Cyprus is often celebrated for its beaches, ancient ruins, and mountain villages, but some places tell a different kind of story—one of industry, hardship, and time’s relentless march. One such place is the Kokkinogia Mine in Mitsero, an abandoned copper mine that today stands as a haunting reminder of the island’s mining past. On the ground, it feels stark and unsettling. But from above, through the lens of a drone, the mine transforms into a surreal and strangely beautiful landscape.
The footage begins with an expansive view of the Mitsero countryside. Rolling hills, covered in muted greens and earthy browns, spread across the horizon. Then, the camera tilts downward, and the scar of Kokkinogia comes into focus—a vast pit of red and orange earth, striking against the surrounding natural palette. The mine’s name, Kokkinogia, translates to “Red Earth,” and from the air, it’s easy to see why. The soil glows in shades of rust and ochre, a bold contrast to the softer tones of the landscape around it.
As the drone glides lower, the details of the abandoned site reveal themselves. Old mining structures, skeletal and rusting, dot the edges of the pit. Their straight lines and angular shapes clash with the organic curves of the hills, emphasising how industry once carved its way into nature. Pools of rainwater collect at the bottom, reflecting the sky in surreal shades of green and brown. It’s both haunting and mesmerising, a place where beauty and desolation coexist.
From above, Kokkinogia feels almost otherworldly. The patterns of the earth, carved by human hands and weathered by time, look like abstract art—layer upon layer of colour and texture. The drone’s perspective gives context to the sheer scale of the site, reminding us how massive the mining operation once was. Standing at the edge of the pit might make you feel small, but seeing it from the sky emphasises just how much the land has been transformed.
What makes this footage compelling is not only the stark visuals but also the sense of history it carries. Cyprus has a long relationship with mining, stretching back to antiquity, when its copper was prized across the Mediterranean. The Kokkinogia Mine belongs to a more recent chapter of that story—an era of industrial extraction that has now faded into silence. The drone hovers over the remains like a witness, capturing a frozen moment in the island’s past.
As the video closes with a wide, sweeping ascent, Kokkinogia becomes just one element in the broader landscape—a scar on the earth, yet also part of it. It stands as a reminder that not all travel is about beaches and sunsets. Sometimes, it’s about standing face-to-face with history’s remnants, acknowledging both their harshness and their strange beauty.
For the traveller seeking something different, the Kokkinogia Mine in Mitsero offers exactly that. From the ground, it feels raw and haunting. From the sky, it becomes a powerful story written into the landscape.
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