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Nothing could be more dramatically different from Mediterranean beach life, than the impressive mountain range that stretches across the centre of Cyprus and reaches up to 1.952 metres at Chionistra, the highest point of Mount Olympos. Admiring panoramic vistas and breathtaking the cool, pine-scented air makes a heady change from the coasts and plains which are only a relatively short drive away.
There's plenty to see in these mountains. Nine of the many Byzantine churches are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List for the exquisite art depicted in their icons, frescoes and architecture. Moufflon have been protected for a number of years in a huge natural reserve in the magnificent Cedar Valley, and nowadays these timid creatures can often be seen by visitors.
There are scenic walks to take, a great variety of interesting birds and flora to be seen, waterfalls and special picnic sites, and above all, there are villages of immeasurable charm to wander round, or simply to dally in and observe the unhurried rustic country life. The mountain villages are absolutely charming and the people friendly and hospitable. Each village has a special crop, craft or product for which it is known - fruits such as cherries, apples or peaches sweet specialities like soujouko and palouze, wines, zivania - a highly alcoholic vine by-product, rosewater, pottery ... the list is endless.
A stay in the mountains is definitely recommended. There you will enjoy the morning mist on the mountain peaks, cool air and breathtaking views that makes staying at one of the 'hillside' hotels a welcome break.
The higher slopes are thronged with sports enthusiasts throughout the year, so much for skiing as for hiking along the nature trails, which have clearly marked environmental features of interest.
A number of interesting monasteries are scattered in the Troodos range. The largest and most famous is Kykko monastery , with a golden icon of the Virgin Mary, allegedly painted by Saint Luke. Other monasteries are Machairas and Trooditissa with its distinctive steepy sloped roof.
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Nine Byzantine churches in the Troodos mountains, are included in the official UNESCO list of the World Heritage. These are:Stavros tou Ayiasmati, Panayia tou Araka, Timiou Stavrou at Pelendri, Ayios Nicolaos tis Stegis, Panayia Podithou, Panagyia tis Asinou, Ayios Ioannis Lampadistis, Panayia tou Moutoulla, and Archangel Michael at Pedhoulas.The impressive Troodos mountain range stretches across most of the western side of Cyprus, offering cool sanctuary and idyllic hours spent in long walks in its scented pine forests in summer and winter sports and skiing in winter.Famous mountain resorts, Byzantine monasteries and churches perched on mountain peaks, and nestling in its valleys and picturesque mountain villages clinging to terraced hill slopes, make up the splendour of Troodos.The area has been known since ancient times for its mines, and in the Byzantine period it became a great centre of Byzantine art, as churches and monasteries were built in the mountains, away from the threatened coastline.In the Troodos mountain range, besides Machairas to the east, and the actual Troodos district around Mount Olympus (height 1951 metres), there are four other districts, each of which has its own character and separate charm.These districts are:Pitsillia to the east of Mount Olympus; Solea Valley; Marathasa Valley to the north of Mount Olympus; and Krassochoria, the Wine Villages, to the south (north-west of the Limassol district). These are easy to reach from either Limassol or Nicosia.
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Pitsilia
The Pitsilia area lies on the eastern slopes of the Troodos mountains range. Picturesque villages cling to the mountainside amid vineyards, orchards of almond and hazelnut trees, and an astonishing array of wild flowers. |
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Palaichori
The Church of the transfiguration of the Saviour (tou Sotiros) is an early 16th century chapel on the hill overlooking the beautiful old villages. Its interior is completely painted with one of the most accomplished series of murals, of the post-Byzantine period in Cyprus. The church of Panayia Chrysopantanassa, built in the 16th century, is the main church of the upper village. It also has four cycles of wall paintings. |
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Platanistassa
Stavros tou Ayiasmati, a 15th century church, lying about 3km outside this very pleasant old village, retains the most complete cycles of wall paintings of the second half of the 15th century in Cyprus. |
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Lagoudhera
Panayia tou Araka.This 12th century church stands just outside the village and has some of the finest frescoes of the late Comnenian style (c.1192) prevailing throughout Greece, the Balkans and Russia.Together with Asinou church and that of Ayios Nikolaos tis Stegis, it is considered to be one of the most important Byzantine churches on the island.
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Pelendri
Timiou Starvrou.Once the property of Jean de Lusignan, son of the Lusignan King of Cyprus, Hugh IV. There are two interesting churches, the 14th century church of Timiou Stavrou with beautiful wall paintings and the 14th century church of Panayia Katholiki in the middle of the old village which dates to the early 16th century with paintings of the Italo-Byzantine style.
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Kakopetria
The church of Ayios Nikolaos tis Stegis (St. Nicholas of the Roof) stands about 5km above the village and once belonged to a monastery. It is completely painted with murals dating from the 11th to the 17th century and is considered one of the most interesting Byzantine churches on the island. It gets its name from the steep pitched wooden roof which was built to protect it from climatological conditions. The small 16th century church of Panayia Theotokos, off the main road, retains about half of its murals. The church of Ayios Georghios Perachoritis, to the east of the village, has some very original wall paintings belonging to the first quarter of the 16th century.The old quarter of the village has been declared a protected area and old houses have been restored.
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Galata
Panayia Podithou.There are four painted churches in and around the village. The church of Ayios Sozomenos dates to the early 16th century and retains a complete series of frescoes in the post-Byzantine style. The church of the Archangel Michael or Panayia Theotokos is a timber-roofed chapel just below the village and is completely painted in the post-Byzantine style of the early 16th century. Nearby, is the larger church of Panayia Podithou which once belonged to a monastery. It was erected in 1502 and its paintings are of the Italo-Byzantine style. The small church of Ayia Paraskevi on the old Kakopetria-Galata road has paintings of 1514. The old inn, the Hani Kallianon, which has been restored is an interesting example of rural architecture.
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Kalopanayiotis
Ayios Ioannis Lampadistis.The village is famous for its sulphur springs and the famous church of Ayios Ioannis Lampadistis with excellent frescoes of the 13th and 15th centuries. Originally a monastery, it is a complex of several buildings of various dates. One of the biggest religious fairs in the valley is held here on 4 October, St. John's day.
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Pedhoulas
Archangelos Michael.Pedhoulas is a summer resort famous for its cherries. The painted church of Archangel Michael stands in the lower part of the village and dates from 1474.
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Kykko Monastery
The most famous and richest monastery in Cyprus. Founded in 1100 and dedicated to the Virgin Mary, it possesses one of the three surviving icons ascribed to St. Luke. The icon, covered in silver gilt and enclosed in a shrine of tortoiseshell and mother-of-pearl, stands at the front of the iconostasis. The first President of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios III served as a novice here. At his own wish, he was buried at Throni, 3km west of the Monastery, not far from his native village of Panayia.
Religious fairs are held at Kykko on 15 August and 8 September.
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