Fikardou

Fikardou is a village of Nicosia district, located in Machairas forest and which consists part of Pitsilia area.

There are various explanations concerning the origin of the village's name.

Historically, the name Fikardou was associated with the medieval family of Thomas Fikardos, who was a chancellor during the reign of James II. However, despite the association of the village with Fikardos' family, no written sources exist related to the formation of the village up until later, on the 19th century, during the Ottoman rule of the island.

Additional explanations appearing concerning the name Fikardou relate to the etymology of the name. "Fikardou" seems to derive from the words “φυγάς” ("figas" meaning "fugitive") and “ανδρείος” ("andrios" meaning "brave") or “φυγά άνδρον” (meaning "den of fugitives"). These two versions are associated with stories about people who were forced to leave their residences and move to the mountainous area of Machairas for safety, but also to fugitive clans that were inhabiting in the area.

The village can be characterized as an open-air museum, displaying the traditional architecture of the island. During the 20th century, the Department of Antiquities has proceeded with the restoration of the village, including the reparation of the abandoned houses, in order to help the village to preserve its distinguished atmosphere.

Walking through the cobble-stoned streets of the village, someone will see the one or two-storey houses, that were build with local stone and plinths, with their internal courtyards, the stables and their wooden balconies. Among them, Katsinioros House that nowadays consist the Local Ethnological Museum, with exhibits from the 16th century. Another one is the House of Dimitris Achilleas that has exhibits of the local textile art. It has to be mentioned that both houses were awarded by Europa Nostra in 1987.

In the centre of the village it is located a little church, which is built during the 18th century and being dedicated to Apostles Peter and Paul. The church is in the form of basilica and has a wooden roof. Opposite the church, there is the only tavern of the village that offers traditional meze, coffee and local sweets.