Solia or Solea, is a mountainous area of ​​Cyprus in Nicosia dinstrict at an altitude of 300-1300m. Is located on the north side of the Troodos Mountains. Solia is comprised of 18 villages which are built in two valleys. The river valley Klarios with 14 villages and the river valley Atsas with 4 villages. The village with the greatest altitude is Spilia

The name Solia or Solea, is derived from the ancient kingdom of Soloi. The kingdom was created in 1000 B.C.. and destroyed by Arabs  in 700 A.C.. The capital of the kingdom was the coastal city of Soloi, in today's bay of Morphou. After the dissolution of the kingdom the its capital was moved seven Km away from the coast near the Foucasa mines, but we do not know exactly ehere. Because of this the areawas called Solia or Solea. Here was the seat of the Bishop of Soloi too. The Diocese was abolished by the Franks in 1200 A.C. and exiled here Archbishop of the Orthodox Christians of the Island until the occupation of Cyprus by the Turks.

The villages of Klarios valley are: Kakopetria, Galata, Kalianna, Sinaoros, Tembria, Korakou, Evrychou, Flasou, St. Epiphanius, Linou, Katydata, Foucasa (Skouriotissa), Agios Georgios and Agios Nikolaos. The village of Saint Epiphanius was abandoned by its Turkish inhabitants were in 1974. Skouriotissa was a village of miners who fled when the nearby mine closed in 1974 due to the Turkish invasion. The villages of Agios Nikolaos and Agios Georgios were abandoned in 1974 by their inhabitants becayse their villages were in the buffer zone between free and occupied by Turkish troops region.

In the Atsas valley there are the villages of Spilia, Kourdali, St. Theodore, and Petra. The village of Petra was abandoned because it was occupied by Turkish troops in 1974. The village was destroyed and became a military zone.

olia is obvious that suffered much because of the Turkish Invasion, Six villages were abandoned, the road to the sea was closed and a the big and fruitful neighboring valley of Morphou, where many residents from Solia ware working, was lost. Also the Foucasa Mines was closed for a lot of years. Also were closed Chromium mines over Kakopetria and adjacent Amiantos mines. For these reasons, while the residents of the area in 1974 were 7 500, now are only 5000.

Many people involved in tourism  Through Solia passes one of the three main roads leading to the Troodos mountains.In the surrounding area there are many campsites. All of them, but above all the cool climate, the beautiful natural environment and its many caltural places, are attracting tourists every day but especially on weekends and in summer. The most touristic area of the region is Kakopetria village with many hotels, restaurants and shops. Galata and Spilia are good tourist villages too.

The Solia attractions are monasteries on the list of UNESCO monuments, old mills, ancient Byzantine churches, inns, folk neighborhoods, historic sites, heroes monuments, folk art museums and nature trails. Around Solia there are other interests such as botanical gardens, natural history museum, ski resorts and Byzantine monuments.

The natural environment in Solia is beautiful. Around the villages there are dense forests. At these the main tree is the pine that has been declared the national tree of Cyprus. The principal shrup is the golden oak that has been declared the national shrub of Cyprus. On the banks of rivers abounds the cyclamen which has been declared the national flower of Cyprus. You can also meet so many of the 127 endemic plants that exist only in Cyprus. Several nature trails are leading to beautiful places ..

Some Sightseeing of Solea
Kakopetria village
1. Saint Nicholas, a Byzantine church with important frescoes, UNESCO monument
2. Ancient Neighborhood
3. Watermill

Galata village
1. Podithou, Byzantine church with important frescoes, UNESCO monument
2. Archangel Michael, an ancient Byzantine church with frescoes
3. Saint Sozomenos, ancient Byzantine church with frescoes
4. Watermill of Kyrillos, who still works
5. Folk Neighborhood
6. Hania
7. Museum of Folk Art

Kalianna village
1. Ancient Byzantine church of Joachim and Anna
2. Khan
3. Watermill

1. Ancient Byzantine church

Evrychou village
1. Ancient Byzantine church of Agios Kyriakos
2. Ancient Railway Station
3. Watermill

Korakou village
1. Workshop herbs
2. Ancient temple of Virgin Mary

1. Ancient byzantine church

Flasou village
1. Watermill
2. Ancient Byzantine church
3. Ancient Monastery Panagia Kousouliotissa

1. Ancient Byzantine church

Katydata village
1. Museum of Foucasa mines

Skouriotissa village
1. Ancient Monastery of Virgin Mary

Spilia village
1. Ancient Olive mill
2. Museum of shoemaker
3. EOKA’s hideouts

4. Eight nature trails

Kourdali village
1. Ancient Monastery of Virgin Mary, still working