Morphou is a suburb in the district of Nicosia and has been a municipality of Cyprus since 1883. It is located at the west of the island at an altitude of 65 metres and it had an extent of 5.636 hectares. In 1974 Nicosia was partly invaded by the Turks and today is occupied. The temporary base for Morphou is the free part of Nicosia. Morphou was well known for its citrus fruit and mainly for its oranges. Every year there was an orange celebration which lasted for two weeks.

History

Morphou was founded by the Spartans who worshiped Aphrodite as Agapinor in Paphos. During the medieval times, due to the Arab raids in the area many Akrites were called to protect the island. These Akrites also worshiped Agios Mamas which is something they introduced in Cyprus. During the Ruling of the Franks, Morphou was a feud and in 1426 the first rebellion against the Franks occurred. During the occupation of the Turks Morphou was the capital of the area and it belonged to the district of Kerynia. During the British rule it was then announced an independent municipality in 1883. However during the second invasion of the Turks on the 14th of August 1974 Morphou was taken over by the Turkish army.

In 1852 the first school was founded and in 1917 the first kinder garden. In 1973 the Episcope of Morphou was created with the first Metropolitan being Chrysanthos Sarigiannis.

Morphou’s name is ambiguous. During the main version the name comes from the word Morpho which in Greek is another name for the goddess Aphrodite. During the byzantine years the type Theomorphou was then used. During the Ruling of the Franks they used the name Temorphou.

 

Morphou photos: 
Morphou location map: 

Nearby Places and things to do (within 5 km radius)

Sea Caves in Peyia, Paphos

Tucked away on the sun-drenched coastline of southwestern Cyprus lies one of the island’s most captivating natural wonders — the Peyia S...

Amphitheatre diving site

The amphitheatre diving site is located in Paphos district, near the coral bay beach. This diving site is considered as one of the most popu...

Paphos Zoo

The project began with Mr. Christos Christophorou’s love for Bird and Wild life. The zoo was originally going to be for the private use...

Manijin island diving site

The Manijin island diving site is a very popular destination for divers and is located in the Manijin Island which is very close to the Peyi...

Laourou beach

Laourou Beach, located in the charming town of Peyia  near Paphos, Cyprus, is a hidden gem known for its pristine sandy shores, clear t...

Agios Georgios Peyia (Saint George) Archaeological Site

Saint George Peyia is a popular pilgrimage, founded at Cape Drepanon in the Paphos District. Between 1952 and 1955, the department of Antiqu...

Pages