Cyprus’s Department of Antiquities is conducting site-specific inspections across areas affected by wildfires in Limassol District between 23-25 July, where 62 archaeological sites and monuments are registered, with several ancient structures suffering damage.
The Deputy Ministry of Culture’s Department of Antiquities announced on Friday that inspection crews are assessing wildfire damage to archaeological heritage sites across the affected region.
The majority of ancient monuments in the fire zone have escaped damage, including churches, archaeological sites, watermills and olive mills across multiple villages.
Notable undamaged sites include the Timios Stavros monastery in Omodos, the Monastery of Panagia Amasgou in Monagri, and numerous Byzantine churches throughout the affected areas.
However, several monuments have suffered damage that requires further evaluation once conditions permit safer access. The damaged sites include a watermill at Kapsalia in Kissousa, a medieval bridge at Eliomulos in Potamiou, and multiple ancient ruins in Souni-Zanatzia.
In Souni-Zanatzia, the affected monuments include Early Christian ruins at Chiliantris, ruins of the church of Agios Stylianos, a Byzantine building complex at Aspri Moutti, ruins of the church of Agios Sialloumis, and ruins of two additional churches.
The department continues its systematic inspection of all 62 registered archaeological sites and monuments within the wildfire-affected areas to assess the full extent of damage to Cyprus’s cultural heritage.
