Amiantos is a settlement in the Limassol district. In the past, Kato Amiantos and Pano Amiantos were two nearby villages named Amiantos. Pano Amiantos was abandoned when the asbestos mine in the region closed.
Amiantos is a community that possesses a unique wild beauty. It is without question one of the most well-known communities in Cyprus, owing to its mine and closeness to the Troodos Mountains. It is located approximately 48 kilometres from the city of Limassol and is part of the Pitsilia region.
Kato Amiantos is constructed at an elevation of 1100 metres above sea level, whilst Pano Amiantos is situated at an elevation of 1365 metres.
Amiantos is bordered to the south and east by Pelendri, to the east by Dymes, to the northeast by Kyperounda, to the north by Kakopetria, to the west by Platres, and to the southwest by Moniatis.
The hamlet houses, with their sloping roofs made of tin or tiles, along with the abundant flora, fruit trees, vines, and fragrant plants, present a breathtaking view to the visitor.
The name of the community:
The name Amiantos is intimately associated with the local mine. The current name of the town derives from asbestos mining.
In 1918, Chatjiktoris was the first resident of the village, which was later named Kato Amiantos. In 1918, the hamlet was given the name Kato Amiantos. The original name of the community was the village of Chatjiktoris. Subsequently, the village’s name was changed to Kato Amiantos.
The Amianto valley was populated by a great number of people throughout the Greco-Roman period due to the valley and the river that ran through it. As a result of the frequent Arab assaults, the Amiantos Valley was eventually decimated, and its residents were compelled to relocate to more secure, water-rich places with better safety.
There were no homes in the region for many years later.
At the turn of the twentieth century, there were initially two or three water mills known as “Amiantos mills” to which all of Pitsilia’s residents turned to grind their grain, particularly in the summer due to the town’s location on the border between the provinces of Nicosia and Limassol. Hatziktoris, a villager from Pelendri, constructed a little inn at this location, where in earlier times oranges from Lefka were transported to Limassol by camel. This was the location where all travellers passing from one province to another used to stop. Initially, everyone called the location: At Stou Hatziktori.
At the turn of the 20th century, an Italian identified as Caesar Trumpettes set out from Nicosia on a mule, escorted by a Kakopetria farmer, towards the eastern slopes of Troodos. This Italian, upon learning that the locals call these locations Pambakopetra and Amiantos, suspected the existence of this renowned material, which was known to the ancients because they wove bags from its fibres and used them to bury and burn their dead.
When Trumpettas arrived at these locations, he discovered an abundance of greenish-colored stones that, when struck with a stone or hammer, produced threads resembling those of a babaki. His suspicion was confirmed, and he took with him some of the stones he discovered. His first task upon returning to Nicosia was to transfer samples of these stones to Europe for evaluation. In a few days, he received a response stating that the stones he sent contain Aminatos.
