Troodos Mountains
The scenery in the forested – or, more accurately, reafforested – mountains is spectacular. Platres, 1230m (4035ft) above sea level on the southern slopes, is the ideal base for excursions. It lies on the approaches to Mount Olympus, at 1952m (6404ft), the highest peak in Cyprus, with a summit that is invariably snow-covered in winter and has skiing slopes and facilities.
Prodromos, the highest village on the island, 1530m (5019ft) above sea level, is reputed to grow the best apples. Pedoulas in the fertile Marathasa Valley is famous for cherries (and in spring for cherry blossom) and other fruits. Kalopanagiotis also has orchards. Moutoullas is a source of mineral water bottled and sold locally as well as exported to the Middle East. Omodos, a restored conservation village, has the Stavros Monastery and a small Folk Art Museum. Foini is a centre of local craft pottery. On the northeastern slopes, Kakopetria, 730m (2395ft) above sea level and a touring centre like Platres, has a traditional quarter that is being protected and restored. Agros produces rose water, mineral water and wine. The Commandaria Region, midway down the southern slopes, where the grapes for the Commandaria sweet red dessert wine are grown, has attractive villages like Zoopigi, where almond and walnut trees grow.
Other places of interest include Kykkos Monastery, which houses a golden icon of the Virgin Mary; Throni tis Panagias, uphill from the monastery, where the tomb of the late Archbishop Makarios III, the first President of Cyprus, occupies a setting that commands a magnificent view; the small but prettily situated Kaledonia Falls; and the monasteries of Mesa Potamos and Trooditissa.
UNESCO has listed nine Byzantine churches in the mountains as World Heritage Sites for their magnificently frescoed interiors. These are Panagia tis Asinou near Nikitari, one of the finest examples of Byzantine art in the Levant; Stavros tou Agiasmati near Platanistasa; Agios Ioannis Lampadistis in Kalopanagiotis; Panagia tou Araka near Lagoudera; Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis southwest of Kakopetria; Panagia tis Podythou outside Galata; Archangelos Michaïl at Pedoulas; Panagia tou Moutoulla in Moutoullas; and Timiou Stavrou in Pelendri.
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