Filenews 2 February 2026 - by Natasha Christoforou
They shed light on the unique history of the mines of the Vassiliko area, projects that will be carried out between the communities of Kalavasos and Asgata. Some findings show that the mines operated in antiquity from the Bronze Age and later during the Roman period, while they were reactivated in the first decades of the 20th century, significantly strengthening the Cypriot economy, through the supply of copper to world markets.
According to data from the website of the Community Council of Asgata, five mines were operated in the area by the Hellenic Mining Company from 1936 to 1978, extending over an area of 17 square kilometers. The ore from all five mines (Petra, Mavrithkia, Landaria, Mavri Sykia and Platies) was transported by trucks to the central abacus, which was above the Kanellopoulou Arcade, next to the bed of Vasilopotamos and then transported by rail through Kalavasos to Vasiliko, where the ore was processed. Then, with an overhead loading system, the ore ended up in the holds of the ships for export.
The projects that will be carried out to promote the mining heritage of the area are part of the "Interreg Greece – Cyprus 2021-2027" program. On February 1st, restoration works will begin on the Kanellopoulou Arcade, located on the borders of Kalavasos, at a cost of €220,000. The tender has been awarded by the Geological Survey Department and includes restoration works of the gallery, the avatzi, as well as the maintenance of the transport rails. The project has a duration of 10 months and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
A large part of the Kanellopoulou Arcade has collapsed due to rockslides, which were caused by erosion of the roof rock and due to the deterioration of the infrastructure. For this reason, all the rocks above the gallery and the surrounding area, all the arches affected by the landslides, as well as the wooden elements that make up the infrastructure, will be removed. Subsequently, the restoration/replacement works of the metal arches with their sandals and the wood on the walls of the gallery will be carried out, so that it can return to its original condition.
As mentioned in the tender documents, in the wider area of the entrance of the gallery, there are infrastructure for the separation of the ore (avatzi), which was transported to the area by trucks and not through the gallery. Inside there are three hoppers, in which the material ended up, so that it could be loaded onto the wagons and transported by train to the facilities of an enrichment factory in Vasiliko. All these structures will be maintained, as well as the metal rig that was recently installed at the front. In addition, there will be cleaning on the transport rails and work on the unloading area upstream of the avatzi.
Tenders for two other projects
In addition to the project to upgrade the Kanellopoulou Arcade, the Geological Survey Department is currently running two tenders for two projects of €58,000. The first concerns the creation of a 360° virtual tour web application, with the aim of creating panoramic visual material for the Platies and Mavrithkia mines. The second project concerns a representation of the recent metallurgical activity in the area of Kalavasos – Asgata, through virtual reality (VR) technologies. The application, as stated in the terms of the offers, "will include the creation of three distinct environments, which will be enriched with animated characters and interactive elements".
According to information from the Geological Survey Department, walking routes will also be made in the area until the summer of 2027, where the visitor will be able to head from Kalavasos to Asgata and get in touch with the various points of mining activity.
Wagons of the time are also being reconstructed
In parallel with the projects of the "Interreg" program, the Community Council of Kalavasos in collaboration with the Larnaca Tourism Development and Promotion Company will maintain three historic wagons of the train that operated for the transport of ore until 1971. "Our goal is to promote the history of the village in this area. At a cost of €13,000 and with the help of ETAP Larnaca, the three wagons will be maintained. Two will be placed in the Kanellopoulou Arcade. The third will be placed somewhere in the community, since we are trying to upgrade the core and place something reminiscent of the past," the community leader of Kalavasos, Lefteris Sozou, told "F". For her part, the director of ETAP Larnaca, Nana Asmeni, noted that "the action will contribute to the rescue and promotion of the important element of the industrial and mining heritage of Kalavasos, strengthening the historical memory and cultural identity of the community".
The plan of the Kalavasos Community Council also includes the maintenance of the bridge, as well as the train that are located in a park. "There is an almost entire train in the park of Kalavasos located on an iron bridge of the railway that went from the mines to Vasiliko. The bridge is in poor condition and we intend to maintain it, as well as the train itself. We estimate that many thousands of euros will be needed, but we intend to launch this project as well," noted Mr. Sozou, adding that this is where the nature trail of the area begins. "The path starts from where the train is, moves south and passes through another metal bridge, which belonged to an extension of the railway in the area. The bridge, which we intend to maintain, was hidden in bushes and we cleaned it and is a point of interest on the path. We also have some thoughts about the path and perhaps implement them in collaboration with the community of Mari, who recently renovated an Inn that for decades was a place of meeting, hospitality and commercial activity of merchants and miners in the area," he noted.
