STROVOLOS HISTORY

The Municipality of Strovolos was established in 1986 and is the second largest Municipality in Cyprus after Limassol, with a population of over 60.000 inhabitants.

There are references to Strovolos or Strovilos since the Μiddle Ages from the well-known medieval chronicler Leontios Macheras and from Forius Boustronius a little later. According to these sources, Strovolos was a royal field during the years of Frankish Rule. A major figure in the history of Strovolos was the National MartyrArchbishop Kyprianos, who during the Revolution of 1821, contributed greatly to the preservation of the Greek spirit and Christianity. The Turks hanged Archbishop Kyprianos and other high priest and dignitaries of Cyprus on 9 th July 1821.

Strovolos is now a big city that covers an area of 25km 2 and is divided into six parishes: Chryseleousa, Ayios Demetrios, Apostle Varnavas and Ayios Makarios, Ayios Vasilios, National Martyr Kyprianos and Stavros.

Strovolos evolved in its present condition after the tragic events of 1974, when Turkey invaded Cyprus and occupied 38% of the island’s territory. Due to this event many refugees settled within the city of Strovolos.

Since 1974, a big industrial area was created in Strovolos and the areas of services and manufactures have developed to a great extend.

The Municipal Council consists of 27 members: The Mayor, the vice-mayor and 25 Municipal Counselors.

The Mayor chairs the Council Meetings, is the executive authority of the Municipality and heads the Services. In order to facilitate the work of the Municipal Council, the following Municipal Committees have been set up:

The Administrative Committee, the Technical Committee, the Public Health and Sanitation Committee, the European Affairs Committee, the Personnel Committee, the Cultural Affairs Committee, the Environment Committee, the Sports and Youth Committee, the Public Relations Committee, the Social Welfare Committee, the Road Safety Committee, the Refugee Affairs Committee, the Tenders Committee, the Planning and Studies Committee, e.t.c.

The Municipal Service consists of 80 employees and 142 workers. The General Secretary (Town Clerk) is the General Director of the Municipality. The Service is divided into the following Services/Departments, each of which has its own head of Department:

The Administrative Service, the Financial Service, the Technical Service which is divided into a) the Design, Project Management and land division department, b) the Building Permission Department and c) the Constructions Department, the Environment and Parks Department, the Public Health Department, the Cleanliness Department and the Cultural Activities Department.

The Municipal Service has been housed in a modern building since August 2001. The building corresponds to the needs of a modern organization and gives the personnel the facility to work in a pleasant environment, giving it the opportunity to respond to the many needs of Strovolos´ citizens. It is a three-floored building with an underground, a ground floor, a middle floor and two other floors. The building has got underground and external parking places, storing places, a reception place, a cafeteria, a room for exhibitions, a room for the conferences of the Municipal Council, rooms for the committees´ conferences as well as offices for housingthe Services and the Departments of the Municipality. On the North side of the building, a square has been formed which is surrounded by green areas for the organization of outdoors activities. The square is joined with the rest of the building and is extended through a semi-out door portico to the Linear Park and the Pedieos River.

The Municipality of Strovolos has given a great attention to Culture since its establishment. A Municipal Library has been established, as well as a Geographical Museum, a Municipal Choir, a Children’s Choir, Children’s Theatre workshops and a Photography Club. The Hall of music and theatre has been completed and is in operation since 2003, a construction that constitutes a milestone in the history of the contemporary culture covering a big gap of the cultural life of Strovolos and of Cyprus in general.

THE MUNICIPAL THEATRE OF STROVOLOS

The Municipal Theatre and the Music Hall of the Municipality of Strovolos has been designed so as to host a broad amount of artistic activities such as concerts, operas, ballets, and theatre performances. Its size is for about 870 people including seats for people with special needs. This place has been designed with high standards. Particular attention has been paid to the study and implementation of the acoustic demands. Up to today the acoustic results have been proved to be very good according to the positive comments and the enthusiasm of the musical conductors, the soloists, and of the musicians who participated in several activities in the Hall.

The whole set of buildings has a big reception place which is connected with the reception place of the Municipal Building, modern and comfortable dressing rooms with hygienic places, a modern practice hall, a refreshment room for the artists, offices and storing places. It has all the equipment that is necessary for the successful organization and attendance of performances.

The construction of the Municipal Theatre indicates the beginning of a promising era for the cultural activities of Cyprus and it opens new horizons for the improvement of the culture and the citizens’ quality of life.

ATHLETICS

For the development of athletics, an area for which the Municipality of Strovolos has a long tradition, the Municipality established the Municipal Athletic Center in which, among other facilities, includes a football pitch, mini football pitches and tennis courts.

ENVIRONMENT

Bright green parks have been created for the entertainment of the citizens, parks that beautify and transform the whole area. More than 100 green places have been created in the city of Strovolos. Today 42 organized green places exist with amphitheatres, lakes, fountains and play-places.

The best parks are those of Acropolis and Ayios Demetrios which are one of a kind.

SOCIAL WELFARE

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