Within the next few days, the contracts for the completion of the Gastronomy School in the community of Moniatis are expected to be signed with the construction company J. Mantis Construction, which has been awarded the related tender announced by the Moniatis Community Council.

As the community president of Moniatis, Mr. Charalambos Konstantinidis, told “Entrepreneurial Limassol”, the project was awarded for an amount of around 590 thousand euros.

According to the community president, the Local Authority aims for the Gastronomy School to operate under the Ministry of Education and to be included in the Post-Secondary Institutes of Vocational Education and Training (MIEEK).

The Director of Secondary Technical and Vocational Education of the Ministry of Education, Mr. Elias Markatzis, with whom “Entrepreneurial Limassol” communicated, stated that he had a relevant discussion with the community president, and it was agreed to hold a preliminary meeting within December. Mr. Konstantinidis added that Mr. Markatzis is expected to visit Moniatis on December 15 for an on-site discussion.

It should be noted that the Ministry of Education has been operating a School of Oenology at the Omodos Technical School for the past six years, which “Entrepreneurial Limassol” has presented in the past.

It should be noted that a tender for the Gastronomy School project had also been announced last July, but it was not awarded, as only one bid was submitted, which was considered too high. Following this development, certain tasks were removed to make the tender more attractive to interested contractors, and it was re-announced with a successful outcome.

The president of the Moniatis Community Council stated that the Local Authority is promoting a broader development initiative, which includes the creation of a Gastronomy Park, in which the Gastronomy School will also be integrated. He added that the creation of a fruit market, a restaurant for visitors, as well as a small workshop–canteen within the school’s facilities is planned. A visitor-friendly area with aromatic plants and a botanical garden will also be created, so that gastronomy is combined with experience and education.

Meanwhile, in the area of the Gastronomy Park, the state is planning the creation of a Park & Ride to offer greater convenience to residents and visitors. According to the community president, the process is progressing at a good pace.

The location of the transfer station in the area will bring certain changes to the master plan of the Gastronomy Park, which are expected to be finalized after the completion of the school’s building facilities.

The Commissioner for the Development of Mountain Communities, Mr. Charalambos Christofinas, stated that the Park & Ride matter is currently before the Public Works Department, which will prepare the relevant plans. Mr. Christofinas estimated that the design will be completed by the first half of 2026, paving the way for the project to be tendered. He also confirmed that efforts are being made for the Limassol Public Transport Company (EMEL) to operate a Transfer Station in the area in the meantime, in temporary facilities. “We are trying to find a place in the region that can operate immediately, because the process of creating the Park & Ride is expected to take around two years to complete,” he added.

The community president of Moniatis also includes in the community’s upgrading projects the plans for the reconstruction and maintenance of the Trimiklini double-arch bridge. He noted that works are underway on the road leading to the bridge, which is located within the administrative boundaries of Moniatis. The project, he said, is nearing completion, while at the same time the design for the maintenance and improvement of the double-arch bridge is being prepared.

The Community Council has contracted consultants for the enhancement of the monument, in consultation with the Department of Antiquities and the Town Planning Department (Conservation Sector), while a redevelopment plan is also being prepared, for which feedback has been requested from the Public Works Department.

Regarding the reconstruction and upgrading of the double-arch bridge, Mr. Charalambos Christofinas stated that the project has not yet matured, stressing that the communities have been asked to submit the relevant plans.