Laneia (also spelt ''Lania''; el, Λάνεια or ; tr, Lanya) is a village at the foot of Mount Troodos on the main

Limassol Limassol (; el, Λεμεσός, Lemesós ; tr, Limasol or ) is a city on the southern coast of Cyprus and capital of the district with the same name. Limassol is the second largest urban area in Cyprus after Nicosia, with an urban population ...

to Troodos road, about 26 km from

in the country of

Cyprus Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is geo ...

. Lania is one of the country's main wine producing villages. According to tradition, Lania got its name from Lana, daughter of the Greek god of wine and pleasure,

Dionysos In ancient Greek religion and myth, Dionysus (; grc, Διόνυσος ) is the god of the grape-harvest, winemaking, orchards and fruit, vegetation, fertility, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, festivity, and theatre. The Romans ...

. This indicates the deep roots of the village in the field of vine-growing and wine-making. The village is well known for the high quality of its grapes and wines.

Legend

At the time

Henry I Henry I may refer to: 876–1366 * Henry I the Fowler, King of Germany (876–936) * Henry I, Duke of Bavaria (died 955) * Henry I of Austria, Margrave of Austria (died 1018) * Henry I of France (1008–1060) * Henry I the Long, Margrave of the No ...

was King of

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

, the country’s vineyards from which champagne was produced were destroyed by disease. The King went in search of healthy plants, which he found in the house of Rousos of Laneia. The healthy vines were loaded on a ship, transported to France and used to replant the Champagne vineyardsbr>

Today

The inhabitants of the village are occupied with-growing and the production of

wine Wine is an alcoholic drink typically made from fermented grapes. Yeast consumes the sugar in the grapes and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts are m ...

-related products including

Zivania Zivania or zivana ( el, ζιβανία, ζιβάνα Turkish: Zivaniya) is a Cypriot pomace brandy produced from the distillation of a mixture of grape pomace and local dry wines made from Xynisteri and Mavro grapes. The name of zivania is deriv ...

Commandaria Commandaria (also called Commanderia and Coumadarka; el, κουμανδαρία, and Cypriot Greek κουμανταρκά) is an amber-coloured sweet dessert wine made in the Commandaria region of Cyprus on the foothills of the Troödos Mountains ...

and

Soutzoukos Churchkhela ( ka, ჩურჩხელა, ) is a traditional Georgian cuisine candle-shaped candy. The main ingredients of Churchkhela are grape must, nuts, and flour. Almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, and chocolate and sometimes raisins are thre ...

. Amongst the flower-lined streets and traditional architecture lies the village church, dedicated to St. Mary. The Icon of Saint Mary of Valanas, one of the oldest paintings in the world, is displayed in the church. In Lania one can find an ancient and authentic Linos, a wine press, formerly used in the production of Commandaria. The entrance to the village is dominated by the old fountain from which villagers would get their drinking water and still today brings back memories of bygone times.

External links

Laneia village website (In English)The tower and the belfry of the basilica of Panagia Chrysolanitissa, Laneia

References

{{Limassol District Communities in Limassol District