Walking tour looks at the future of mining heritage in Cyprus

Mines. They’ve been photographed, featured in the news, worked on and some abandoned. Their land, location and surrounding nature hold so many more stories than meet the eye and an upcoming guided walking tour takes a closer look at the south Mathiatis mine called Strongylos.

Happening in the framework of the European Heritage Days, the Historical & Environmental Protection Group of Mathiatis organise the tour on October 31 led by animator Thea Christoforou. The tour will last two hours, starting at 10.30am from the south Mathiatis mine with Thea explaining the importance of the site and the possibility of its future. At the end of the tour, there will be a small hike at the top of Strongylos mountain, where visitors can enjoy the surrounding view of the Mesaoria plain, Pentadaktylos mountains, Machairas mountains and even the bay of Larnaca.

Strongylos has been a Candidate Unesco Monument in the mixed Category of Natural and Cultural Landscape since 2002. It is the only mine that holds such a title, and it is the second monument in Cyprus in this category. Its importance is highlighted by the fact that the whole area is an archaeological site where ancient exploitation took place since the 7th century BC and still bears important information waiting to be discovered and studied.

The South Mathiatis Mine is also an important monument for local history. “In the 20th century,” say organisers, “a lot of people from the village of Mathiatis and the surrounding areas worked at the mine. The natural and the cultural character of the site creates a valuable opportunity for a sustainable plan for the protection of the Mining Heritage of Cyprus.”

The future of Mining Heritage in Cyprus: the Case of South Mathiatis Mine-Strongylos

Walking tour with animator Thea Christoforou. Organised by the Historical & Environmental Protection Group of Mathiatis. October 31. Meeting point: South Mathiatis mine Strongylos, Nicosia. 10.30am-12.30pm. Registration form on the Facebook event of the same name.