The Municipality of Strovolos was established in 1986 according to the Municipal Law Ν. 111/85  and is the second largest Municipality in Cyprus after Limassol, with a population of over 70.000 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 Martyr Archbishop 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 9th July 1821.

Strovolos is now a big city that covers an area of 25km² is divided into six parishes: Chryseleousa, Ayios Demetrios, Apostolos 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.

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The Municipal Council consists of 27 members: The Mayor, the Vice-mayor and 25 Municipal Counselors. The responsibilities, as well as the duties and powers of the Council, are described in Articles 83, 84 and 85 of the Municipal Law N. 111/85.

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:

  • Finance Steering Committee
  • Personnel Committee
  • Technical Committee
  • Cultural Committee
  • Environment and Energy Committee
  • Public Health and Sanitation Committee
  • Committee on Youth and Sport
  • Public Relations Committee
  • Social Welfare Committee
  • Traffic Safety Committee
  • Regufee Issues Committee
  • Committee on European Affairs
  • Committee for Development of the Old City of Strovolos
  • Public Market Committee
  • Taxation Committee
  • Tenders Committee
  • Executive Committee
  • Workers Employment Committee
  • Board of Strovolos Municipal Multifunctional Foundation

The Municipal Service consists of 93 employees and 178 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:

  • Administration and Personnel Department
  • Finance Department
  • Technical Department which is divided into the sector of Licensing and Land Division and Sector of Construction and Maintenance
  • Environmental Development Department
  • Public Health and Sanitation Department
  • Cultural Affairs Sector

A Citizen’s Service Bureau and a Health and Safety Bureau also operate in the Municipality.

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 housing the 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.

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The Municipality of Strovolos has given a great attention to Culture since its establishment. A Municipal Library has been established, as well as a Municipal Choir, a Folklore Dance Club, a Photography Club, a String Orchestra, a Literature Club and the Symphonic Band of the Municipality of Strovolos – European University of Cyprus.

The annual cultural programme of the Municipality includes a variety of events from both domestic and Greek artists. The cultural events of the Municipality include concerts covering a wide repertoire, art exhibitions, lectures, dance and theatrical performances, festivals, anniversary events and events dedicated to children.

Artists who are interested in participating in the cultural programme of the Municipality, submit their proposals to the Municipality, following a published call of interest. All proposals are first evaluated by the Committee of Cultural Affairs and then by the City Council.

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In 2003, the Strovolos Municipal Theater was completed. The theatre is considered to be a very important project, covering a big gap in the cultural life of the Municipality and of Cyprus in general.

The Municipal Theatre and the Music Hall of the Municipality of Strovolos have 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.

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The Municipal Council of Strovolos has decided to renovate, improve and extent the old Municipal Building which is situated in the old city centre of Strovolos, so as to be used as the Municipal Library (new building) and as a Cultural Centre.

Τhe Cultural Center is one of the first Public Buildings in Cyprus which has been restored, designed, constructed and operated as a building of low energy consumption across Europe and has been included as an example of good practice in the European Green Public Procurement.

For the cultivation, promotion and growth of athleticism, the Municipality has created the Strovolos Municipal Sports Center in 1991 which is situated next to Ayios Demetrios park in 20 Koritsas Street, 2012 Strovolos, between Makarios Hospital and the English School. The telephone number for bookings or information is 22 318358.

The centre consists of four (4) futsal pitches,  a mini Football Pitch,  a running track and four (4) tennis courts with all necessary facilities, like washrooms-changing rooms, lockers, an administration office, etc.

The Sports Centre operates under the supervision of four (4) caretakers.

In September 2011, the Strovolos Municipality began the preparations for the establishment of a Football Academy.

The Football Academy of Strovolos is in its seventh year of operation and hosts 60 children of elementary schools aged 6 to 12 in a very friendly environment.

Various charity activities are also held annually in which citizens can participate, such as a Road Race, Futsal Tournaments etc

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In the area of Strovolos Municipality, 65 organized parks have been created as spaces for the entertainment of the citizens.

More than 250 green spaces have been created, 340,000m² in total, while at the same time approximately 40,000 trees were planted in public areas, municipal parking lots and other areas. There are 32 organized green areas with amphitheatres, lakes, fountains and 64 playgrounds.

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

After the decision of the Municipal Council the caves of the Acropolis park have been turned into an exhibition area. The installation of the necessary infrastructure has been completed so that the caves can operate as a room for lectures, seminars, exhibitions, music performances, book presentations and other events.

The caves have begun to host several events. The place is at the public’s disposal to organise activities or events, as described above.

The Municipality of Strovolos has established the Strovolos Municipality Multi-Functional Foundation in 1994, a non-profit foundation responsible for the development and implementation of Social Policy in the area of Strovolos.

The Foundation is subsidised mainly by the Municipality of Strovolos, the Social Welfare Services of the Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance and relevant European programmes.

Under the framework of the Foundation, the following programmes and activities of Social Policy function, which cover a wide spectrum of social services for various social groups in the local society of Strovolos:

  1. SERVICES/PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE IN THE THIRD AGE
    • Daily Center for Elderly People
    • Training programme for the provision of a “Certificate of Professional Care of older people”
  1. SERVICES/PROGRAMMES/ACTIONS FOR SUPPORTING THE FAMILY
    • Childcare Centers for the Protection, Recreation and Education
    • Childens’ Camps
    • School Social Worker
    • Katina Mikellidou Foundation
    • Trainning Programmes
    • Implementation of research for families with children in Strovolos Municipality
  1. SERVICES/PROGRAMS/ACTIONS FOR SUPPORT TO DISPOSING OF PEOPLE
    • Counseling Center
    • “Street Work” Social Programs
    • Support to Disposing of People and Families
  1. SERVICES/PROGRAMS/ACTIONS FOR DEVELOPING FURTHER SOCIAL POLICY IN STROVOLOS
    • Municipal Prevention and Social Support Groups
    • Local Prevention and Social Support Groups – “Neighborhood Watcher”
    • Social Integration Programme for Third-Country Nationals