Saturday, 2 May 2009

Ypsonas (Ipsonas), Limassol, Cyprus



Also known as Ipsona, Ipsonas, İpsona


Ypsonas is one of the largest villages in the district of Limassol and is located about 7 kilometres west of the city of Limassol. The south part of the village is within the administrative borders of the British military base of Akrotiri - Episkopi.

Although Ypsonas is considered by many as having been created during recent years by the inhabitants of other villages (mainly Lofou), which owned land in the region, things are not quite so. Ypsonas existed as a settlement since medieval years. De Masse Latri includes Ypsonas among the villages that belonged to the King of Cyprus himself during the era of the Frank domination. The village is marked under the name Ipsona in old maps. The village probably must have been destroyed in 1426 when the Mamelukes of Egypt invaded Cyprus through the bay of Avdimou, unsuccessfully attacked Episkopi, marched toward Limassol which they seized. Then again it could have been destroyed in 1570 with the invasion of the Turks in Cyprus as they landed in Limassol which they sacked and then -burning and looting -arrived at Polemidia.

After that many inhabitants of Lofou would seasonally migrate to Ypsonas so as to cultivate or harvest the crops of their fields in the region. Thus, for many years, people from Lofou inhabited the village for a few months per year. These people vacated Ypsonas from January until March and from the middle of August until November. Finally, many of the migrating farmers remained permanently in Ypsonas, abandoning Lofou and the other neighbouring villages.

A place that should surely be visited if going to Ypsonas is Panagia Chrysopolitissa Church.

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