Messana, Cyprus: Dramatic Population Decline – Only 30 Residents Remain

The community of Messana in the Paphos district is facing a serious demographic problem, with only 30 residents remaining in recent years. The president of the Messana Community Council, Periklis Masakaris, told CYPE that the village once had at least 260 residents.

The main problem is urbanization, resulting in no school or café, and young couples not choosing to stay in the area. Mr. Masakaris emphasized the difficulties of living in the villages of the Diarizos area, noting that it takes a struggle to stay there.

A positive element is the return of expatriate Messanians on weekends and holidays. The community leader complains about the transfer of water from their area to the Kokkinochoria region, without them benefiting from irrigation projects.

The community also faces problems with uncultivated land and the risk of fires, as it does not receive state support for cultivating the land. Some residents are engaged in vineyards and almond trees.

Messana, built at an altitude of 560 meters, attracts visitors seeking tranquility and has four accommodations with year-round occupancy. It belongs to the wine villages of the Paphos district and produces traditional wine, zivania, palouzes, and soutzoukos.