visitors during the summer, holiday seasons (e.g., Christmas, Easter, and vacations) imbue the village with an unparalleled allure that evokes recollections of bygone eras. Both expatriates and those seeking a unique rural experience will find Pachna appealing due to its blend of the contemporary and traditional ways of life.
Religious life in the village is one of the many aspects that Pachniotes and Apodimos hold in high regard. This is evident not only from the expansive temples that adorn the centre of the community but also from the numerous chapels situated on the outskirts of the village.