Route: Lefkosia (Nicosia) – Pera Chorio – Kellia – Sotira – Paralimni – Agia Napa – Larnaka (Larnaca) – Dromolaxia – Kisivili – Klavdia – Pyrga – Lefkosia.

On this tour, visitors have the opportunity to view not only churches and monasteries of the Byzantine period and later, but also churches which under turkish rule were converted into mosques.

An interesting and significant place to visit is the Um Haram Mosque, a significant Muslim monument built after the death of Um Haram, who, as tradition has it, was a relative of Muhammed himself.

In Kiti, the church of Panagia tis Aggeloktistis has a mosaic of the 6th century AD. The Monastery of Stavrovouni is a men’s monastery which, according to tradition, was established by Agia Eleni, the mother of Constantine the Great and there lies a piece from the Holy Cross.

Μonuments: Church of Agion Apostolon, Lefkosia – Church of Agios Antonios, Kellia – Churches of Transfiguration (Metamorphoseos) of Agios Mamas, Agios Georgios Chortakion, Panagia Chortakion, Sotira – Churches of Panagia-Agia Anna, and Agia Marina, Paralimni – Monastery of Agia Napa, Agia Napa – Church of Agios Lazaros, Larnaka – Um Haram Mosque or Hala Sultan Mosque, Dromolaxia – Church of Panagia Aggeloktisti, Kiti – Church of Panagia, Kisivili – Church / Mosque Agia Aikaterini, Klavdia – Gothic Church of Panagia Stazousa, Royal Chapel and Agia Marina – Monastery of Stavrovouni, Pyrga.

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Route: Lefkosia (Nicosia) – Peristerona – Kalopanagiotis – Κampos – Panagia – Τala – Empa – Pafos (Paphos) / Ktima – Κato Pafos – Geroskipou – Κouklia – Κolossi – Lemesos (Limassol) – Pyrga – Pera Chorio – Lefkosia.

A walk in the greater region will help visitors view various samples of ecclesiastical art, starting from Peristerona and the five-domed church of Agion Varnava and Ilariona. Heading towards Kalopanagiotis, visitors will come across the Monastery of Ioannis o Lampadistis, which is of unique beauty, and where three churches coexist in a single area. Kykkos Monastery is offered for the worship of the icon of Virgin Mary, which, as tradition has it, is a work of Apostolos Loukas.

The course continues towards Pafos and the Monastery of Panagia tis Chrysorrogiatissas, the Egkleistra (enclosure carved out of the mountain) of Agios Neophytos, and the church of Panagia tis Chryseleousas in Empa. When arriving at Pafos, visitors will be able to visit the church of Agia Sofia, which was converted into a mosque under Frankish rule, and in Kato Pafos, the Basilica of Chrysopolitissa – one of the biggest basilicas in Cyprus.

The second and last five-domed church of Cyprus is located in Geroskipou, and is dedicated to Agia Paraskevi, while in Palaipafos – in the village of Kouklia – the church of Panagia tis Katholikis is located very near the ruins of the Temple of Aphrodite, the worship of whom was replaced by that of Virgin Mary.

On the way back to Lefkosia, the route passes from the small church of Agios Efstathios and the impressive Monastery of Stavrovouni, with the strict ritual of Mount Athos, which – according to tradition – is a creation of Agia Eleni.

The wonderfully frescoed church of Agion Apostolon in Pera Chorio, which is the last stop of this route, is an interesting place to visit.

Μonuments: Church of Agion Varnava and Ilariona, Peristerona – Μonastery of Ioannis o Lampadistis, Kalopanagiotis – Μonastery of Panagia tou Kykkou, Κampos – Monastery of Panagia Chrysorrogiatissa, Panagia – Μonastery and Egkleistra of Agios Neophytos, Τala – Church of Panagia Chryseleousa, Empa – Mosque / Church of Agia Sofia, Pafos / Ktima – Palaiochristian Basilica of Chrysopolitissa, Kato Pafos – Church of Agia Kyriaki, Kato Pafos – Agia Paraskevi, Geroskipou – Church of Panagia Katholikis, Kouklia – Church of Agios Efstathios, Kolossi – Μonastery of Stavrovouni, Pyrga – Royal Chapel, Pyrga – Church of Agion Apostolon, Pera Chorio.

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The Church of Agia Kyriaki, also in Kato Pafos, dates back to the 15th century. Τhe Βyzantine Museum of the Holy Bishopric of Pafos is considered to be one of the richest museums in terms of significant exhibits, and its collection can easily be compared to that of the Museum of the Archbishop Makarios III Foundation in Lefkosia.

The next stop is at the Bishopric and at the Church of Agios Ilarionas, with only the south aisle of the original building salvaged today. The Church of Panagia tis Eleousas in Nata village is a church of large dimensions, which has been under reconstruction in the past years.

The Μonastery of Panagia tou Sinti, in Pentalia is assumed to have been built in 1542. While originally it was autonomous, it later became, under Turkish rule, a glebe of Kykkos Monastery.

The last church of this route is the Church of Agios Nikolaos in Galataria with beautiful frescoes of the first half of the 16th century.

Total route length: 85 km.

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The Church of Agia Kyriaki, also located in Kato Pafos, is built on the ruins of the north aisle of the Basilica of Chrysopolitissa and dates back to the 15th century. The Holy Bishopric of Pafos hosts the Βyzantine Museum with icons dating back to the 8th, 9th, and up until the 19th centuries.

The next stop is at the Church of Panagia tis Chryselaiousis in Empa, one of the most significant Byzantine monuments of Cyprus. In Tala, the route passes from the Church of Agia Aikaterini, a single-aisled church with a dome, which possibly in its initial form used to be arched. In the same village there is the Μonastery of Agios Neofytos, a Cypriot hermit from Lefkara who left behind a significant work.

The Church of Agia Aikaterini, in Kritou Terra, dates back to the 15th century, and is quite interesting as a church in terms of its architecture. Just before the end of the route, visitors pass from the Church of Agios Andronikos in Polis Chrysochous, which is located on a hill with a wonderful view. The last stop is at the Church of Agios Minas in Neo Chorio at the edges of Akamas peninsula.

Total route length: 85 km.

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This church has yet another reason to constitute an excellent place of interest, thanks to its relation to Apostolos Pavlos; it still houses the column on which, according to tradition, the Apostle was tied and whipped.

In Peristerona, there is the Ecclesiastical Museum, which is hosted by the Archbishopric of Arsinoes, and houses icons and canonicals, as well as other objects from the villages of the area. The Church of Agia Kyriaki was built on the south aisle of the ruined Palaiochristian Basilica of Chrysopolitissa.

In the Holy Bishopric of Pafos there is the Βyzantine Museum whose collection can easily be compared to that of the Archbishop Makarios III Foundation. In Geroskipou, there is the second church of Cyprus with five domes – as well as significant frescoes – which is dedicated to Αgia Paraskevi and, in Acheleia, we find the Church of Agios Theodosios with significant frescoes that date back to the 13th century, one of which depicts the Apostles Petros and Pavlos, along with a portrait of the donors.

The route then passes from the churches of Panagia tis Katholikis in Kouklia, the Hermitage ‘Palaio Egkleistro’ in Souskiou, and ends in Pano Archimandrita and the Hermitage of Agion Pateron.

Total route length: 53 km.

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In the Church of Agios Nikolaos, in Klonari, there are wonderful frescoes of the 16th century, and a magnificent iconostasis with very interesting icons that decorate it. In Vikla, there is the Church of Agios Ioannis tou Eleimona, the only building that has been salvaged in this abandoned village. The route then stops at the Church of Agios Georgios tis Akapnou, which is the parish church of the village.

The visit to the Church of Panagia tis Iamatikis in Arakapa is an unforgettable experience. From the inscription, we find out that it was destroyed for some reason, and rebuilt in 1727. In Louvara lies the Church of Agios Mamas, which was built in 1455, although it was decorated 40 years later by painter Philippos Wool.

Total route length: 6 km.

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In Monagri village, there are many significant churches, such as the Monastery of Panagia tis Amasgou with excellent samples of frescoes of the 12th, 13th and 16th centuries. The Μonastery of Archangel west of Monagri village has been reconstructed. The church of Αgios Georgios, also in Monagri, is the parish church of the village and has frescoes of the 15th century.

The Μonastery of Timios Stavros, in Kouka village, dates back to the 12th century, and is the only building amongst a series of monastery buildings which has been salvaged to this day.

The last stop of this route is at the Μonastery of Timios Prodromos in Mesa Potamos; its date of establishment is not known, however, it has been recently reconstructed revealing frescoes of the 15th century.

Total route length: 56 km.

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The church of Agia Mavri, located in Koilani, used to be a small monastery, whilst the church of Monogenous is the second parish church of Koilani and dates back to the 17th century. The church of Panagia is a church that also hosts the Ecclesiastical Museum of Koilani.

Τhe last stop of this route is at the church of Τimios Stavros in the village of Kouka, which dates back to the 12th century, in which there are preserved frescoes of the 14th and 15th centuries.

Total route length: 72 km.

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In Kiti, the church of Panagia tis Aggeloktistis can be found; a very significant Byzantine museum, which houses an arc of an old-Christian church with a mosaic of the 6th century within its interior.

Heading to Kato Lefkara, the route passes from the church of Archangelos Michael, with beautiful frescoes of the 12th and 15th centuries. The church of Τimios Stavros, in Pano Lefkara is located at a point that has a visual contact with the Monastery of Stavrovouni, and in its interior there is a silver cross in remembrance of the Bishop of Amathous. Although not known when it was built, it is certain that the Monastery of Agios Minas, in Vavla, was revived after 1965 when it became a women’s monastery.

In Hoirokitia lie the ruins of a monastery that once belonged to the Knights Templar, and later to the Knights Hospitaller, whilst the church of Panagia tou Kampou has some significant frescoes.

Pyrga is the last stop of this route and gives visitors the chance to see the Monastery of Stavrovouni – a men’s monastery with a strict ritual, the Μediaeval Chapel, and the church of Agia Marina.

Total route length: 73 km.

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In Sotira, the route passes from the Church of Μetamorfoseos tou Sotiros (Transfiguration of the Savour), a cemetery church dating back to the last years of the Venetian rule, and from the church of Αgios Mamas of approximately the same period, which houses a few frescoes.

In the Hortakia region lies the church of Αgios Georgios Hortakion, which stands out for its good proportions, although its frescoes that have been salvaged are very few. In the same area, visitors can see the church of Panagia Hortakion, which dates back to the 15th century.

In Paralimni, the route takes us to the church of Αgios Georgios, located in the city centre and built in the 19th century. Next to the church of Agios Georgios lies the church of Panagia-Agia Anna, a two-aisled church, estimated to have been built in the 14th century. In the interior, there is also a small Εcclesiastical Museum. A very significant stop on this route is at the Μonastery of Agia Napa – built in the 14th century – which is one of the most significant places of interest and, at the same time, related to poet Georgios Seferis.

Total route length: 76 km.

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