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Description
The population of Alona, and surrounding villages of the Pitsilia locale, like Platanistassa, have traditionally been Greek-speaking and Christian. Moslem Turks did not live in the area between 1572 and 1964, although lots of Turks would holiday there. There have been periods of Catholic and Venetian domination, however, with the Church of Cyprus becoming dissolved.
Alona annually hosts a festival to mark the feast day of the Dormition of the Mother of God, on the 15th of August. This event involves traditional Cypriot music and food. There are two very old churches, the main one being St George, which houses an exceptional icon of the saint. The village has a library, and a Co-operative. The Cypriot modern painter Telemachos Kanthos had a house in the village and many of his oils are of the surrounding mountain scenery.