The projects “Paths Without Barriers” and “El-Oinon Roots”, implemented under the framework of the Greece–Cyprus Interreg Cross-Border Programme and co-funded by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), as well as by national resources from Greece and Cyprus, currently involve the Development Agency of Lemesos Ltd as a partner.
The “Paths Without Barriers” initiative aims to enhance the social inclusion of people with mobility impairments and bridge the gap between nature and accessibility to cultural and natural heritage tourist destinations. Within this initiative, the project “Creation of an Accessible Outdoor Recreation Area for Persons with Disabilities (PWD) within Limassol Forest Park” is currently underway.
The project concerns the creation of outdoor play and exercise areas, suitably designed and accessible for people with disabilities, which are located as extensions of the existing nature study trail for PWD within Limassol Forest Park. It should be noted that this specific trail was implemented and funded under the “Access” project of the Greece–Cyprus Interreg Cross-Border Programme.
The “Access” project was promoted in collaboration with the Cyprus Paraplegics Organization and implemented by S. Pavlou and Sons Constructions Ltd, with a total cost of €78,000. It represented a joint effort to reduce accessibility difficulties for people with mobility impairments as well as visual impairments in areas of natural and cultural interest.
This collaboration combined the expertise on the needs of PWD from the Cyprus Paraplegics Organization with knowledge of local community needs under the perspective of local government, via the Municipality of Syros–Ermoupolis, while the Development Agency of Lemesos completed the partnership.
The completion of works for the ongoing project involving outdoor play and exercise areas is expected around late February.
The “El-Oinon Roots – Cultural Routes of Knowledge” initiative has as its main outcome the development of a sustainable tourism brand, based on shared cultural elements related to the olive tree and the vineyard. Within this initiative, the project “Community Tourism Information Center and Small Excursion Area on Olives in Sylikou Village – Phase A” will be implemented, with a budget of €100,000 plus VAT.
For this project, the Development Agency of Lemesos Ltd announced an open tender through the eProcurement electronic public procurement system on 9 January 2026, aiming to receive bids from contractors for project execution. The submission deadline for bids is 23 January 2026, on which date the bids will be opened and evaluated.
Through this project, Sylikou seeks to further highlight its cultural heritage and, in particular, its long-standing relationship with the olive tree.
The community head of Sylikou, Mr. Nikos Aresti, stated that the community has a history of approximately 2,000 years and was a fief during the Frankish period, during which the olive tree and Commandaria became central elements of the area’s economic and social life.
He also noted that Sylikou is the only village in Cyprus with around 500 Venetian olive trees, approximately 1,900 years old, dating back to the Venetian period. These are monumental trees, providing living evidence of the community’s historical continuity.
Mr. Aresti emphasized that the total project, in both phases, is estimated to cost approximately €450,000. In addition to the complete development of the “Olive Park”, it will include a café-restaurant and a retail shop for olive products, aiming to strengthen agrotourism and support local producers.
The second phase of the project will be announced at a later stage, with the goal of securing European funding for it as well.
