DK Travel : Cyprus : Central Cyprus : Villages and Churches

Top 10 Villages and Churches

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1. Machairas Monastery

This monastery was founded in 1148 by two hermits guided by divine intervention to an icon of the Virgin, painted by Luke the Evangelist. The icon survived fires which damaged the monastery in 1530 and 1892 – proof, to believers, of its miraculous powers (see Machairas Monastery).
2. Fikardou

The hill village of Fikardou has won tourism awards for its living museum that shows Cyprus village life as it was until just a few decades ago (see Fikardou Rural Museum).
3. Agios Irakleidios Convent

One of the oldest Christian communities in Cyprus, the chapel here dates from the 15th century. It lay in ruins before being restored in the 1960s.
4. Tamassos

Tamassos was one of the earliest cities on the island (6th century BC) and grew wealthy from its copper mines, which were famed throughout the ancient world.
5. Pera Chorio

Saints, martyrs, emperors and demons are depicted in wall-paintings within the Byzantine church of Agioi Apostoloi in this small village near Dali.
6. Ancient Idalion

Dali is a farming village that takes its name from the ancient city-state of Idalion. Aphrodite’s lover, Adonis, was killed by the boar of Idalion and the red flowers that bloom here are deemed tokens of his death.
7. Agios Sozomenos

In the deserted village of Agios Sozomenos is the medieval church of Agios Mamas, with Gothic arches.
8. Panagia Chrysospiliotissa Church

Catacombs dug into the hillside show that this church dates from early Christian times, when believers worshipped in secret for fear of persecution.
9. La Cava Castle

Toppled ramparts mark the site of this Crusader keep.
10. Peristerona

A 10th-century church with wall paintings dates from the 12th and 15th centuries.