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10 Painted Churches (Unesco World Heritage) 4 days tour

0
  • 5 Days 4 Nights
  • Max Guests : 28
  • Wifi Available
  • Mar - Dec

Detail

There are ten painted churches dotting in the mountain range that are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites and are surely part of the island’s can’t miss attractions, as they include iconography that showcases some of Cyprus’ early Christian heritage. All ten churches feature impressive frescoes that date back to the 11th  and 12th  centuries.

PITSILIA
1.   Stavros tou Agiasmati
2.   Metamorfosis tou Sotiros
3.   Timios Stavros
4.   Panagia tou Araka

SOLEA
5.   Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis
6.   Panagia Podithou
7.   Panagia Asinou

MARATHASA
8.   Agios Ioannis Lambadistis
9.   Panagia tou Moutoulla
10. Archangelos Michael

Price Includes

  • 3 Nights Hotel Acc 3* Hotel
  • 2 Meals / day
  • On Trip Transport
  • Tour Guide
  • Entrance fees

Price Excludes

  • Coffee & Tea
  • Lunch

What to Expect

All these beautifully painted churches included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, days out can be spent driving through the areas of Pitsilia, Solea and Marathasa to uncover the stories of their origins, which are as fascinating as the structures themselves. Unique steep-pitched timber roofs shelter chunky wooden doors that open up onto an array of vivid icons and frescos depicting saints, Apostles and stories from the Bible in all their colorful glory.

  • All painted churches are in the Troodos Region
  • Enjoy the flora & fauna of these area
  • Discover then unknow Cyprus
  • Meet with locals

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive in Larnaka Cyprus, Timios Stavros ,Stavros Ayiasmati/Panayia tou Araka

The first church  to visit is Timios Stavros at Pelentri.  Not allowed to take pics inside. 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.

Continue  approaching our  next destinations which is Stavros  Ayiasmati  .The church of Timios Stavros tou Agiasmati is situated in the eastern part of the Troodos mountain range, in the area of Pitsilia, about five kilometers northeast of the village of Platanistasa. In 1985 it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List which includes nine other painted Byzantine churches of the Troodos range.

Next stop for the day is Panayia tou Araka . The church is located by the village of  Lagoudera , Cyprus. Similar to other churches in the area, this church was named after a wildflower. It was built atop the northeast slopes of Madari, the second highest summit of the Troodos Mountains . The date and circumstances of the church’s consecration remain uncertain, but with its location between the villages of Lagoudera and Sarandi, it is postulated that the church was privately owned or that it was a monastery as it was situated away from the villages 

 Hotel Pedoulas /Kakopetria /or Kalopanayiotis /dinner 

Day 2 - Panayia Podithou, Ayios Nikolaos tis Steyis, Archangelos Michael, Panayia tou Moutoulla

The next morning, we visit  Panayia Podithou . No photos allowed inside. Located in the village of Galata, the church of Panagia Podithou is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of four painted churches in the village. The building is single-aisled with a steep-pitched timber roof. A later portico surrounds the three sides of the church, with the roof sheltering both the church and portico. The mural paintings are of the Italo-Byzantine style that appeared on the island towards the end of the 15th century.

Next stop is the church of Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis (St. Nicholas of the Roof) is located in the Solea Valley (5km from Kakopetria village) and is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site. The church itself is dated to the 11th century, whilst the monastery dated to the end of the 13th or the beginning of the 14th century and flourished from the Middle Byzantine period up to the period of Frankish rule. It declined during the 18th century and ceased to function as a monastery by the end of the 19th century

next stop is Archangelos Michael Church. Located in the picturesque village of Pedoulas, Archangelos Michael Church is a small church that was built and decorated in 1474 by a local painter named Minas, who came from the area of Marathasa. It is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites The structure of the church has a usual sloping mountain roof and is single-aisled. The narthex, which extends to its south and west side, was used as a loft for women due to the small size of the church, whilst only men entered the main church

Finally we visit the Panagia tou Moutoulla Church. 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 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.

overnight  Pedoulas /Kakopetria or Kalopanayiotis  Dinner at the Hotel 

Day 3 - Ayios Ionannis (St. John) Lambadhistis Monastery ,Kykkos monastery

After Breakfast we visiting Agios Ioannis Lampadistis Church Originally a monastery, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a complex of three churches – Ioannis Lampadistis,.The church of Agios Ioannis Lampadistis was built in 1731. The saint’s tomb, which dates to the 12th century, can be found under the narrow north-eastern arch, and the saint’s skull lies in a niche. The icon of Lampadistis dates to 1543. A very interesting Byzantine museum can be found near the church.
 
For the rest of the day we visit Kykkos Monastery(this UNESCO World Heritage Site) Located in the mountainous region of Marathasa Valley, the Monastery of Kykkos is the wealthiest and most lavish on the island, and stands on a mountain peak, at an altitude of 1.318. Dedicated to Panagia (the Virgin Mary), the monastery possesses one of three icons attributed to Agios Loukas (Apostle Luke) the Evangelist. The icon – covered in silver gilt – is in a shrine made of tortoiseshell and mother-of-pearl that stands in front of the iconostasis
overnight  Pedoulas or /Kakopetria /or Kalopanayiotis   -Dinner 

Day 4 -Panayia Asinou/ Metamorfosis tou Sotiros Aiport Departure

 
After breakfast  we check out and start the last excursion .First stop is Panagia Asinou Church Located on the east bank of a stream, 3km from the mountainous village of Nikitari, Panagia Asinou Church is a small church dedicated to the Virgin of ‘Phorbia’. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains some of the finest Byzantine wall paintings on the island, dating from the 12th to the 17th century
 
Next stop  is  Metamorfosis tou Sotiros Church ,Overlooking the beautiful, old mountainous village of Palaichori,   is an early 16th century chapel that is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The church’s interior is completely painted with one of the most complete series of murals of the post-Byzantine period in Cyprus. The unknown artist was influenced by the art of the Palaiologan period, but also draws influence from western art.
we visit Lefkara  and Larnaka 
Departure 
Map

FAQ

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