Troodos Mountains

The individual descriptions are almost entirely from various entries in Wikipedia

The Troodos Mountains are known for the many Byzantine churches and monasteries, richly decorated with murals, of which the Kykkos monastery is the richest and most famous. Nine churches and one monastery in Troodos together form a World Heritage Site. The Painted Churches in the Troodos Region are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The nine Byzantine churches and the monastery are:

Church of Agios Nikolaos (St. Nicholas) tis Stegis in Kakopetria
Church of Panagia (The Virgin) Phorviotissa (Asinou) in Nikitari
Church of Panagia (The Virgin) tou Arakou in Lagoudhera
Church of Panagia (The Virgin) tou Moutoulla
Church of Archangelos Michail (Archangel Michael) in Pedoulas
Church of Timios Stavros (Holy Cross) in Pelendri
Church of Panagia (The Virgin) Podithou in Galata
Church of Stavros (Holy Cross) Agiasmati in Platanistasa
Church of Agia Sotira (of the Transfiguration of the Savior) tou Soteros in Palaichori
Agios Ioannis (St. John) Lampadistis Monastery in Kalopanagiotis

The Troodos Mountains sites are more examples of the many sites of Ancient Civilizations that I visited during my travels.

All pictures are © Dr. Günther Eichhorn, unless otherwise noted.

Troodos Mountains

View of Pedoulas. (1019k)

Small church between Amiantos and Karvounas. (1007k)

Apse of the small church. (1061k)

Mosaic on the small church. (959k)

Small chapel. (845k)

Monastery of Archangel Michael in Monagri

Church in the Monagri monastery. (662k)

Painting in the Monagri monastery. (849k)

Painting in the Monagri monastery. (691k)

Mosaic in the Monagri monastery. (1097k)

Carved stone in the Monagri monastery. (964k)

Bell tower in the Monagri monastery. (885k)

Church of Archangelos Michail (Archangel Michael) in Pedoulas

According to the dedicatory inscription above the north entrance, the church was built and decorated with frescoes in 1474, with the donation of priest Vasilios Chamados.

This church is part of the Painted Churches in the Troodos Region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Church of Archangelos Michail. (867k)

Church of Archangelos Michail. (917k)

Interior of the Church of Archangelos Michail. (939k)

Wall painting in the Church of Archangelos Michail. (1002k)

Wall painting in the Church of Archangelos Michail. (897k)

Wall painting in the Church of Archangelos Michail. (1016k)

Wall painting in the Church of Archangelos Michail. (958k)

Kykkos Monastery

The Holy Monastery of the Virgin of Kykkos was founded around the end of the 11^th century by the Byzantine emperor Alexios I Komnenos (1081–1118). There are no remains of the original monastery as it was burned down many times. It is famous for the icon of the Virgin Mary, that is claimed to have been painted by the Apostle Luke.

Kykkos Monastery. (758k)

Entrance to the monastery with mosaics. (948k)

Mosaic at the entrance to the monastery. (1179k)

Mosaic at the entrance to the monastery. (1223k)

Main courtyard. (765k)

Small courtyard. (834k)

Entrance to one of the chapels with mosaics and frescoes. (799k)

Hallway with ceiling frescoes. (821k)

Hallway with wall mosaics and frescoes. (963k)

Large wall mosaic. (1103k)

Wall mosaic. (962k)

Wall mosaic. (1156k)

Wall mosaic. (1068k)

Wall mosaic. (982k)

Wall mosaic. (1092k)

Wall mosaic. (1082k)

Wall mosaic. (1244k)

Wall mosaic. (1151k)

Wall mosaic. (1097k)

Wall mosaic. (746k)

Wall mosaic. (816k)

Wall mosaic. (879k)

Wall mosaic. (882k)

Wall mosaic. (1171k)

Wall mosaic. (1182k)

Wall mosaic. (1073k)

Wall mosaic and wall painting. (1053k)

Wall painting. (916k)

Wall painting. (846k)

Wall painting. (787k)

Wall painting. (897k)

Wall painting. (672k)

Agios Ioannis (St. John) Lampadistis Monastery in Kalopanagiotis

The founding date of Agios Ioannis (St. John) Lampadistis Monastery is not known. The monastery church dates back to the 11^th century.

This monastery is part of the Painted Churches in the Troodos Region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Agios Ioannis Lampadistis Monastery. (848k)

Agios Ioannis Lampadistis Monastery. (926k)

Agios Ioannis Lampadistis Monastery. (965k)

Agios Ioannis Lampadistis Monastery. (662k)

Church in Kalopanagiotis. (928k)

Church of Panagia (The Virgin) tou Moutoulla

The Church of Panagia tou Moutoulla is one of the earliest-dated examples of the steep-pitched wooden roof type with frescoes. It was built in around 1280.

This church is part of the Painted Churches in the Troodos Region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Church of Panagia tou Moutoulla. (786k)

Church of Panagia tou Moutoulla. (679k)

Interior of the Church of Panagia tou Moutoulla. (789k)

Interior of the Church of Panagia tou Moutoulla. (862k)

Interior of the Church of Panagia tou Moutoulla. (755k)

Wall painting in the Church of Panagia tou Moutoulla. (979k)

Wall painting in the Church of Panagia tou Moutoulla. (970k)

Wall painting in the Church of Panagia tou Moutoulla. (1014k)

Wall painting in the Church of Panagia tou Moutoulla. (903k)

Wall painting in the Church of Panagia tou Moutoulla. (994k)

Church of Agios Nikolaos (St. Nicholas) tis Stegis in Kakopetria

The Church of St. Nicholas of the Roof (Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis) is part of an 11^th-century Byzantine monastery. The church is the only surviving Middle Byzantine katholikon (monastery church) in Cyprus during the 11^th century. It is mentioned from the 13^th century in surviving texts. You are not allowed to take pictures in this church.

This church is part of the Painted Churches in the Troodos Region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Church of Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis. (905k)

Church of Timios Stavros (Holy Cross) in Pelendri

The original church was built in the 12^th century as a single-aisle domed building. The apse of this building has been preserved during the subsequent rebuilding efforts. The original wall paintings in the apse date to 1171/1172.

This church is part of the Painted Churches in the Troodos Region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Church of Timios Stavros. (708k)

Church of Timios Stavros. (935k)

Altar decorations in the Church of Timios Stavros. (1054k)

Altar decorations in the Church of Timios Stavros. (1055k)

Wall paintings in the Church of Timios Stavros. (886k)

Panagia tis Amasgou Monastery

The small church in the Panagia tis Amasgou Monastery is single-aisled and barrel-vaulted with a second timber roof with hook-shaped roof tiles. The original church was built at the end of the 11^th century and is adorned with excellent 12^th, 13^th and 16^th century wall paintings.