Category: Discover Cyprus

Agios Antonios Church – Kelia village (Rural)

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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.
 

Makronissos Tombs

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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.
 

Agios Minas Convent

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The convent of Agios Minas is located in the village of Vavla and dates back to the 15th century.

The building is a mixture of Byzantine and Gothic styles with the pointed vault of traverse ribs and side porticos, and consists of a church, cloisters and other monastic buildings. On the north and south walls there are two large paintings of Agios Georgios and Agios Minas dated 1757. In addition to their religious duties, the nuns at the convent practise icon painting, along with selling fruit and homemade preserves.

Please note that modest attire is required to enter the church.

Region: Larnaka (Larnaca)
Address: Vavla village, near Lefkara village, 38km from Larnaka.
GPS coordinates: Lat: 34.840245 Lon: 33.28606
Contact No: Tel: +357 24 342 952
Operating Hours: October – April, daily: 09:30 – 11:30 / 14:00 – 16:00
May – September, daily: 09:30 – 11:30 / 15:00 – 16:30
Group visits by appointment.
Operating Period: All year round.
Closed on Public Holidays.
Weekends: Entrance to organised groups not permitted.
Entrance Fee: Free
Disabled Access: Entrance ramp.
Website: www.churchofcyprus.org.cy
  Opening and closing times as well as entrance fees, are subject to alterations without notice. Visitors are advised to check before visiting.
 

Angeloktisti Church

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This 11th century Byzantine church of Angeloktisti (which means ‘built by angels’ in Greek) was erected over the ruins of an Early Christian basilica of the 5th century.

The original apse of the basilica has survived along with one of the finest pieces of Byzantine art on the island – a rare 6th century mosaic of the Virgin Mary and Child between the two archangels Michael and Gabriel, which rivals the mosaics of Ravenna-Italy. Such mosaics from this period have only been discovered in Cyprus and Mount Sinai.

After the 11th century, additions were made. The Franks added a new facade and bell tower. The sanctuary houses a very old and unique icon of the 10th century, that depicts the Virgin Mary, Saint Lazarus and the Evangelist Loukas. According to legend, the three were family friends and all met in Kition during the island’s first difficult Christian years.

Region: Larnaka (Larnaca)
Address: Kiti village, 5km west of Larnaka
GPS coordinates: Lat: 34.847575 Lon: 33.569137
Contact No: Tel: +357 24 424 646
Operating Hours: May – September, Monday – Saturday: 07:00 – 18:00 / Sunday: 09:30 – 18:00
October – April, Monday – Saturday: 07:00 – 16:45 / Sunday: 09:30 – 16:45
Operating Period: All year round.
Closed on Public Holidays.
Entrance Fee: Free
Disabled Access: Wheelchair 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.
 

Choirokoitia Archaeological Site (Neolithic Settlement)

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The archaeological site of Choirokoitia is a remarkably well-preserved settlement from the Neolithic Age that has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998.

Remains from all phases of the Neolithic Age are evident in the settlement, and provide an insight of living conditions in the region during prehistoric times, as well as how the Neolithic culture was spread throughout the region.

Five characteristic cylindrical shaped dwellings have been reconstructed near the settlement, using the same construction methods and materials used in Neolithic times. The dwellings are fitted with replicas of household objects found inside the original dwellings, thus providing a vivid representation of how they actually were in the past. The vegetation around the dwellings consists of native plants and trees that have grown in Cyprus since Neolithic times.

Choirokoitia Neolithic Settlement – Audio Guide 

Region: Larnaka (Larnaca)
Address: 32km from Larnaka / 48km south of Lefkosia on the Lefkosia (Nicosia) – Lemesos (Limassol) motorway.
GPS coordinates: Lat: 34.796269 Lon: 33.34472
Contact No: Tel: +357 24 322 710
Operating Hours: September 16 – April 15, daily: 08:30 – 17:00
April 16 – September 15, daily: 08:30 – 19:30
Operating Period: All year round.
Closed on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Easter Sunday (Greek Orthodox).
Entrance Fee: €2,50
For organised groups consisting of more than 10 persons there is a 20% reduction on the entry fees.
The Department of Antiquities can issue special entry cards for all its museums and ancient monuments: One (1) day entry cards – €8,50, three (3) day entry cards – €17,00, seven (7) day entry cards – €25,00.
Disabled Access: Non-wheelchair accessible – due to the natural sloping of the hill, but wheelchair users can visit the area of the reconstructed dwellings.
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.
 

Stavrovouni Monastery

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Perched on a rocky peak, 750 metres above sea level, legend tells that Stavrovouni Monastery was founded in the 4th century by St. Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine the Great, who left a relic of the Holy Cross at the monastery.

The monks have strict rules akin to those at Mount Athos in Greece. Women are not permitted to enter the monastery, nor is the use of camera or video permitted. Men visiting must be appropriately dressed.

In contrast, the monastery of Agia Varvara on the foothills of Stavrovouni is accessible to all visitors, and the monks here are known for their iconography skills.

An impressive annual ceremony and festival is held at Stavrovouni Monastery on September 14 to mark the day of the Raising of the Holy Cross.

Region: Larnaka (Larnaca)
Address: 40km from Larnaka, 9km off the Lefkosia (Nicosia) – Lemesos (Limassol) road
GPS coordinates: Lat: 34.886923 Lon: 33.436681
Contact No: Tel: +357 22 533 630
Operating Hours: September – March: 07:00 – 11:00 / 14:00 – 17:00
April – August: 07:00 – 12:00 / 15:00 – 19:00
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.
 

Panagia tou Moutoulla Church

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Located in the mountainous region of Moutoulla, the tiny 13th century chapel of Panagia tou Moutoulla is one of the earliest examples of its type and is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The church has a steep-pitched timber roof and frescoes dating to 1280. The narthex was added at a later stage, after the beginning of the 16th century, and extends to the west and north sides of the church. The timber roof also covers the narthex. The wall paintings are the only series of the thirteenth century (1280) that survive in Cyprus and can be dated with precision.

The church was built and decorated through the donations of Ioannis of Moutoullas and his wife Irene, who are both depicted holding a model of the church. It is believed that it may have been a private chapel.

The village itself has an ongoing tradition for carved wooden basins.

The Church of Panagia tou Moutoulla – Audio Guide 

Region: Troodos area [Lefkosia (Nicosia) district]
Address: Moutoullas village
Contact No: Tel: +357 97 733 480 (Mrs Eleni Constantinidou) (Please notify in advance for your arrival if you intend to visit later that usual)
Operating Hours: Winter Period: Tuesday-Sunday: 08:00 – 15:00
Summer Period: Tuesday-Sunday: 08:00 – 17:30
Or/and upon request
Operating Period: All year round.
Closed on Public Holidays.
Entrance Fee: Free
Disabled Access: Wheelchair 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.

Timios Stavros tou Agiasmati Church

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Located about 3km outside the mountainous village of Platanistasa, the 15th century church of Stavros tou Agiasmati is a UNESCO World Heritage site and retains the most complete cycles of mural paintings of the second half of the 15th century on the island.

Its name derives from the word ‘Agiasma’ (-atos) which in Greek means ‘sanctified water, spring or well near a church’. The church used to be a monastery church, but only traces of the cells of the monastic buildings remain to the south of the church.

The surviving structure is a single-aisled building with a steep-pitched timber roof covered with flat tiles that extends beyond the main structure to form a portico on all four sides – a feature that is unique in Cyprus. According to an inscription, the building was built with the donation of a priest named Petros Peratis and his wife Pepani, who are both depicted on a fresco offering a model of the church to Jesus with the mediation of the Virgin. Also noteworthy is the extensive and multi-person Last Judgment scene, which unfolds up to the far end of the gable where Jesus Christ is depicted.

Whilst the year of the church’s erection is not known, it is generally accepted that its decoration was completed in 1494.

The Church of the Holy Cross of Agiasmati in Platanistasa – Audio Guide

Region: Troodos area [Lefkosia (Nicosia) district]
Address: Platanistasa village
GPS coordinates: Lat: 34.979155 Lon: 33.047013
Contact No for Church: Tel: +357 22 652090 or 99677216 (Father Georgios Kourris)
Operating Hours: By appointment
Operating Period: All year round.
Closed on Public Holidays.
Entrance Fee: Free
Disabled Access: Wheelchair 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.

Timios Stavros Church in Pelendri village

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The 14th century church of Timios Stavrou (Holy Cross) in Pelendri village is decorated with exquisite wall paintings of the Palaiologan period and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The church was originally a single-aisled domed structure, built around the middle of the 12th century, and may have been the church of a cemetery. It was destroyed under unknown circumstances, and the present form of the church is the result of several additions and alterations, carried out throughout various periods, with only the original apse surviving.

According to an inscription in the apse, the original wall paintings date to 1171 / 1172 with fragments of the decoration preserved on the apse under the layer of the 14th century frescoes. The main part of the church was decorated during the second half of the 14th century by at least two artists.

The north aisle served as a private chapel for the family of the Latin feudal lord of the area, Ioannes Lusignan (1353 – 1374 / 1375), and the village itself was once the property of Jean de Lusignan, son of the Lusignan King of Cyprus, Hugh IV.

Church of Timios Stavros – The Holy Cross – in Pelendri – Audio Guide 

Region: Troodos area [Lemesos (Limassol) district]
Address: Pelendri village
GPS coordinates: Lat: 34.893036 Lon: 32.91096
Contact No: Tel.: +357 99 662286 Mr. Gregoris Kadis
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 – 11:00 & 13:00 – 16:00
Saturday – Sunday: 10:00 – 13:00
Operating Period: All year round.
Closed on Public Holidays.
Entrance Fee: Free
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.

Trooditissa Monastery

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Located on the southern slopes of the Troodos mountain range, the 13th century Trooditissa Monastery is situated among pine trees, commanding a picturesque spot. The present church was built in 1731 and contains a priceless silver-leaf covered icon of the Virgin Mary brought from Asia Minor, believed to give childless couples hope if they pray to her.

The exact date of the foundation of the monastery is not known, but it is believed to have been established immediately after the iconoclastic era by a hermit who resided there during the years of the iconoclasm. The church, as well as the monastic buildings, belong to a later period and can be dated to the end of the 18th or the 19th and 20th centuries.

The monastery is a retreat for prayers, and as such it is closed for visits, although the church is open to visitors.

Region: Troodos area [Lemesos (Limassol) district]
Address: Between the villages of Platres and Prodromos
GPS coordinates: Lat: 34.91292 Lon: 32.838212
Operating Hours: Daily: 09:00 – 12:00 / 14:00 – 16:00 (church only)
Operating Period: All year round.
Closed on Public Holidays.
Entrance Fee: Free
Disabled Access: Wheelchair 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.