Agios Antonios Church – Kelia village

Agios Antonios Church is located 9km west of Larnaka (Larnaca) in the village of Kelia, and is one of the most important Byzantine churches of Cyprus, possibly dating back to the 9th century.

The building is a three-aisled vaulted basilica which once had a dome, and the church contains significant wall paintings from the 9th, 11th and 13th centuries.

Region: Larnaka
Address: Kelia village, 9km west of Larnaka on the Livadia – Trouloi Road
Contact No: Tel: +357 99 572 202 (Mr. Giannis, Church Custodian)
Operating Hours: Visits by prior arrangement with the Church Custodian.
Operating Period: All year round.
Closed on Public Holidays.
Entrance Fee: Free
Disabled Access: Offers some disabled access.
  Opening and closing times as well as entrance fees, are subject to alterations without notice. Visitors are advised to check before visiting.
 

The Agia Napa Aqueduct

Located within the boundaries of Cape Gkreko and Protaras, the Agia Napa Aqueduct was originally a Roman structure, with Frankish alterations. Its main purpose was to deliver water to the local monastery and the surrounding region, and it is one of the few preserved aqueducts on the island.

Its construction is complicated and required much expertise, along with a comprehensive system of regular maintenance to repair accidental breaches, clear the lines of debris, and to remove the build-up of naturally occurring chemicals.

In years past, the aqueduct carried water from a  source of the water to be found somewhere on the hills between Agia Napa and Protaras. Up to the year 1974 the original visible route of the channel was marked by a barrel_shaped structure at the locality of Mana tou Nerou, Known traditionally as the House of the Greeks.to the large stone reservoirs of the village. Substantial conservation work was carried out on the structure from 2006 – 2008.

In September 2006 the project was incorporated in the European initiative INTERREG IIIA Greece Cyprus. The project is co-financed with 50% by the European Union Fund for Regional Development and 50% by national sources.

Makronissos Tombs

The Tombs of Makronissos are situated west of Agia Napa and consist of 19 rock-cut tombs, a small sanctuary and an ancient quarry.

The sanctuary is a simple rectangular enclosure, made of large irregular blocks. The tombs were used during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, and although they were subject to severe looting over the years (from 1872), archaeologists believe that the deceased were placed in clay sarcophagus that were originally covered with three flat tiles.

The tomb’s rectangular entrance originally closed with one or two slabs, and Pyres were found on the surface, characteristic of Greek burial customs. Most of the chambers are almost identical with a rectangular trench in the middle and three benches at the side.

Region: Ammochostos (Famagusta)
Address: Makronissos, west of Agia Napa
Contact No: Tel: +357 23 816 300, Fax: +357 23 722 607
Operating Hours: Daily: 09:00 – 17:00
Operating Period: All year round.
Closed on Public Holidays.
Entrance Fee: Free
  Opening and closing times as well as entrance fees, are subject to alterations without notice. Visitors are advised to check before visiting.
 

Agia Napa Monastery

The charming Medieval Monastery of Agia Napa stands in the middle of the village and was built in the form of a Medieval Castle around 1500 AD.

The monastery is partially built underground and cut into the rock, surrounded by a high wall. It is dedicated to ‘Our Lady of the Forests’, with the name coming from the Ancient Greek word for wooded valley (‘Napa’) as a result of the area’s past topography.

The monastery was restored in 1950 and in 1978 became an Ecumenical Conference Centre, serving churches in Cyprus and the Middle East. After the re-establishment of the Holy Metropolis Constantia Ammochostos (Famagusta) in 2007, the monastery came under the administration of the Metropolis.

A new church – also dedicated to the Virgin Mary – was built in 1994, south west of the monastery.

The ancient sycamore tree in front of the south gate is believed to be over 600 years old.

Agia Napa Monastery – Audio Guide

Region: Ammochostos
Address: Agia Napa
GPS coordinates: Lat: 34.989202 Lon: 33.999746
Contact No: Tel: +357 23 722 584, Fax: +357 23 721 284
Operating Hours: Winter, daily: 09:00 – 15:00
Summer, daily: 09:00 – 21:00
Operating Period: All year round.
Closed on Public Holidays.
Entrance Fee: Free (donations accepted).
  Opening and closing times as well as entrance fees, are subject to alterations without notice. Visitors are advised to check before visiting.

 

The Museum of Shoemaker Christos Chrysanthou

The museum of shoemaker Christos Chrysanthou is located in the mountainous village of Spilia and was founded in 2007 by Andreas Chrysanthou in honour of his father Christos – who lived to the ripe old age of 101, and was a shoemaker by trade, among other talents.

Exhibits include the shoemaker’s bench – built in 1920 – with all associated tools for shoemaking, along with Singer machines and a ledger that dates back to 1933. Hanging on the wall are various shoe moulds, leathers and footwear.

The museum is built in the basement of the family home and has been declared a national treasure.

Region: Troodos area [Lefkosia (Nicosia) district]
Address: Spilia village
Contact No: Tel: +357 99 176 839, Fax: +357 22 313 521
Operating Hours: By appointment.
Operating Period: All year round.
Closed on Public Holidays.
Entrance Fee: Free
  Opening and closing times as well as entrance fees, are subject to alterations without notice. Visitors are advised to check before visiting.
 

Museum of Kykkos Monastery

The Museum of Kykkos Monastery is an integral part of the monastery and houses a priceless collection of icons, consecrated vessels, manuscripts and Cypriot antiquities.

The Monastery itself is the richest and most lavish of Cyprus’ monasteries and sits on a mountain peak, at an altitude of 1.318 metres northwest of Troodos.

Dedicated to Panagia (the Virgin Mary), the monastery possesses one of three icons attributed to Agios Loukas (Apostle Luke) the Evangelist. The icon, covered in silver gilt, is in a shrine made of tortoise shell and mother-of-pearl that stands in front of the iconostasis.

Monastery of Kykkos – Audio Guide 

Region: Troodos area [Lefkosia (Nicosia) district]
Address: Kykkos Monastery, Marathasa Valley, 13km from Pedoulas village
GPS coordinates: Lat: 34.98334 Lon: 32.741299
Contact No: Tel: +357 22 942 736
Operating Hours: November – May, daily: 10:00 – 16:00
June – October, daily: 10:00 – 18:00
Operating Period: All year round.
Closed on Public Holidays.
Entrance Fee: €5,00 / Groups €3,00
Website: www.kykkos.org.cy
  Opening and closing times as well as entrance fees, are subject to alterations without notice. Visitors are advised to check before visiting.
 

Museum of Byzantine Heritage – Palaichori Village

Located in the mountainous village of Palaichori, the museum is housed in an old restored building and exhibits the Byzantine art wealth of several churches and chapels of the village.

The exhibits date from the Frankish period to the present day, and portray a wide range of ecclesiastical art, such as icon painting, woodcarving, silverwork, weaving and printing – mainly of the post-Byzantine period.

A multimedia info-kiosk provides information about the area in four different languages.

Region: Troodos area [Lefkosia (Nicosia) district]
Address: Palaichori village
Contact No: Tel: +357 99 82 87 00 & 97 79 08 30
Operating Hours: Tuesday – Friday: 10:00 – 13:00 (After 13h all visitors are requested to pre-book)
Operating Period: All year round. Closed on Public Holidays.
Entrance Fee: €2 (Price includes a mini tour to other points of interest located at the square of the village)
  Opening and closing times as well as entrance fees, are subject to alterations without notice. Visitors are advised to check before visiting.
 

Ecclesiastical and Viticulture Museums – Koilani village

Located in the mountainous village of Koilani, the Ecclesiastical Museum was created by Lemesos Bishopric to house the ecclesiastical art of the parish, and as a district branch of the larger Byzantine Museum of Lemesos (Limassol).

The museum is housed in the church of Monogenis, and showcases exhibits that span a period of around seven centuries. Included are pieces of an iconostasis from 1735, a 19th century pulpit and altar, old icons (from the 13th – 19th centuries), holy utensils, old books (from the 16th – 19th centuries), a 15th – 16th century ‘epitaphios’ (richly embroidered cloth icon used in special religious services), and other relics.

Nearby to the church is the Viticulture Museum, which is housed in a traditional village house and exhibits viticultural equipment and folk art pieces.

Region: Troodos Area (Lemesos district)
Address: Koilani village
Contact No: Ecclesiastical Museum: +357 25 471 008 / +357 99 213 682
Viticulture Museum: +357 25 471 008 / +357 99 198 789
Operating Hours: By appointment.
Operating Period: All year round.
Closed on Public Holidays.
Entrance Fee: Free
  Opening and closing times as well as entrance fees, are subject to alterations without notice. Visitors are advised to check before visiting.
 

Fikardou Ethnological Museum: The Houses of Katsinioros and Achilleas Dimitri

Deserted at the beginning of the 19th century, the entire village of Fikardou has been declared an Ancient Monument, and carefully restored to preserve the 18th century houses with their remarkable woodwork and folk architecture. Two of these houses have been turned into museums, exhibiting rural items and depicting rural life in years past.

The House of Katsinioros – which was named after its last owner – is a two-storey stone-built manor house with a steep-pitched wooden roof and many architectural features of the 16th century. Following the traditional arrangement of homes of this period, the upper floor functioned as the living area of the house, while the ground floor was used for the pressing of grapes, as well as for storing other agricultural produce and tools – all of which can be seen at the museum.

There is also an exhibition of photographs, drawings and texts on how the houses were restored, earning them – and the village – the Europa Nostra Award in 1987.

The second house – that of Achilleas Dimitri – has been turned into a weaver’s workshop and scholar’s guest house.

Region: Troodos area [Lefkosia (Nicosia) district]
Address: Fikardou village
Contact No: Tel: +357 22 634 731
Operating Hours: April 15 – October 30, daily: 09:30 – 17:00
November 1 – April 15, daily: 08:30 – 16:00
Operating Period: All year round.
Closed on Mondays and on Public Holidays.
Entrance Fee: FREE
Disabled Access: Partially accessible.
Website: www.mcw.gov.cy/da
  Opening and closing times as well as entrance fees, are subject to alterations without notice. Visitors are advised to check before visiting.
 

Arsos Folk Art Museum

The Folk Art Museum of the mountainous village of Arsos was founded in 1997 and is housed in a restored 18th century residence, which is a listed Ancient Monument.

The museum showcases the daily life and traditions of the inhabitants of the area, which is primarily a wine-producing region. The many exhibits include tools, furniture and utensils from days past that are related to viticulture and other local occupations.

Notable exhibits include a boiler used for the production of the alcoholic drink of ‘zivania’, and a winemaking presentation in the cellar, where the traditional ‘linos’ is preserved with large clay jars, presser and other traditional winery tools.

There is also a permanent exhibition of old photos taken during significant past events and occasions, whilst the building periodically hosts temporary exhibitions of photography and art, as well as hosting other events.

Region: Troodos area [Lemesos (Limassol) district]
Address: Arsos village
GPS coordinates: Lat: 34.841552 Lon: 32.768822
Contact No: Tel: +357 25 943 223 / +357 25 243 347
Operating Hours: By prior appointment
Operating Period: All year round
Closed on Public Holidays
Entrance Fee: Free
Website: www.arsos.org
  Opening and closing times as well as entrance fees, are subject to alterations without notice. Visitors are advised to check before visiting.