Nature Trails
Troodos / Pitsylia
Pitsylia
A
mountainous region east of Troodos, of which the most important
villages are Palaichori, Agros, Alona, Askas, Polystypos,
Platanistasa, Kyperounta, Pelendri, Chandria, Dymes, Agridia, and
Kato Mylos. The region is filled with rare natural beauty and a
large variety of ecosystems and landscapes. The natural Pinus brutia
forests together with the thickets of the endemic Gold Oak cover
large areas.
The main products of Pitsylia are
apples, pears, cherries, peaches, grapes and seasonal vegetables.
There are 3 noteworthy Byzantine Churches in the area which are
included in the official UNESCO list of the World Cultural Heritage.
The following 8 nature trails are found in Pitsylia.
Doxasi o Theos - Madari
Fire Station
Starting point: "Doxasi o Theos" (Glory
to God) 2 kms from Kyperounta and 5 kms from Spilia.
Length: 3.75 kms Time: 2 hours.
Points of interest: A panoramic view
from an altitude of about 1600 m.
Teisia tis Madaris
Starting point: The end of the previous
trail. This trail follows a course around the Madari peak where a
Forestry Department Fire Station is situated and ends at the road
which leads to this. Taking this road will lead to the starting
point.
Length: 3 kms Time: 1 1/2 hours
Points of interest: The very high
,spectacular cliffs along the trail offer exceptional scenery.
Visitors can climb the highest peak of Madari (1613 m)
Lagoudera - Agros
Starting point: The trail begins at the
country road at Lagoudera under the "Koukkides" cafeteria, continues
past the Polystypos - Lagoudera - Madari crossroad, then takes a
loose surface road for 2.6 kms and reaches the Madari-Papoutsas
mountain crest. From this point the trail has two forks. One fork
(I) leads down the hill towards the Agros dam and ends at the
village. The other (II) follows a course along the crest and
continues along a secondary road which leads to the Madari Fire
Station.
Length: (I) 6 kms Time: (I) 21/2 hours
Length: (II) 6.7 kms Time: 3 hours
Points of interest: The trail passes
through vineyards and orchards of apple, cherry and pear trees. The
first fork runs parallel to the Lagoudera river, which it crosses at
two points.
The Madari-Papoutsas crest offers a
panoramic view in all directions.
Panagia tou Araka (Lagoudera)
- Stavros tou Agiasmati
Starting Point: Lagoudera or Stavros tou
Agiasmati 3 kms from Platanistasa.
Length: 7 kms Time: 3 hours.
Points of interest: The church of
Panagia tou Araka (1192 AD) and that of Stavros tou Agiasmati (1494
AD) both with beautiful wall paintings are among the nine Byzantine
churches of the Troodos area included in UNESCO World Cultural
Heritage List. The trail passes through a pinus brutia forest,
vineyards, almond trees and old stone terraces. To the east of the
trail we can see Kionia, to the north Morfou valley, Pentadactylos
range, Xyliatos dam, Mount Olympos to the west and Madari to the
south.
Agros - Kato Mylos
(Circular)
Starting Point: Near the Hotel "Rodon"
in Agros.
Length: 5 kms Time: 2 hours
Points of interest: Apple, cherry and
pear orchards, vineyards, and rose gardens which give the famous
Agros rosewater.
"Petros Vanezis", Alona
(Circular)
Starting point: A point at the main
street of the village of Alona near the Youth Centre.
Length: 1.5 kms Time: 1/2 hour
Points of interest: Alona is one of the
prettiest villages of Pitsilia, with stone-built houses, literally
steeped in greenery. The trail passes through dense hazelnut
plantations ending down the river.
Agia Eirini - Spilies
tou Digeni (Caves of Dhigenis)
Starting point: The village of Agia
Eirini
Length: 3.2 kms Time: 11/2 hours
Points of interest: The trail ends at
the Caves of Digenis which were used as a hiding place by the
fighters in the 1955-59 struggle for independence. They have been
restored and attract a large number of visitors.
Asinou - Agios Theodoros
Starting point: The chapel of Asinou.
The trail passes through rural roads leading to Agios Theodoros
village.
Length: 4 kms Time: 2 hours
Points of interest: The church of the
Virgin of Asinou with its renowned wall - paintings has been
declared by UNESCO a World Cultural Heritage Monument.
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