The Zivania Festival in Alona

In the fall, Cyprus’s mountain villages fill with the aromas of grapes, smoked meat, and fresh zivania. One of the island’s most colorful traditional festivals takes place simultaneously in three villages—Pelendri, Alona, and Pedoulas—each of which is renowned for its traditions of producing the famous Cypriot drink.

The star of the festival is, of course, zivania. Guests can witness the ancient process of its preparation firsthand: the grapes are slowly distilled using traditional methods in special copper cauldrons. And afterward—tasting!

Here, zivania is served just as Cypriots themselves enjoy it: paired with local meat delicacies—such as the smoked pork leg known as chiomerí, lunza, and traditional Cypriot lukánika sausages.

But the festival is about much more than just food. Live folk music fills the village squares, dance troupes perform, and the fair stalls are stocked with local products and traditional Cypriot treats.

And all of this takes place amid the ancient streets and beautiful autumn landscapes of the Cypriot mountains. It’s a great excuse to get out of the city, discover rural Cyprus, and spend a whole day immersed in the atmosphere of a genuine local festival