Mesogi, a small community of 2,000 residents just 8 kilometres northeast of Paphos, is preparing to request a revision of its planning zones, aiming for development without sacrificing its character.
Built at an altitude of 290 metres with a panoramic sea view, Mesogi is known for its basket-weaving tradition — a craft inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List since 2016. Community leader Nikolas Aresti, who has been at the helm for eight and a half years, believes the countryside can once again become attractive for young people.
The top priority is converting the bypass road into a commercial zone. Preliminary proposals have already been sent to the Planning Authority. At the same time, efforts are under way to rezone agricultural areas as residential, mainly to the north of the village, where altitude and views have driven demand.
In recent years the community has completed major projects: three flood-prevention works — the latest costing €180,000 — road widening, the creation of a community kindergarten and the construction of a new cemetery. Remarkably, all were funded entirely from the community’s own resources, as Mesogi is ineligible for European funds due to its inclusion in a local plan.
Plans for 2026 include opening a major road in the Manas tou Nerou area and launching an annual festival dedicated to basket-weaving — a gesture honouring the history and identity of this unique village.
