Rural Destinations
: Troodos
Troodos Religion and Culture
Troodos is where the old painted churches of
Cyprus, superb examples of Byzantine art can be found. Ten such
churches, with their remarkable pitched wooden roofs, icons and
frescoes, are listed UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Situated in beautiful
and tranquil settings, they are bound to impress the visitor. Troodos is
also host to some of the most divine monasteries, such as Machairas,
Kykkos, Trooditissa, Omodos and Mesa Potamos.
CTO is currently preparing a specialist
publication on Cyprus religious and cultural routes. The project is
being co-financed by EU Structural Funds. Two sites of particular
interest are:
Kykkos Monastery
(Reference E3 on Troodos area-Western) map
Founded in 1100 and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Its museum houses a
priceless collection of icons, manuscripts and other religious items.
Machairas Monastery
(18 on Troodos area-Eastern) map
Founded in 1148 when a miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary was discovered
in a nearby cave. The vestry of the monastery maintains a room where old
books and manuscripts are kept, exhibition areas and storage rooms with
icons and ecclesiastic objects. The
names and locations of the 10 churches on the UNESCO World Heritage list
in Troodos are:
|
Site |
Village |
Map Location |
| Agios Nikolaos tis
Stegis |
Kakopetria |
(17 on Troodos
area-Western) map |
| Agios Ioannis
Lambadistis |
Kalopanagiotis |
(16 on Troodos
area-Western) map |
| Panagia Asinou |
Nikitari |
(16 on Troodos
area-Eastern) map |
| Panagia to Araka |
Lagoudera |
(17 on Troodos
area-Eastern) map |
| Panagia (Moutoulla) |
Moutoullas |
(28 on Troodos
area-Western) map |
| Archangelos |
Pedoulas |
(18 on Troodos
area-Western) map |
| Timios Stavros |
Pelendri |
(38 on Troodos
area-Western) map |
| Panagia Podithou |
Galata |
(32 on Troodos
area-Western) map |
| Stavros tou
Agiasmati |
Platanistasa |
(19 on Troodos
area-Eastern) map |
| Metamorphosis tou
Sotiros |
Palaichori |
(13 on Troodos
area-Eastern) map |
|
