Cyprus: Troodos places of interest - Part 4

PELENDRI VILLAGE

The church of Timios Stavros (Church of the Holy Cross)

The village of Pelendri was once the property of Jean de Lusignan, son of the Lusignan King of Cyprus, Hugh IV. There are two interesting churches in the village. One is the 14th-century church of Timios Stavros with superb wall paintings of the Paleologian and other periods. It is listed UNESCO World Heritage site. The other is the church of Panagia Katholiki in the middle of the village, which dates to the early 16th century. It has paintings of the Italo Byzantine style.

NORTH OF TROODOS

SOLEA VALLEY

The beautiful valley of Solea is situated along the main Lefkosia Troodos road. The picturesque mountain villages of Galata and Kakopetria are popular hillside resorts with a range of hotels and restaurants. But they also retain much of their traditional architecture. Both villages are famous for their Byzantine churches. Other charming villages in the area are Evrichou, Flasou and Korakou.

Kakopetria is a popular hill resort with a beautiful central square and many traditional houses that have been restored. The old quarter of the village is a listed area where old houses have been carefully restored or reconstructed. The small 16th-century church of Panayia Theotokos still retains about half of its original wall paintings. The same applies to the church of Agios Georgios Perachoritis. To the east of the village dating to the early 16th century.

The church of Agios Nikolaos Stegis stands about 5km from Kakopetria. It once belonged to a monastery complex. It is covered entirely in wall paintings dating from the 11th to the 17th centuries and is considered one of the most interesting Byzantine churches on the island. It derives its name from its pitched wooden roof. The church is a listed UNESCO World Heritage site.

GALATA VILLAGE

There are four painted churches in and around the village of Galata:

Nearby is the church of Panagia Podithou, which once belonged to a monastery. It was built in 1502. Its paintings are of the Italo-Byzantine style, which appeared on the island towards the end of the 15th century. The church is a listed UNESCO World Heritage site.

The church of the Archangelos Michael or Panagia Theotokos is a timber-roofed chapel, just below the village, painted in the post-Byzantine style of the early 16th century.

The church of Agios Sozomenos, which stands in the middle of the old village, dates to the early 16th century and retains a complete series of frescoes in the post-Byzantine style.

The small church of Agia Paraskevi on the old Kakopetria-Galata road has paintings dating to 1514.

Another interesting place worth a visit is the old Inn “ The Hani Kalliana” which has been restored.