Design for 30 rooms, 9 villas, 14 apartments, 13 townhouses, with spa and restaurants
Work is in progress on the regeneration of the historic Berengaria hotel. Last night a gala dinner was held, in the presence of President Christodoulidis, while today a press conference was held on the progress of the work. It is noted that the development of the most historic mountain resort of Cyprus is now in the second phase of work by the residential and commercial property development company bbf.
According to what the “K” journalist, Maria Herakleous, told “SPORT FM 95.0” and the “DISPORA IDISSEON” show, the goal is for the hotel to open its doors on 2026. In addition to the restoration of the emblematic building, the goal is the revitalization and renewal of the wider area.
In fact, the outdoor area of the resort will be expanded to build mansions and small houses that will also be able to host people. As for the interior, it will become a library, while the staircase leading to the upper rooms will be preserved.
Specifically, Berengaria will consist of the listed hotel Berengaria, with 30 rooms, of which 6 will be suites, 12 connected rooms and the remaining 12 standard rooms, 14 apartments, a state-of-the-art spa, as well as 13 townhouses and 9 independent villas in the surrounding area. It is worth noting that the cost of the investment amounts to 35 million euros.
History
The Beregaria hotel is located at an altitude of 1,400 meters in the Troodos mountain range and has a unique history. The original owner of the accommodation was Ioannis Kokkalos, who was born around 1900 in Prodromos and the hotel was designed by the British architect Walter Henry Clarke.
The Berengaria Hotel was a luxurious accommodation for the time it was built and hosted the cream of the crop of Cyprus and the surrounding areas. Its name came from Queen Berengaria, wife of Richard the Lionheart. The history of this royal couple was linked to the area, as they are supposed to have visited Prodromos after their wedding.
This hotel was listed as the “hotel of the kings”, where many kings often visited it for their holidays. Some of its most famous visitors include Egypt's King Farouk, President Makarios, Israel's President Ezer Weisman, the then English governor of the island and many others, as detailed in the guest book.
The hotel gained a reputation for its excellent hospitality, as well as its Cypriot and French cuisine. It was also known for the music and dance events held there. It was built during the British colonial period and the owner of the hotel is said to have chosen this name to win the approval of the British authorities and obtain a license to operate the property.
During this period, the British did not favor Cypriot business activity. Despite the reputation it gained, the hotel struggled to meet the growing demands of its customers and gradually lost its glamour. In 1984, it was closed after the suspension of its operating license by the Cyprus Tourism Organization.
The Beregaria Hotel began construction in 1927, but encountered several problems during construction, as if forebodings of its future failure. Two years after construction began, work was halted due to a lack of iron, causing cracks in the building's walls and leading to the necessary demolition and restart of construction a year later. It was finally completed in 1931.
The building is impressive, especially for its time and location, as it was built with stone from the area and has extensive and complex spaces. At times, there were rumors that the hotel might reopen, and other rumors said it would be turned into a hotel-casino.
The revolutionary development of the historic mountain resort of Cyprus, the once glittering “Jewel of the Forerunner”, Hotel Beregaria, is now in the second phase of urgent restoration and renovation works, by the well-known property development company, bbf. This ambitious development aims to restore the hotel to its former glory, creating a harmonious bridge between the past and the present. The aim is to restore the Beregaria Hotel as a remarkable landmark and a true jewel of Prodromos.
The first phase of work has already been completed and the second phase is underway, expected to be completed initially in 2024. At the same time, the advisory group is continuing its studies, based on a timetable which envisages the completion of the project by 2026.
The hotel's luxury suites have been carefully designed to create a warm and elegant atmosphere that will meet every need of the guests. They provide all the comforts one would expect from a modern high quality hotel. In addition, guests can enjoy an unobstructed view of the rich forest with aromatic pines and the impressive natural landscape that surrounds the hotel. This enchanting natural environment stretches in every direction and can be enjoyed from any point of the hotel where the guests are.
