Shepherd in the Troodos Mountains

The thick cedar and pine forests and sun-soaked slopes of the Troodos region offer an unexpected contrast to the Mediterranean coast, less than an hour away. Halfway between the busy towns of Nicosia and Limassol, halfway between sea and sky, rising to 1,950 meters (6,500 feet), Troodos is a counterpoint to the rest of the island.

Connecting the mountain resorts of Troodos, Kakopetria, Platres, and Agros are trails that hold delights for mountain bikers, hikers, bird watchers and botanists alike. Signs mark the presence of flora and fauna unique to Cyprus. Glimpses of the blue sea beyond peek through the lace-like canopy of cedar trees.

Nature at its best

Close enough to touch, herds of grazing moufflon, or agrino — the shaggy mountain sheep indigenous to Cyprus — pass by. And the clear mountain air is fragrant with lemon and orange from the groves below. Happily, a natural reserve in the heart of the region insures that this wild beauty will remain forever.

 

Inside of Asinou Church, covered with 12th-century Byzantine murals. A truly extraordinary sight.

Along the way, each village will be glad to offer you its local specialty, whether that be a mountain goat cheese, a characterful Cypriot wine, fresh cherries, or rosewater. And of course, because you’re still on Cyprus, history and culture are never far away.

Nine of Troodos’s remarkable painted Byzantine churches have been listed on UNESCO’s prestigious World Cultural Heritage List. The famous Kykkos and Trooditissa Monasteries are well worth a visit for their icons, frescoes, and inspiring architecture.

 

Platanistasa Lagoudera Pelendri Kakopetria Galata Nikitari, Asinou Church Kalopanagiotis Moutoullas	Pedoulas Kykkos Monastery Trooditissa Monastery Krasochoria Omodos Foini Koilani

 

	Platanistasa
		Stavros tou Agiasmati. Platanistasa village, 15 km from Agros, 30 km off the Lefkosia-Astromeritis Road. A 15th-century church, lying about 3 km outside this charming old village, retains the most complete cycles of mural paintings of the second half of the 15th century in Cyprus. Ask for the key from the village priest.
	Lagoudera
		Panagia tou Araka. Lagoudera village is 15 km from Agros or off the Kakopetria-Troodos-Lemesos Road (Karvounas crossroad). The 12th-century church situated just outside the village has fine frescoes. Together with Asinou Church and that of Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis, it is considered to be one of the most important Byzantine churches on the island. Ask for the key and be escorted by the priest, who is to be found in the premises next to the church.
	Pelendri
		Timiou Stavrou. 3 km below Kato Amiantos, off the Karvouna -Lemesos Road, 32 km from Lemesos. 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, the Holy Cross, with beautiful wall paintings, and the church of Panagia Katholiki in the center of the village.
	Kakopetria
		Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis. The church of Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis stands about 5 km to the north of the village. 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. The small 16th century-church of Panagia Theotokos, off the main road, has retained about half of its murals. The church of Agios Georgios Perachoritis has some very original wall paintings belonging to the first quarter of the 16th century. The old quarter of the village with its traditional houses has been declared a protected area.
	Galata
		There are four painted churches in and around the village. The church of Agios Sozomenos, dating from the early 16th century, retains a complete series of frescoes in the post-Byzantine style. The church of Archangelos Michail is a timber-roofed chapel and is completely painted in the post-Byzantine style. Nearby is the larger church of Panagia 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 Agia Paraskevi on the old Kakopetria-Galata Road has murals dating to 1514.
	Nikitari, Asinou Church
		5 km from Nikitari village, off the main Lefkosia-Troodos road, around 20 km north of Kakopetria. An early 12th-century church dedicated to the Virgin Mary with frescoes of the 12th century and later periods, considered to be among the finest examples of Byzantine mural painting in the island. Visitors should ask for the priest of Nikitari village to escort them.
	Kalopanagiotis
		Agios Ioannis Lampadistis. The village is famous for its sulphur springs and the church of Agios Ioannis Lampadistis, with excellent frescoes of the 13th and 15th centuries. It is a complex of two churches and a chapel. One of the biggest religious fairs in the valley is held here on St. John’s day, 4th October.
	Moutoullas
		Panagia tou Moutoulla. Less than a kilometer further up is Moutoullas village, with its tiny 13th-century chapel of Panagia tou Moutoulla, an early example of the steep-pitched wooden roof type with frescoes dating to 1280. Visitors can obtain the key from the adjacent house. The traditional craft of wooden carved basins has been preserved in Moutoullas.
	Pedoulas
		Archangelos Michail. The third village up the mountain is Pedoulas, a summer resort famous for its cherries. The painted church of Archangelos Michail in the lower part of the village dates from 1474. Visitors can obtain the key from the adjacent house.
	Kykkos Monastery
		20 km west of Pedoulas village. 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 Saint Luke. The first President of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios III, served here as a novice. At his own wish he was buried at Throni, 3 km west of the Monastery. Fairs are held at Kykkos on 15th August and 8th September.
	Trooditissa Monastery
		5 km northwest of Platres, on the Platres-Prodromos Road. This beautiful monastery was originally founded in the 13th century. The present church dates from 1731 and contains many valuable icons. A large religious fair is held on the grounds on 15th August.
	Krasochoria
		The area of Krasochoria, meaning ‘wine villages,’ is found on the south side of the Troodos range. Traditions are kept alive in these villages, where wine making is still the main occupation. The area produces famous dry red wines (Omodos, Arsos, Vasa and Koilani).
	Omodos
		11 km southwest of Platres. A wine-producing village, once the property of Sir John De Brie, Prince of Galilee, with the Monastery of Stavros, ‘Holy Cross,’ standing by the stone-paved square. A festival is held in the village every August, and there is a large religious fair on the 14th of September.
	Foini
		4 km west of Platres. Famous for its pottery and its loukoumi sweet. Visitors can see the Pilavakeion private pottery collection.
	Koilani
		1.5 km southwest of Pera Pedi, off the Lemesos-Troodos Road. An attractive wine-producing village with the single aisle vaulted church of Agia Mavri, typical of the 12th century. Also has its own local ecclesiastical museum.

        

               

Shopping in Cyprus is a fun experience because it mirrors the fact that the island is such a land of wonderful contrasts. You can find goods and products that are produced in the humblest village workshop, but you can also find the highest fashions in the larger, more sophisticated cities. You can buy everything from folk art souvenirs to locally-made cheeses, (including delicious Halloumi) and local wines and spirits.

The historic folk arts of Cyprus are the inspiration for many of the quality gift and souvenir items you can buy on the island. Among them laces named after the village of Lefkara, embroideries from Pafos — called “Pafitika” fabric — and fine pottery, woodwork, leather and metal work from many places; all deservedly famous.

Fabrics are used in a large number of different items and come in styles to fit every taste. Many have a story to tell.

Lefkaritica lace, for example, was made well before the Venetians came to prize it as an expression of quality folk art. But even though its roots are in history, Lefkaritica is a living tradition, with new designs in table cloths, curtains, placemats and dresser sets being added continually.

One way or another, if you are looking for items that can be worn, or carried, or placed on the table, the wall or the floor, Cyprus is the place for you.

The history of Cyprus also finds expression in its metal wear made from locally-mined materials. Well before the Bronze age, Cyprus was known for its copper pots, saucepans and planters, all of which make wonderful gifts for the practical-minded recipient, or can adorn your own kitchen at home.

Then there is gold and silver jewelry, much of it faithful reproductions of ancient designs, and often exceptional examples of Cyprus folk art skills.

Pottery making has also a long tradition on Cyprus. Look for the terra cotta ware with white decorations, copied from museum pieces. Beautifully decorated gourds are also available, and make surprisingly useful planters , vases, carafes and scoops.

Basket-weaving is a specialty of the village of Mesoyi, which produces brightly ribboned items that make perfect wall hangings. Footstools, wood carvings, pine dowry chests, small boxes and shelves, all are available — some decorated with, birds, flowers, rosettes, trees and religious symbols. The Cyprus Handicraft Service, is a government-run organization that specializes in craft work It has stores in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaka, and Pafos.

Shopping in Cyprus is a joy, whether you want that memorable rustic souvenir, want to take advantage of certain local bargains such as contact lenses, frames and other optical items, or whether you take the opportunity to look for that special something, a chic item of clothing from the one of the shops in the big cities, for example.

ARTEMIS / ATALANTE / KALEDONIA / PERSEPHONE NATURE TRAILS

The thick cedar and pine forests and sun soaked slopes of the Troodos region offer an unexpected contrast to the Mediterranean coast. All four nature trails are found in a state forest which, because of its particular importance, is classified as a National Forest Park, while some smaller areas with sensitive biotopes were chosen as Nature Reserves. Signs mark the presence of Flora and fauna unique to Cyprus.

CEDAR VALLEY / STAVROS TIS PSOKAS

The Cedar Valley is a forest unlike any other in the Mediterranean. Its 200,000 indigenous cedar trees are of a type found exclusively in Cyprus and they provide the natural habitat for the moufflon, a breed of large mountain goat also believed to be unique to Cyprus. Rarely seen by man outside captivity the moufflon are protected species and the Cyprus Government has set up a national preserve for the breed at Stavros tis Psokas. Overnight accommodation is available at the Forest Station’s guest house next to the preserve.

The Troodos Mountains are at the heart of Cyprus and the available places to stay allow you to sample the life as it is lived in Cyprus. There are so many fascinating out-of-the way spots with that you could spend many enjoyable days just going from one guest house to another, taking in the breathtaking scenery. The region has a variety of places to stay, ranging from small hotels to guest houses.

AGROTOURISM

Another form of accommodation is to stay in an Agrotourism establishment. Agrotourism (village of rural tourism) offers lodging facilities in existing houses with strong traditional character or in very small hotels rigidly preserving the traditional character and the environment of the area. Moreover, the program aims at the preservation of the architectural character of the communities and the revitalization of traditional crafts and skills. Cyprus offers a wide range of attractions to the visitor seeking this alternative holiday, including opportunities for walking-hiking, bird-watching, nature studies such as botany and geology, farming holidays etc. Some of the villages that participated in the agrotourism program are:

Limassol Region: Arsos, Lofou, Pissouri

Troodos Region: Kyperounta

Pafos Region: Pano Arodes, Houlou, Akourdalia, Kathikas, Goudi

Larnaka Region: Tochni, Kalavassos, Kato Drys

CONFERENCES/INCENTIVES

Cyprus is a popular meetings and conventions destination. Over 30,000 participants are welcomed annually from over 600 international organizations. Many major hotels have conference facilities. And the Cyprus International Conference Centre, in Nicosia, was designed for large-scale meetings and conventions and is one of the largest and best-equipped venues in the eastern Mediterranean.

And you only have to spend one day in Cyprus to realize what a perfect place it is for incentive meetings.

 E-mail the Cyprus Tourist Organization at gocyprus@aol.com for a directory of accommodations.

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