Strawberry Festival in Deryneia

The council of the village of Deryneia organizes the Strawberry Festival once every two years.  Lovers of the so called Royal Berry come to the event from all corners of Cyprus. How can you stay on the sidelines if everyone is treated to strawberries absolutely free?

Deryneia location

The Mayor of Deryneia, Mr. Andros Karayannis, says that although their settlement is not large it’s very hospitable, and a strawberry treat is waiting for everyone who comes to the village.

The village council participates in the work of farms actively, and tries to offer them comprehensive aid. In their turn, farmers participate actively in social events by offering part of their harvest for free.

Оnce, during the  local television Mega live programme, For You, in which the celebrity actor and native Deryneian, Stavros Louris took part,  a box of strawberries was delivered straight from the village council.

Deryneia is located in the south-east of the island, 5 km away from the occupied city of Fаmagusta, and 2 km from the sea. According to evidence, the settlement has been here on this site for more than 700 years.

It is not known for certain where the name of the village came from. One of the versions says that émigrées who settled here after the Trojan War, named it after the ancient city of Geryneia, which was located in the vicinity of Peloponnese. Now the population of the settlement amounts to 7,500 inhabitants.

Deryneia sights

There are 11 working churches in the area.  It is remarkable that construction of the main and the largest church of All Saints started in 1974. It was suspended because of the military operations and continued in 1987. Construction was only fully completed in 1992.

The oldest church оf the settlement is the church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin dating back to the end of the 15th – beginning of 16th century built in the Cypriot traditional Byzantine style. A carved iconostasis, dating back to 1911, and several icons of the 18th century are of special value.

An ethnographic museum, which is located in the old building in traditional Cypriot style, is also among the sights of the settlement.

Strawberry in Cyprus

Agriculture has always been the key occupation of the inhabitants. Active strawberry growing started 55 years ago in the region, when the example of farmer Mitzio Yannuko was followed. Soon strawberry growing reached an industrial scale.

Since the tragic events of 1974 70% of the region is under Turkish occupation, but despite this fact, Deryneia is currently the leader of strawberry cultivation in Cyprus both by the quantity (60% оf total production), and by the quality.

A wonderful local liqueur, juice, ice-cream, marmalade, jam and other sweets are made with strawberry. You can try all of these in abundance during the festival, which has been held regularly since 1999.  In 2012, over 12,000 guests visited the festival, including former Cyprus president, Demetris Christofias.

Apart from the strawberry treat, the guests are offered a cultural programme with national songs and dances, аs well as festive fireworks.