The Archontiko (The Mansion) was built in the year 1915 by Panayi Rousia (1883-1968), who got engaged to Kyriakou (of the Kylili family). Panayi and Kyriakou were married in 1920 and started a family of four children. There they lived right throughout the rest of their lives.

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In the year 2000, Panayiotis Eleftheriades (grandson of Panayi and Kyriakou Rousia) decided in the conversion of the building into a traditional guest room accommodation, believing in the development of tourism in the area of Palaichori having sight of its rich history and its unique picture of natural beauty.

 

Architecture of the building was Michalis Tsiaklis and the builder was the ADACO Construction  Ltd (Costas Constantinou).

 

This project was partly financed by European treasury of Peripheral Development of agro tourism (EVROPAIKO TAMIO PERIFEREIAKIS ANAPTYXIS TIS EVROPAIKIS ENOSIS) and the Republic of Cyprus.

 

The revival and conversion works of the building into guest room accommodation have commenced and completion for operation has now been made, in 2006.

 

It is probably the largest private investment in agrotourism which has happened till now in the area, which undoubtedly will contribute to the creation of the essential infrastructure for the development of tourism in the area.

 

Beyond the restoration and accession of the mansion, in the context of rural tourism in the form of guest room accommodation, we intend to give a character experience in some pursuits that form part of the Archontiko-Mansion and the culture in general.

 

The Archontiko was built and lived in at the time when the Rousias family and Palaichori were in a traditional and thriving handicraft and agriculture industry.  These include the fabrication of cultural works such as woodcarving, weaving with the loom, pottery, and also the processing of farming products. Evidence of these can still be seen at the Archontiko with many tools and products on display. 

 

Palaichori is also well known for the making of "zivania". A very high alcohol content drink that is sipped on straight. The distillation of "zivania", is a bi-product of the residue of wine making by the process of distillation, the preparation of different food dishes, and handicraft activities.

 

Within the bounds of the development of handicraft activities, a predominant place is held in the making of the traditional "vourka". The "Vourka" is very special to Palaichori and the Rousias -  Eleftheriades family. It is a saddle bag made of goat skin and used by the Sheppards.

 

The grandfather of the owner of the mansion was famous in the area for his skillfulness and his competence in the making of the "Vourka".

 

Christoforos Eleftheriades Archontiko's owner's father is the last person to inherit this amazing talent and skill in making the "Vourka".

 

The procedure for its making is not only skillful but is also quite interesting. In certain circumstances, it even started before the slaughter of the animal, where the goat was isolated and fed solely on barley for a stronger skin. Having fleeced the skin with hot water they would skin the goat, followed by a heavy salting of the skin where it dried tightly stretched in the sun, for the final preparation of the skin where it was used for the making of "Vourka" and in some cases for the manufacture of shoes.