The village & its olive mill

The village has been in existence since 1763 when the first building was constructed in the area of the olive press.  A few years later the private olive mill was built, during the tenure of Abbot Filaret at Arkadi Monastery.  Arkadi Monastery is only 4 km away from the settlement and is an important cultural and historical site well worth visiting.  At the time the olive press was built some houses were also added, and further houses were built in the following years to give a total of 15 buildings of one or two storeys. The original buildings had flat roofs; later ones had pitched roofs and were simple in design with arches of carved stone.

Written sources indicate a long tradition of oil production which peaked in the second half of the 18th century.  The land register of the monastery states that in the last decade of the 19th century Kapsaliana had 1247 olive trees.  All this changed when the olive press closed down in 1955 and the settlement was gradually abandoned.

Close to the main buildings is the small church of Archangel Michael which has been maintained in its original state and is worth visiting when you stroll around the settlement.