By The mountain village of Arakapas, renowned for producing some of the finest mandarins in Cyprus, welcomed more than 1,200 visitors on Sunday, 1st February 2026, for the third edition of the Arakapas Mountain Festival, a celebration that combined agriculture, tradition and international friendship.
Nestled in the hills of the Limassol district, Arakapas may count only around 200 permanent residents, yet during the festival it transformed into a vibrant cultural meeting point, attracting visitors from across Cyprus, including Limassol, Nicosia, Larnaca and Paphos.
Held under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture, the festival showcased the region’s long-standing expertise in mandarin cultivation and citrus production, highlighting both traditional practices and modern approaches to agricultural sustainability.
Local producers presented fresh fruit and a variety of citrus-based products, offering visitors a taste of the area’s agricultural heritage, passed down through generations.
A distinctive element of this year’s festival was its strong international dimension.
Among the guests were representatives of the diplomatic community, including the Ambassador of Cuba to Cyprus, whose presence underlined the growing cultural ties between the two countries. The visit was warmly received by local authorities and was seen as a meaningful step toward future cultural exchanges and initiatives based on shared values of community, tradition and cooperation.
Particular attention was drawn to the role of local families and producers, whose collective effort has preserved Arakapas’ citrus tradition for more than three generations. Their participation embodied the spirit of the festival: a genuine celebration of land, people and shared identity.
The Arakapas Mountain Festival once again demonstrated how small rural communities can play a powerful role in cultural diplomacy, bringing people together beyond borders through heritage, hospitality and human connection.
Source: The Embassy of Cuba in Cyprus
