Troodos Mountains

The Troodos mountain range in Cyprus is a resort area with healing air, special climate, rare animals and plants. Every year tourists from all over the world come here to admire the majestic nature, to touch the history by visiting ancient monasteries, to get acquainted with the way of life of the Cypriots and relax in the modern ski resort. You can see the sights on their own or with a tour.

Where is Troodos

In the western part of Cyprus is a mountain system of Cyprus – Troodos, which occupies one-third of its area. The steep serpentine ride offers spectacular views from the highest point, Mt. Olymbos, which rises to 1,952 meters above sea level.

In the foothills are the cities of Polis and Paphos, famous for their clean beaches and warm sea. If you choose them for a beach holiday, then, tired of the heat, you can always go up into the mountains.

Climate and weather conditions

The Mediterranean climate of Cyprus is dry, hot summers and humid, warm winters. In the Troodos Mountains there is also a heat of +33 … 35 ° C, but rarely. And in January and February, the temperature sometimes drops to -10°C and snow often falls. Ski season begins in mid-December and lasts 3-4 months.

Average daily temperature in the mountainous regions of Cyprus:

The average monthly precipitation is 75-95 mm in winter and 3-5 mm in summer.

Attractions in the Troodos Mountains

Visiting Troodos in Cyprus, it is better to allocate a few days for sightseeing. The most popular are the trout farms of Platres on the rivers Krios Potamos and Diplos Potamos, waterfalls – Caledonia and Chantara, colorful villages and ancient majestic temples.

Craft villages

Around the ski resort, many villages, whose residents have preserved the traditions of their ancestors.

It’s impossible to leave without shopping:

1. Zigi will offer seafood dishes. There are 18 different recipes for octopus alone. You can take your order with you and have a bite to eat, stopping to rest in a picturesque place.
2. There are potters living in Fini. Tours include a visit to the Pilawakyo Folk Art Museum.
3. Pedoulas grows the largest and sweetest cherries in Cyprus. You can treat yourself to sweet berries, homemade wine and delicious tinctures.
4. Fishermen live in Kalopanayotis. Fish caught in the mountain rivers are cooked in the local tavern.
5. Omodos is famous for its skilled glassblowers and hand embroidery. This village is considered one of the most picturesque. Photos taken against the backdrop of houses with hedges, intertwined with grapes, like postcards.
6. In Mutullas tourists are offered to buy oak barrels of all sizes and taste the healing mineral water from the local spring. The guide is sure to tell the legend of another miraculous healing of a traveler who visited the village “last year.

Monasteries

The most famous temples of the island:

1. Men’s Monastery of Kykk. It was founded during the reign of the Byzantine emperor Alexius Comnenus in the 11th century. The buildings of the complex belong to different periods. The main relic is the miraculous icon of the Mother of God.
2. Maheras Monastery. It has been restored twice. The first building was erected on the site of the cave in which hermits found the miracle-working icon of the Mother of God Maheriotissa. In 1930 the structure was destroyed by fire, but it was rebuilt. The second fire occurred in 1892. The icon was not damaged, and the temple was rebuilt again.
3. Trooditissa Monastery. It was founded by two hermits in 1250. It contains a leather belt of the Virgin Mary, inlaid with precious stones.
4. Chrysoroyatissa Men’s Monastery. It has a museum, where visitors can get acquainted with the life of the clergy, examine church utensils and the cassocks of the monks of the XVI-XVII centuries.
5. The oldest monastery of the Holy (Holy) Cross. It was founded in 210. Before the fourth century there was a hermitage on this site, and the building was erected by order of Queen Helen, who brought from Jerusalem and gave the brethren a fragment of Christ’s bonds.
6. The convent of Our Lady of Trikoukiotissa. It contains an icon of St. Seraphim of Sarov and the miraculous face of the Mother of God. The temple was erected in the 12th century.

Since 1985, UNESCO has protected the ancient Byzantine churches of Cyprus: St. Nicholas in the village of Kakopetria, Panagia tu Arak, 15 km from Agros, Panagia Forviotissa 5 km from the village of Nikitari, Panagia Eleousa in the village of Galata and Panagia tu Moutoulas in the village of Moutoulas in the center of the mountain range.

National Forest Park

A walk in the national forest park around Olymbos is memorable. You can find places with pristine nature and a recreation area equipped with benches, bike trails, and alleys specially designed for wheelchair access. There are picnic areas with drinking water, barbecue areas, toilets and children’s playgrounds.

The national park is a habitat for rare animals.

If you are lucky, you may see the Cypriot stonefly, pika, hawk eagle, and white-headed vulture. Only in the protected area of Troodos such plants as cotoneaster, stinking juniper, Cyprus wild apple tree remain.

A resort for skiers at Olympus

The skiing season begins with the Christmas holidays and lasts until April. If the natural snow melts, a special installation will provide an artificial surface. Ski equipment can be rented.

The mountain is installed ski elevators, constantly operating 9 trails of varying complexity. Each descent was named after a Greek god. Experienced skiers improve their skills on the slopes of Zeus and Hera, beginners – Aphrodite and Hermes.

Platres Falls

During Ottoman times, the population of the mountain village, located at an altitude of 1,100 meters above sea level, was only 100 people. Now Platres has become a large village, which is annually visited not only by tourists but also by Cypriots. The settlement became so famous because of the waterfalls. There are hiking trails (2 km in length) through the pine forest.

The place near the waterfalls is cultivated: there are benches and a picnic area where you can relax while enjoying the water cascades.

Abandoned Hotel Berengaria

There are no excursions to this “landmark”. A barbed wire fence was erected around the dilapidated building, but tourists are not embarrassed by this.

Everyone who goes up to Olymbos on their own, be sure to stop near the hotel, built at an altitude of 1,500 meters above sea level back in 1931.

The British Prime Minister Churchill, Israel’s first president Weizmann, King Farouk I of Egypt and other celebrities enjoyed sumptuous breakfasts, swimming in the pool and walks among age-old trees. The hotel would have thrived had it not been for the first owner’s unfortunate will.

He voiced a desire for his children to go into business together. But the brothers could not divide the profits, and business became less successful. By 1984 the hotel had fallen into disrepair and become a monument to former luxury.

The Pink Factory

In the village of Agros it is better to come in the spring, when the air is saturated with the scent of blooming flowers. There are thousands of them here – the village resembles a rose garden.

Visitors of the factory get acquainted with the process of making precious oil, essences, perfume water, try wine and liqueur made of roses and be sure to take samples with them.

How to get to the Troodos Mountains

A full summer vacation in Cyprus – the beach, sea baths and a trip to the Troodos mountains, allowing you to breathe the healing air. You can sign up for a tour, hire a cab with a guide and drive around with him the most interesting places or drive yourself along the serpentine, renting a car.

There are daily buses from Limassol and Nicosia to Troodos, but only morning flights. Tickets must be booked in advance, there are a lot of people who want to.

The cost of travel to the mountains

The cost of the trip depends on where you start the itinerary.

The average price of a walk to the sights of Cyprus:

The Nicosia – Troodos trip takes 2 hours and 39 minutes.

Calculating the route on the navigator, you should take into account: the road will pass through the serpentine. Therefore, you will have to spend twice as much time as when driving on the plains.