Pegeia Today

Pegeia is undoubtedly a remarkable part of Cyprus. It is a newly established municipality within the Paphos district, and only achieved municipal status in 1994. It is worth noting that Pegeia is recognised as one of the largest municipalities in Cyprus (geographically), as it covers an area of 4,552 hectares. Its administrative rule reaches as far as Cape Lara in the north and the Potimon estate and Mavrokolimpos Dam in the south.

The geographical location of Pegeia itself is considered to be quite favourable. Just 15 kilometres from the centre of Paphos, and close to the beautiful Akamas Peninsula, it is made up of not only local but also foreign inhabitants. The fact that the village is rooted in the slopes of a mountain and built at a height of 200 metres, means it has an enviable, panoramic view of the island’s western coastline and of the centre of Paphos. Plus, the combination of mountain and sea and the region’s mild climate is an incomparable asset.

On the one hand, there’s the endless blue of the sea that hugs the fabulous ragged beaches, the exotic greenery of the banana trees, the multicolours of the citrus trees, the vineyards and the walnut trees, the wild beauty of the carob trees and olive groves – and on the other, there’s the forest with its shadowy pine trees, cypress trees and shrubbery. There are also various types of vegetable being cultivated in the region, which include potatoes, watermelons, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers and artichokes. The small national forest, Meleti, as well as a large part of the national forest of Pegeia fall under the village’s administrative rule. These unique brushstrokes of nature are not only enlivening for the area’s inhabitants, but also paint a picture of calm.

Most inhabitants work in tourism, a field closely followed in popularity by that of agriculture and livestock breeding. The region’s banana plantation was estimated in 1985 as covering 119 hectares and is not only the largest in the province of Paphos, but in the whole of Cyprus. As well as agriculture, livestock breeding was hugely developed, specifically sheep and goat breeding. In 1985, 2,073 goats, 2,832 sheep, 60 pigs and 1,690 chickens were being reared. Today, however, a greater emphasis is placed on tourism and on offering relevant services. Thanks to the beautiful, green location, stunning beaches and notable archaeological sites, Pegeia’s tourist industry has greatly developed in recent years. The main tourist activity is centred around the Coral Bay area.

On the one hand, the arrival of tourists, who mainly come from Great Britain, has led to the opening of several restaurants, traditional tavernas, recreational centres, hotels, tourist resorts, villas etc, which promise visitors, be they foreign or local, a comfortable stay in this enchanting region. On the other hand, the residential development is continuing at a rapid rate, while the tourist industry and service sector have joined forces, with the basic aim of improving the quality of overall services offered.

Pegeia can be classified as a cosmopolitan region, since the number of inhabitants who weren’t born there exceeds the number of those who were. This mix of foreigner and native culminated in EU community members taking part in the municipal election in 2006, when a foreign resident was elected to the municipal council for the first time in Cyprus.